Ask HN: Ethics of paid long form content

3 pointsdeepstream7y ago4 comments

I had an idea for an online magazine for long form content with the provision that people have to pay to submit articles if published. I would have sole responsibility for editorial direction. what are the ethics considerations I need to be aware of?

4 comments

CM307y ago

That's basically how a vanity press works. Or any number of unethical awards shows.

As for the ethics of it, well they're the same as the ethics of vanity publishing houses and low quality academic journals. Money is supposed to flow to the writer, not the other way around. It's like a job; you're not supposed to be paying for a chance to do the work.

So yeah, not really too ethical.

krapp7y ago

Yog's Law[0]: "Money flows to the writer." The business model you're describing is entirely unethical.

Let this scene from Goodfellas describe what should be the correct relationship between author and publisher[1].

[0]https://whatever.scalzi.com/2014/06/20/yogs-law-and-self-pub...

[1]https://youtu.be/8L4HHPTiZN8?t=25

dangrossman7y ago

You're supposed to pay the people producing your product, not the other way around.

Spooky237y ago

It’s not a magazine, it’s an advertisement.

Usually these sorts of publications are essentially sponsored. IBM used to have trade rags that delivered ads with strategy and tech material written by IBM and partner employees.

The other model is career builder magazines. “Regional CFO Monthly” will host conferences and give awards to executives who are featured in the magazine, with articles written by conference sponsors.

The entire experience is about getting the big shots who will spend money to accept the reward and bring their minions to cheer them on.

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