As you may know, Videomaker used to post the issue to the Web about a month after the print issue hit the news stands. We have now changed that procedure, posting two or more articles every week, so we require all stories ready to go at a moment's notice. This means they all have to have photos and art designed by our Production Department; they all have to be copy edited, technical edited and proofed by our Editorial Department, and they all have to be completely ready to launch without exception on a weekly drop-dead time-line.
PAY:
Pay is now a flat fee of $200 per article. In the future, as the recession changes, we might be able to raise that fee.
NEW: Pay will be contingent on our accepting your final work, you returning the signed contact that we mail to you, and within the week that your story goes online, regardless of which paper issue it is slated to appear. In some circumstances, we will pay as soon as the article has been accepted and the contract is in, regardless of when it is slated to go online. This benefits the writers and is an encouragement to get it in early. NOTE: This does NOT include articles that are returned to the author for a re-write or those that are rejected or found to have plagiarized other author's work.
Keep in mind that we still require diagrams, and screengrabs on some articles, and this should be considered part of the assignment and does not raise the rate of pay. This also includes a sometimes requirement of photos, whether we use yours or recreate them. If you supply photos we use, you will get photo credit, and we need model releases of every person you photograph and/or videotape. Those releases need to be in our possession, not the writer's, photographer's or videographer's. You can find a generic Videomaker model release form online at: http://www.videomaker.com/article/12473/
PLAGIARISM & PRODUCT ACQUISITION:
I hate to mention that horrid "P" word, but we've been the victim of several articles that were plagiarized from some other source. With the proliferation of web resources, it's quite easy for a lazy writer to copy and paste someone else's work. Bare in mind that if this happens, Videomaker will drop said writer from our writer pool immediately, and they will not receive employment with us again, on any level. We are using sophisticated software that searches this out. Don't try to fool us.
There are two things that make for instant blacklisting from any further contact with Videomaker: trying to acquire product and plagiarizing.
Acquiring Product
Writers for Videomaker are not now, nor have they ever been allowed to receive product from any company for research, review, or thanks for a story well-received, without said product coming directly to us from the manufacturer first. This is also cause for instant dismissal. The companies we work with know this, and are required to report any requests to us directly.
Videomaker's rules regarding contacting manufacturers: You are never allowed to acquire product without permission from Videomaker first. In almost all instances, we do all the product acquiring and then we send it to you. When you do need contact with a product company, within the realms of your research for us, you MUST identify yourself as a freelance writer, not staff member of Videomaker, and you are not allowed to take any product that might be offered in exchange for writing a story or section of a story on it. You also must contact Videomaker's managing editor, or your Videomaker contact person you are working with, first, to obtain permission to contact any product representative on our behalf.
We have very strict rules about this. If we deem that a writer needs product to research an article that they are writing for us, then WE contact the company, and have the product sent to us, then WE send the product to the writer. We've had too many instances of writers trying to get free product for a promised "plug", and that is not allowed in the Videomaker policy. Most of our manufacturers know this, and have been alerted to contact us, if a writer does try to acquire product.
To reiterate: There are two things that make for instant blacklisting from any further contact with Videomaker: trying to acquire product and plagiarizing.
Editorial Attitude
The editorial tone of Videomaker is one of accessibility, enthusiasm and support for all levels of video producers. It is one of encouragement towards the beginner, and never ridicules. The tone is not elitist or condescending, and is always aimed at the grassroots videographer. Regardless of the style and approaches taken by our writers, artists and designers, their tone and attitude should remain consistent with the statement above.
Writer Qualifications
Videomaker is always in need of writers who have experience in video production. We ask that all potential writers show us evidence of videography knowledge, in one or more of the following forms:
1. A resume
2. Writing samples
3. Video demo tape
Writers with the necessary skills will be given an assignment within four weeks.
Queries
* Submit all queries in writing; please do not call. Keep queries as brief as possible. Send your resume and clips of previously published work with your query. Be sure to read at least one issue of the magazine before sending your query, so you have an understanding of our style and formatting.
* Snail-mail materials to: Query Editor at Videomaker, P.O. Box 4591, Chico, CA 95927.
* Forward overnight, UPS or other courier deliveries to Videomaker's street address: 1350 East 9th Street, Chico CA 95928.
* E-mail queries may be sent to the Videomaker managing editor: jorourke@videomaker.com.
Videomaker's FAX number is 530-891-8443.
Contact Information:
For inquiries: jorourke@videomaker.com
For submissions: jorourke@videomaker.com
Website: http://www.videomaker.com
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