more work less pay?

[anita t. shemin]

When I first  started reporting many, many moons ago, it was just myself and my writer.  As time went by, my writer was joined with a hookup to my own personal computer and then to many computers for Realtime and now hooking up via Skype and WebEx, along with hookups and teleconferencing. The job of a reporter is a dynamic one, but what about the renumeration?  Recently, in NYC and from what I have read online, many agencies are bundling the Rough and Realtime paying the Reporter for only one service with no fee to the Reporter for set up. Our job  today requires a much high degree of technological skill, trouble shooting, providing of laptops and the attendant stress level that goes along with providing these services.  If this is the new normal for reporters, then our rates should reflect this, but I do not see that happening.  Any thoughts? 

[Serena]

Quyen..

I'm wondering why you only got paid $800.  That seems really low for an o&4.  How many pages was it?

I'm just curious because I am an LA reporter and am possibly moving to San Francisco.

[Helen Pasewark]

In Quyen's situation, the invoice being over 4,000 and her only getting 800 means the agency got at least 3200, which is 80 PERCENT!

[Quyen]

Just for some perspective:

I had a small video job, O & 4 with two roughs. The total for all invoices was over $4,000. I got paid a little over $800.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

There are a lot of agencies out there that do pay for realtime and roughs as separate services.  I'm trying to gravitate towards those agencies that appreciate there is difference in these services.  I used to charge for bring the netbooks to depos, but you just can't do that any longer.  All other reporters provide that service for free; I'll be left in the dust if I don't conform to the standard. 

The more netbooks you can provide, the more hookups you get though.  I do agree we are starting to be required to do more and more and not be compensated for it.  Not quite sure what the answer is.