Cumulus' WPRO reportedly stiffs freelance writer over a lousy thousand dollars

[SaltyDog]

"But they apparently can’t cut a check at the local level, Eil said, and it has to go through the station’s corporate parent, media conglomerate Cumulus Media. And he isn’t keeping his fingers crossed. In February, he received an e-mail promising him that a paycheck would be overnighted to him.

“I just wanted to let you know that due to the storm yesterday, the FEDEX package was not picked up,” the email said. “It is going out today so you should have it tomorrow.”

That was on Feb. 3. The check never came."

No local checkbook? Really? How about petty cash?

Source: http://patch.com/rhode-island/crans...nce-journalist-takes-wpro-task-social-media-0

 

[TheBigA]

My suggestion is that when you choose to do this kind of work, find out in advance how payment will be done. Don't wait until afterwards.

 

[frankberry]

Get the agreement in writing.

 

[TheBigA]

Get the agreement in writing.

That may be tougher to get as a freelancer. That implies a contract. But at least register with the people who make the payments. Make sure they have your W2 in advance. That will hold up payment. Set up electronic transfer. That's the best way to get paid immediately. No waiting for FedEx. That applies to ANY company you work with.

 

[SaltyDog]

My suggestion is that when you choose to do this kind of work, find out in advance how payment will be done. Don't wait until afterwards.

According to the article, they acknowledge owing the money so I don't see how that would make any difference.

"In February, he received an e-mail promising him that a paycheck would be overnighted to him."

What's striking about it is the inconsequential amount involved.

 

[TheBigA]

What's striking about it is the inconsequential amount involved.

It's not about the money. It's about knowing the procedure. I keep a W2 in my laptop so I can text to a client even before he gets the invoice. That way, the invoice comes, I'm in the system, and the money is deposited quickly. If this guy wants to make a living as a freelancer, he has to know the system. It's not the 60s any more.

 

[SaltyDog]

It's not about the money. It's about knowing the procedure. I keep a W2 in my laptop so I can text to a client even before he gets the invoice. That way, the invoice comes, I'm in the system, and the money is deposited quickly. If this guy wants to make a living as a freelancer, he has to know the system. It's not the 60s any more.

I wonder if they pay the guy that cuts the grass around the towers or if he too must know "the procedure".

 

[TheBigA]

I wonder if they pay the guy that cuts the grass around the towers or if he too must know "the procedure".

Providence is a big city. If it's not an employee, then it's a professional service vendor. And if it's a vendor, they definitely know "the procedure."

But most of the tower sites I see don't get grass service at all.

 

[SaltyDog]

Providence is a big city. If it's not an employee, then it's a professional service vendor. And if it's a vendor, they definitely know "the procedure."

I have no idea what the size of the city has to do with it but I'm a professional vendor [not serving radio stations] in a metropolitan area about the size of Providence. Sometimes no matter what "procedure" is followed, clients stiff vendors. There was reportedly a back-and-forth for months, promises to pay and then nothing. But I understand your point. If only the freelance writer was a bit more sophisticated and made clear that he expected to be paid and sent that W-2 at just the right time, all this could have been avoided.

I shouldn't be so hard on them right now. Cumulus is having a tough time. The poor executives in Atlanta didn't even get bonuses this year.

 

[TheBigA]

Sometimes no matter what "procedure" is followed, clients stiff vendors.

We're taking the word of the freelancer here. I have no reason to believe a $2 billion company wants to "stiff" someone for $1000. I'm sure there's more to this story. In all the years I've been doing this, I was only stiffed once, and it was by a company that went bankrupt. I lost $5000. Too small to be on the list of creditors. Otherwise, I've always been paid. But I make sure I know how it works before I do the work.

 

[SaltyDog]

We're taking the word of the freelancer here. I have no reason to believe a $2 billion company wants to "stiff" someone for $1000.

Now we're getting somewhere. If I wanted to defend Cumulus, I would have made the "he might be lying" defense right away instead of going on about the proper procedure and W-2's. That's why my initial post said "according to the article". I don't know if he's telling the truth. It's entirely possible that Phil Eil, a well-known Rhode Island journalist, former newspaper editor and contributor to Salon.com just made it all up. If he's not lying, then my best guess is that the Providence GM is an idiot. If I were running stations for Cumulus, which I've done, I would have written him a personal check if I had to and expensed it. I don't think Cumulus would fire the GM of the Providence market over $1,000 but if they would, I wouldn't want to work for them anyway.

 

[TheBigA]

I don't want to say anyone is lying. I don't think that's fair. But I also don't want to assume the company wants to stiff a guy over $1000. And there's a big gap between those things.