100 Percent User-Generated Content? But What About . . . Me?

For its June issue, Budget Travel decided to let readers provide all the content. Yes, the magazine solicited about 2,800 pitches from readers and hired 324 contributors, who were paid "normal fees" and travel expenses for companions--"something we don’t do for professional writers," according to editor Erik Torkells.

I was stunned to see this. Amateur writers getting paid at the magazine's usual rates to write its content? Plus companions' travel expenses? Was this bad news for the professionals who want to write for magazines? Like, the "reality TV" version of magazine journalism, in which "real people" do the writing instead of the pros? And how come they're getting paid more?! (sniff)

But not to worry. Torkells wrote in a blog post for FOLIO: "Making this issue was neither cheap nor easy."

Torkells said the issue "would’ve been a mess" without an "extraordinary amount” of editing. "Editing non-professional writers is never easy, especially when you’re asking them to write long," he said.

Whew! I feel better already.

PS--I've had the pleasure of making a guest appearance today on The Golden Pencil, where I go off on a bit of a rant about the 80-20 Rule. Please stop by and let me know your thoughts.