Comments on: The Tom-Tom: Rob Krider http://autowriters.com/blog/the-tom-tom-rob-krider/ The right info to the right writers who write about cars. Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:01:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Hemer http://autowriters.com/blog/the-tom-tom-rob-krider/comment-page-1/#comment-322 Chris Hemer Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:53:20 +0000 http://autowriters.com/blog/?p=560#comment-322 Good post, Rob, but I must respectfully disagree with you on several points: 1. Magazines DON’T pay their writers for a job well done. They pay the same page rate they’ve been paying for 20 years. 2. “Even someone who hasn’t been to journalism school understands you don’t just get published because one day you woke up and thought it would be a cool thing to do (however, this can be done on the internet).” I absolutely DISAGREE. Have you read any of the “enthusiasts pubs” lately? They’re ALL written by people who woke up and decided it would be cool to write for a magazine. They can’t afford REAL writers (or simply won’t pay for them), so they take kids who’ll write for a byline and free parts. And it shows. One of my new hobbies is to sit down with one of them and see how many errors I can find on one page—and believe me, I don’t have to try very hard. 3. Writing for a magazine can be rewarding, but those experiences are few and far between. Most people don’t pay attention to the magazine they’re reading, much less who wrote it. It’s nice when someone’s heard of you, but that doesn’t pay the bills. 4. I don’t like blogs either, but the reality is, that is the media of choice for the younger crowd. People look at you like your from Mars when you mention Jalopnik because they’re probably closer to your age. Say it to someone who’s 22, and they’ll probably ask for your autograph. 5. I would NEVER write for any publication or site for free. In fact, I turn down work quite frequently if it doesn't pay enough, and turn anything down if it pays net 60, net 90, or, worse yet “on publication.” I used to care about my name in print in my 20s, but I couldn’t care less now. Just cut me a nice check, get it to me fast, and you can put your name on it if you like. 6. “The content needs to be good enough to bring in some heavy advertising so we can all get paid. The question is how many of us have to write for free (and for how long) to build up a reputable commercial automotive site before we can actually make it profitable enough for us to waste our time?” I hope I can speak for everyone when I say I won’t write for free—unless it’s on my own site or magazine for the purpose of getting it rolling. When we agree to write for free or for little, we lose the respect of the people we write for. Journalism is a profession, just like any other, and we should be paid for it. Unfortunately, as long as their are hacks that are willing to write for “glory”, and readers who don’t know the difference between good and bad writing, the good guys are never going to get paid well for their craft. That’s why most of the veterans have disappeared from the pages of magazines—they’ve long ago sought greener pastures in the PR business, writing for OEMs, or in different careers altogether. Good post, Rob, but I must respectfully disagree with you on several points:
1. Magazines DON’T pay their writers for a job well done. They pay the same page rate they’ve been paying for 20 years.
2. “Even someone who hasn’t been to journalism school understands you don’t just get published because one day you woke up and thought it would be a cool thing to do (however, this can be done on the internet).” I absolutely DISAGREE. Have you read any of the “enthusiasts pubs” lately? They’re ALL written by people who woke up and decided it would be cool to write for a magazine. They can’t afford REAL writers (or simply won’t pay for them), so they take kids who’ll write for a byline and free parts. And it shows. One of my new hobbies is to sit down with one of them and see how many errors I can find on one page—and believe me, I don’t have to try very hard.
3. Writing for a magazine can be rewarding, but those experiences are few and far between. Most people don’t pay attention to the magazine they’re reading, much less who wrote it. It’s nice when someone’s heard of you, but that doesn’t pay the bills.
4. I don’t like blogs either, but the reality is, that is the media of choice for the younger crowd. People look at you like your from Mars when you mention Jalopnik because they’re probably closer to your age. Say it to someone who’s 22, and they’ll probably ask for your autograph.
5. I would NEVER write for any publication or site for free. In fact, I turn down work quite frequently if it doesn’t pay enough, and turn anything down if it pays net 60, net 90, or, worse yet “on publication.” I used to care about my name in print in my 20s, but I couldn’t care less now. Just cut me a nice check, get it to me fast, and you can put your name on it if you like.
6. “The content needs to be good enough to bring in some heavy advertising so we can all get paid. The question is how many of us have to write for free (and for how long) to build up a reputable commercial automotive site before we can actually make it profitable enough for us to waste our time?” I hope I can speak for everyone when I say I won’t write for free—unless it’s on my own site or magazine for the purpose of getting it rolling. When we agree to write for free or for little, we lose the respect of the people we write for. Journalism is a profession, just like any other, and we should be paid for it. Unfortunately, as long as their are hacks that are willing to write for “glory”, and readers who don’t know the difference between good and bad writing, the good guys are never going to get paid well for their craft. That’s why most of the veterans have disappeared from the pages of magazines—they’ve long ago sought greener pastures in the PR business, writing for OEMs, or in different careers altogether.

]]> By: Michael Karesh http://autowriters.com/blog/the-tom-tom-rob-krider/comment-page-1/#comment-320 Michael Karesh Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:04:59 +0000 http://autowriters.com/blog/?p=560#comment-320 Aaron--and yet not as huge as it was before the 2010 redesign. So even more worth writing about--function sacrificed for form. Aaron–and yet not as huge as it was before the 2010 redesign. So even more worth writing about–function sacrificed for form.

]]> By: Sam Moses http://autowriters.com/blog/the-tom-tom-rob-krider/comment-page-1/#comment-318 Sam Moses Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:35:57 +0000 http://autowriters.com/blog/?p=560#comment-318 Aaron Gold is right, too, I don't disagree, despite what I might have said. It is about audience. Aaron Gold is right, too, I don’t disagree, despite what I might have said. It is about audience.

]]> By: Aaron Gold http://autowriters.com/blog/the-tom-tom-rob-krider/comment-page-1/#comment-317 Aaron Gold Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:55:43 +0000 http://autowriters.com/blog/?p=560#comment-317 Sam, I disagree with your point that car reviews are about information rather than entertainment. (Two words: Top Gear.) It's all about audience. When I write for About.com, it's mostly information, with (hopefully) enough entertainment thrown in to keep 'em reading to the end. But for some pubs, you're writing for an audience that's already read every review. They're not going to buy the car. They're reading for entertainment. Yes, they want information, because that's how they become experts, but if the review isn't interesting, they'll go elsewhere. Write a review for entertainment, and they will come. -- Aaron Gold PS, Taurus trunk is worth writing about because it's so awesomely huge. Sam, I disagree with your point that car reviews are about information rather than entertainment. (Two words: Top Gear.) It’s all about audience. When I write for About.com, it’s mostly information, with (hopefully) enough entertainment thrown in to keep ‘em reading to the end. But for some pubs, you’re writing for an audience that’s already read every review. They’re not going to buy the car. They’re reading for entertainment. Yes, they want information, because that’s how they become experts, but if the review isn’t interesting, they’ll go elsewhere. Write a review for entertainment, and they will come.

– Aaron Gold

PS, Taurus trunk is worth writing about because it’s so awesomely huge.

]]> By: Jan Wagner http://autowriters.com/blog/the-tom-tom-rob-krider/comment-page-1/#comment-316 Jan Wagner Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:50:36 +0000 http://autowriters.com/blog/?p=560#comment-316 Even though I am still writing and doing photography, as well as editing a print publication, most of my income from automotive journalism is now coming from entering and winning monetary awards in various photo contests. Hopefully our efforts in the area of automotive journalism will eventually find a home on the internet that pays its contributors for their skill and experience in providing content that its visitors go there to see. Even though I am still writing and doing photography, as well as editing a print publication, most of my income from automotive journalism is now coming from entering and winning monetary awards in various photo contests. Hopefully our efforts in the area of automotive journalism will eventually find a home on the internet that pays its contributors for their skill and experience in providing content that its visitors go there to see.

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