Be Excellent To Each Other

Should I take it? From a quick google and asking on twitter I'm pretty certain you don't get paid. It seems quite exploitative to me, but the attention it would get would be interesting. Especially for the kinda audience I would never normally get.

There are lots and lots offers to contribute to web sites for free “at the moment”, with an offer of pay further down the line. The reality of the market that even with the best intentions, not all of these websites will grow into profitable enterprises. Working for free can be an excellent stepping stone to getting paid work, but I would recommend caution in choosing who you will and won’t work for without getting paid.

I’d strongly suggest you only work for people who’s work you are happy to be associated with. Are they doing a good job of the site they run? Are you impressed with their editorial outlook? Do they look like they are going places? Are they interested in building a respectful relationship with you as a writer? These are all questions you should be asking before ever giving away the fruits of your labour for free.

There is plenty you can get for working for free, but I’d certainly like to know specifically how they intend to get you exposure. Have they got a sizeable audience? Are they well connected within the wider industry? Do any of their other writers get paid work at any other publications? Are they going to link back to your blog?

If you’ve got a clear idea of exactly what you are getting out of it, you are far less likely to be taken advantage of.

Last month, when visiting London, Huffington defended her policy further. She said "there's got to be a distinction between everybody who works for a media company and everybody who blogs for a media company", and noted that all media organisations depended on unpaid contributions. "If people go on Newsnight, they don't get paid," she added.