Social Network Warning

Injustice and the Social Networks50
By Laredog

H.S. Football




Beware what you post on social networks! It may cost you your job.

In 2008 I worked for a Las Vegas based newspaper. I was called "freelance" but worked full time and made over $22,000 in low paying-per-assignement fees that year. The on Januany 01, 2009 I was informed I was laid off, that all freelancers were laid off due to budget cuts.

I did not qualify for unemployment compensation due to the "freelance" titale, although at the time I had never signed a freelance contract. That seemed to be the first injustice, but this is about the latest mishap in the very troubled life.

A few weeks ago, prior to the beginning of football season, I wrote the paper asking to photograph football. I knew in the past they used several photogs to make slideshows online of the high school football shots. I got lucky and was told some freelancers would be used for football, but that I'd have to first sign a freelance contract. The editor who used me for the weekly neighborhood news never had me sign one.

I signed the contract, sent it back and was assigned one game a week. I was thrilled. I love shooting games and the night-time shots under the lights can be difficult to do. Still, it was a blast and I gave them everything they asked for ... shots of action, coaches, fans and cheerleaders. I shot the games then hustled home to edit and wire the in that very evening for posting as a slideshow by the preps slideshow editor. I even had to buy disc saving software online one night after my flash disc failed. But I paid the extra money, saved the photos and got them in by 2 a.m.. That was late, but they posted them the next day and I was proud.

Then on 10/16/2009 I was assigned a game almost 20 miles from my home. There were several games scheduled within just a few miles from my home, so I wrote asked informed the photo editor the extra travel (for which I do not get paid mileage) I was willing to do, for the job's sake. But I added that the pictures might be a little late because of that fact. The photo editor, who I thought was a nice person, simply wrote back that "He would let the slideshow guy know." I could never get more than three words out of the guy, like he was way too busy for me. No compassion, no explanations as to why. I guess he isn't very nice. But he was the boss, so I didn't say more.

I went to the game that night, took some cool photos of the action and people, including a shot of the announced homecoming queen. I hustled home, edited the pics and sent in 19 for the slideshow. I was super proud of myself. I called the paper. Called the slideshow guy and he said "wow, you really busted a move." I got them to him by 10:58pm and learned later that a fellow photog didn't even get home till after 11:00pm. So I was happy that I succeeded in the tough task.

But by midnight, no slideshow! My friends pictures were up and others. What happened, I wondered. Well, I went to sleep and got up the next morning to check out my slideshow. To my surprise the Las Vegas paper did not include mine in their Nevada Preps section online. I was extremely bummed.

I emailed the photo editor, told him how much I busted my butt and informed him they must have forgotten to post my shots. His reply? Two simple and cold words ..."lighten up."

The day went on, no other communication, no slideshow, no respect.

This is when I made my big mistake and I want to let others know so they don't get hurt like I did. I wrote on my Twitter page that "I think I know why the newsapapers are dying," I wrote, "because some editors are complete idiots!" I vented on my own site, for my friends to see, to get some relief from the anger I felt about getting unfairly treated and ignored.

Well the social network rant got a reaction. The photo editor, who is not my friend, does not follow me and should have never seen that post, somehow got hold of it and threw it back in my face! Now he can find the power to send an email with more than two words in it. He told me if I were a "staffer" I would be fired and that he was "troubled" by the words. A staffer would have at least got due process, a write up, or perhaps even fired, but he would have also probably been told why the slideshow never got used and the homecoming queen (who smiled so brightly for her picture) will never see it.

If I had money, I should have hired a lawyer and sued for unemployment compensation, because of the fact they never had me sign a contract in 2008. But I'm broke and now I've screwed myself out of the little money I could get because of a rant on my social network and the fact I let workplace injustice get to me so bad.

If others have similar stories I'd like to hear them. If anyone wants to hire a photojournalist out of work, I'm available. I would only ask that you don't treat freelancers like slaves and that I could be treated with some respect, like a real member of a team.