Exploitation? Elle Mag Hires Homeless Blogger for Pocket Change
Fashion magazine Elle has hired a homeless and unemployed blogger named Brianna Karp... for $150 per month. Her new job/internship will require one hour of work per day; if she's still living in California she'll be making less than the state's $8 per hour minimum wage. Is this a case of old media cynically exploiting the homeless (and bloggers) or is it a great opportunity for the young woman? It might be both.
Whatever your opinion of the arrangement, it's hard to swallow Leanne Italie's Associated Press write-up calling it "a 21st century fairytale." Karp writes a blog called The Girl's Guide to Homelessness and says she's very excited about the opportunity. It makes me feel a little nauseous.
For a huge media brand that traffics in the culture of the wealthy and beautiful to win "compassion points" so cheaply seems ethically questionable. Ad sales for any pages Karp's writing appears on would likely be very profitable. She's put in front of the New York media circus as a poor unfortunate, in exchange for a famous magazine buying her breakfast each morning. Depending on her local laws, that rate of pay may not even be legal. The AP reports that Karp is being paid $150 per month and Karp links to the story without refutation of that key detail.
On the other hand, a gig with Elle is a huge opportunity. Blogging for pay is something only a few lucky people get to do. Having worked as an executive assistant in the past, adding a current engagement at Elle Magazine to her resume will be a big boost in Karp's search for full-time employment.
Still, Cinderella 2.0 ought to be paid at least the legal minimum hourly wage in California by a famous fashion magazine, ought she not?
Share
Facebook
Comments
Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all ReadWriteWeb posts
honestly, it was national exposure and Im sure good things will come of it. I think you could argue either way on the pay scale, but most people would do it for free to get that much attention.
If the "blogger" turns around and leverage the exposure from writing for Elle to make a career for themselves then whom is exploiting whom???
Well, hopefully she doesn't get typecast.
Hey, if they paid her more, she'd get a place to live and destroy her credibility as a "hoblo," or homeless blogger... right?
Jeez, these people really make me ill.
I can only hope that with this exposure someone offers Brianna a real job. Elle should be paying far more than 150 per month.
Call it an internship and the pay rate would be considered generous.
Interesting question. Is the world really flat? Maybe it's a spectacular case of bootstrapping - from Street View.
My first reaction was disgust at Elle. But the more I think about it, the more difficult it is to sort out. If Karp thinks it's ethical, isn't she the one to judge. She is an adult, presumably in possession of the mental and physical health necessary to decide for herself. But it may not be that simple.
There are lots relationships like this, within and across US borders. Where does the money for outrageous CEO compensation come from, for example?
I hope she asks for a raise and makes a good case. The reaction she gets will tell us more about Elle.
As someone who has almost been homeless and unemployed I can say for certain I would happily take the money and blog my heart out for elle.
Posted by: kfox.myvidoop.com
|
September 2, 2009 4:17 PM
This has got to be the best link-bait I have ever seen... this story is getting posted everywhere. So on top of it all, Elle is getting some huge link-juice. Definitely a raise is in order.
When I first read the article, I thought it was a joke from The Onion... $150? What is that, like one sushi lunch for the editor? Without the wine? The publicity Elle's gotten from this so far is worth 100 times that, or maybe 1,000 times by now.
If I were a movie studio or book publisher I'd offer Karp an advance for her story (hold the presses for The Devil Wears Prada II rewrite). If I were an Elle competitor, I'd hire her for the other 7 hours a day at twice the salary.
This gig will turn Briana into a well-housed fashion journalist in much the same way that winning America's Next Top model turns the winner into America's next top model. Perhaps this "opportunity" will lead to Brianna modeling for Mugatu's new Derlicte line.
If you read the press release thoroughly and do a little more research you'll see that this opportunity IS an internship. E. Jean offered Brianna a four-month internship, not a job. This country's employment system thrives on unpaid internships, so are we really able to say this is exploitation? Not really, no.
Magazine writing is not a career you choose for the money. For a typical article, how much are you paid by a typical magazine? Around $150. I bet Steve Levy gets paid OK, but I wouldn't bet money on it.
This is more than she would make starting out selling paintings for example. It's because schools spend more time/energy teaching English. So we can afford to pay writers more than other artists.
Broader exposure to the humanity of the homeless is a great thing. If every person on the streets were given equivalent encouragement, much would be gained.
We've been blogging at HomelessManSpeaks.com since 2007.
Tony and Philip
It's a Hollywood story !!
As someone who is monthly on the verge of homelessness, I don't really see this as exploitation. $150 is more than most internships pay, and the potential for more opportunities will MORE than make up for the lack in pay. There are many highly intelligent homeless people who have just never had a break in life, and would happily take that chance for $150 a month. The exposure to her alone will help catapult her into a new life.
Honestly I am a firm believer in half a loaf is better than no bread. I am currently unemployed myself, and I would embrace an opportunity like this one. The exposure will do so much more than a paycheck may ever do. While it might seem exploitation to some, I see it as a strategic career venture. Hopefully I will be lucky like Brianna, and some magazine will hire me as a writer of some sort. I am not about to lose focus!
if I remember correctly the guy in Pursuit of Happyness also had a "contract" type of training-job that was able to eventually get him off the street. SOunds like a cream contract "job" to blog and get one's name out there. She will no doubt get picked up by someone now . . . fi she's not complaining, why should we?
Exploitation? Elle Mag Hires Homeless Blogger for Pocket Change http://bit.ly/CuZPj [from http://twitter.com/marshallk/statuses/3716805627]
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
|
September 4, 2009 4:39 PM
Is definitely not exploitation for so many reasons.
First, It's actually a simple raw example of a free market. Any company should be in the look for the best possible service for the less investment possible. That's just business... in the other hand Brianna Karp doesn't have a job, obviously likes to write and $150 a month is probably a lot of money for someone who's in a troubled situation living on the streets. If both sides are happy I don't see how this could be titled as exploitation.
Second, Minimum wages are actually one of the more damaging economic factors and actually increase the unemployment rate.
Let's say you live in california and you do housekeeping for a living but due to the economic in the situation you're unemployed. I bet you would consider - and even be happy - making $6/Hr ($2 less than the minimum wage). Oh wait... there's a problem!
If somebody needs housekeeping services but the economy is affecting everybody and they can't pay more than $6/Hr... in order to not get in problems with the state and the law they will avoid hiring/contracting someone that's more than willing to work for that rate.
In simple words... minimum wages don't really help avoiding exploitation at all they actually obstruct one of the most vital economy concepts: offer and demand.
Which is by the way... what's going on between Elle and Brianna Karp.
You know guys, you could have just asked. You're way off I'm afraid.
She makes her first tv appearances tomorrow on CNN and the Today Show. If you want the real story just send us an email and I'm sure we can have your questions answered.
We love 'Cinderalla 2.0' btw
I know, I was thinking the same thing. They are being so stingy with her - Why?
I notice when other people do any old thing they get showered with exorbitant sums of money and homes, etc., like the African American who made tiny sculptures. People gave him $80K a pop.
It's not fair, something we women are familiar with, unfortunately.
Sometimes it is not the MONEY at all.If ELLE wants to contact this homeless person I will be happy to give them material. Tim Giangiobbe FACEBOOK AKA John Joebee Homeless in sf The Unknown Homeless People...I am a service connected Veteran. GOD BLESS ALL
This is a good way of doing things for both parties involved. If more companies did this it could help the homeless get back on their feet, gain skills, and benefit the company and all cheaper than the average employee. However, they should be willing to pay at least the minimum wage either way.