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Newsletter: Independent writers are an important facet of the media ecosystem, but a recent legal threat helps to remind me that it’s not the path for everyone.

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#newsletter #CitationNeeded #journalism #IndependentMedia


I am my own legal department: the promise and peril of “just go independent”

Independent publishing is one important facet of the media ecosystem, and while I love it, I know it is not the path for everyone.
Molly White (Citation Needed)
#journalism #independentmedia #newsletter #CitationNeeded
in reply to Molly White

Molly White
Molly White
• •

The Washington Post’s choice not to endorse a candidate is only the most recent example of a bad decision by legacy media outlets prompting people to urge their staff to quit and go independent. I love being independent, but it’s also not without its challenges.

#newsletter #CitationNeeded #journalism #IndependentMedia

#journalism #independentmedia #newsletter #CitationNeeded
in reply to Molly White

Molly White
Molly White
• •

I am my publication’s writer, editor, fact-checker, software team, legal department, customer service representative, social media intern, marketing branch, accountant, and everything else. Not everyone wants to wear that many hats.

#newsletter #CitationNeeded #journalism #IndependentMedia

#journalism #independentmedia #newsletter #CitationNeeded
in reply to Molly White

Molly White
Molly White
• •

But for some people, like me, it’s an enormously rewarding option, and I’m always happy to help others who are interested in pursuing the same dream. The price of independence may be high, but the cost of silence is even greater.

#newsletter #CitationNeeded #journalism #IndependentMedia

#journalism #independentmedia #newsletter #CitationNeeded
This entry was edited (3 days ago)
in reply to Molly White

Shonin
Shonin
• •
Maybe a cooperative? Retain one law office and share costs?
in reply to Shonin

Molly White
Molly White
• •
@shonin There are some independent media cooperatives (@flaminghydra comes to mind), though I don’t know what their legal support is like.
@Shonin @Flaming Hydra
in reply to Molly White

Shonin
Shonin
• •

@flaminghydra A cooperative was the best years of my life. we had around 150 to 300 people, seasonal woods work. We held four company-wide meetings a year, Robert's Rules of Order, worked great, we thought.

A friend wrote a pretty good short article right at the pinnacle of our local fame: hoedadsonline.com/stories/Hoed…

We did need lawyers eventually, as the MAGA types in the trade were anxious to put us out of business for the usual reasons.

Good luck out there.

A meeting of The Hoedads, Inc. (a forestry labor cooperative) in the late 1970s. Motion has been discussed and the question called. Show of hands. Three counters, average count decides the question.
@Flaming Hydra
in reply to Molly White

James M.
James M.
• •
I'm wondering if they could band together for a new outlet, complete with corporate veil and shared resources?
in reply to Molly White

Boris Barbour
Boris Barbour
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Regarding legal risks, would there be any benefit to operating as a corporation or nonprofit?
in reply to Boris Barbour

Molly White
Molly White
• •
@BorisBarbour probably a better question for a lawyer, i’m not sure. perhaps in terms of insulating assets, but there are ways to do that as a solo writer too
@Boris Barbour
in reply to Molly White

linuxretrobore
linuxretrobore
• •
@BorisBarbour legal risks are a massive part of UK journalism, for example, and a major thing in that is whether you can afford good advice... i'd be terrified trying to do that on my own
@Boris Barbour
in reply to Molly White

Boris Barbour
Boris Barbour
• •
If you have time to outline them, what are those methods for insulating assets as a solo writer?
in reply to Molly White

sleepy62
sleepy62
• •
Have the folks in your world talked about forming some kind of professional association? Something that could provide legal cover and representation, as well as setting technical and ethical standards.
in reply to sleepy62

Molly White
Molly White
• •
various folks have gone in various directions — coops, worker-owned organizations, etc. i’m also a part of the national writer’s union which has the freelance solidarity project. i’ve definitely thought about trying to band together with other writers in some way, but organizing that would also be another hat i’d have to wear!
This entry was edited (3 days ago)
in reply to Molly White

Josh Rivers
Josh Rivers
• •
@sleepy62 Just a thought, but I see volunteer moderators on Twitch and volunteer sysadmins in other places. For the right kind of person a volunteer/side gig job organizing protection and mutual support for a coop would be a rewarding gig.
@sleepy62
in reply to Molly White

P4
P4
• •
That first footnote is beautiful, I've heard about the fake DMCA takedown attempt, but not about them backdating it to before the arrest. Excellent work people, no notes.
in reply to Molly White

Ian Ramjohn
Ian Ramjohn
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I had no idea Citation Needed was your full time job (or the scale you were doing this at). Amazing work.
in reply to Ian Ramjohn

Molly White
Molly White
• •
@iramjohn thank you! yes, it’s been my primary gig for almost exactly a year now!
@Ian Ramjohn
in reply to Molly White

linuxretrobore
linuxretrobore
• •
this was a really good newsletter I thought. the value of being a journalist in an organisation can be huge when its not you doing the legal and other fiddly work, and you can concentrate on the words. there's a downside too, obviously, but not everyone is going to be able to just become independent and function the same way
in reply to Molly White

MHLoppy
MHLoppy
• •

If you can pass on a small typo to your editor, looks like there's a word missing in:

The abject terror of “what [if] this

in reply to Molly White

Pierre-Luc Gagné
Pierre-Luc Gagné
• •

those pictures look like a set of trading cards.

« Wow, you have a 3D foil sunglasses Molly! »

in reply to Molly White

Jonathan Lamothe
Jonathan Lamothe
•

@Molly White This is similar to the lesson I learned doing freelance programming. You get more "freedom" but you end up having to do a mountain of other unpleasant stuff that distracts from the stuff you're actually passionate about.

At least I don't have to worry about being sued for libel though. I don't envy you that.

@Molly White
in reply to Molly White

Nicholas Stein
Nicholas Stein
• •
You are one of my heroes. Cory Doctorow @pluralistic, had a great article a while ago about using chatGPT to write emails and other communications that sound like they are coming from a lawyer. It seems like a good use of GenAI. This post inspired me to pass this idea along to you.
@Cory Doctorow
in reply to Molly White

MarkD
MarkD
• •

One of the big benefits of being your own legal department is that you actually have your own interests at heart.

Anyone who thinks a corporate legal department or a corporate HR department is looking out for the interests of the employee is living in fantasy land.

HR and Legal are there solely to protect the corporation. Never think otherwise.

This entry was edited (1 day ago)

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