Newsletter: Independent writers are an important facet of the media ecosystem, but a recent legal threat helps to remind me that it’s not the path for everyone.
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@molly0xfff Maybe a cooperative? Retain one law office and share costs?
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@molly0xfff I'm wondering if they could band together for a new outlet, complete with corporate veil and shared resources?
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@shonin There are some independent media cooperatives (@flaminghydra comes to mind), though I don’t know what their legal support is like.
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@jamesmarshall Some writers (404, Defector, Aftermath) have gone that route!
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Regarding legal risks, would there be any benefit to operating as a corporation or nonprofit?
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@BorisBarbour probably a better question for a lawyer, i’m not sure. perhaps in terms of insulating assets, but there are ways to do that as a solo writer too
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@molly0xfff
Have the folks in your world talked about forming some kind of professional association? Something that could provide legal cover and representation, as well as setting technical and ethical standards. -
Molly Whitereplied to sleepy62 last edited by [email protected]
@sleepy62 various folks have gone in various directions — coops, worker-owned organizations, etc. i’m also a part of the national writer’s union which has the freelance solidarity project. i’ve definitely thought about trying to band together with other writers in some way, but organizing that would also be another hat i’d have to wear!
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@molly0xfff I had no idea Citation Needed was your full time job (or the scale you were doing this at). Amazing work.
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@iramjohn thank you! yes, it’s been my primary gig for almost exactly a year now!
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@molly0xfff
Done. -
@heymarkreeves thank you so much!
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@molly0xfff If you can pass on a small typo to your editor, looks like there's a word missing in:
The abject terror of “what [if] this
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If you have time to outline them, what are those methods for insulating assets as a solo writer?
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@BorisBarbour just the typical advice about individual liability protection via LLCs
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@MHLoppy that’s it, i’m docking their pay for this month
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Lauren Wu (Kayna on TFT)replied to Molly White last edited by
@molly0xfff Just renewed my annual subscription to you!
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Molly Whitereplied to Lauren Wu (Kayna on TFT) last edited by
@laurenwu thank you!
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MarkDreplied to Molly White last edited by [email protected]
@molly0xfff One of the big benefits of being your own legal department is that you actually have your own interests at heart.
Anyone who thinks a corporate legal department or a corporate HR department is looking out for the interests of the employee is living in fantasy land.
HR and Legal are there solely to protect the corporation. Never think otherwise.
