tough break, kid
I got kind of a blow today. For the first time, probably not the last, that nepotism has bitten me in the ass.
As many of you know, I have an "in" in the marine journalism industry because my father is a huge figure in that circle (weird, huh?). Much of the writing and photography work I do is in that industry which is usually pretty sweet because I get to do destination pieces, some passable photography, a little about boats, etc. I don't do any technical work because that is totally out of my area of expertise. I know little about fishing and only slightly more about recreational boats. An editor of mine, who has been very good to me in the past, just emailed me an article idea:
Mariah, we want to do a piece on outriggers, sort of a "spring tuning" bit. Interested?
I know what outriggers are and what they're for, but other than that I am totally unqualified to write this article. My editor knows this. He also knows that my father is the leading expert in the recreational boating and saltwater fishing industries (this editor and my dad have known each other for many years). What I have a problem with is that I could write this piece and get $700 for it, but I would have to rely very heavily on my dad to help me. Basically, he would be the one doing all the work, which the editor MUST realize. I feel like this editor is using me to get a heavily discounted Dean Clarke piece on fine-tuning outriggers. It just seems shady and makes me feel bad.
As many of you know, I have an "in" in the marine journalism industry because my father is a huge figure in that circle (weird, huh?). Much of the writing and photography work I do is in that industry which is usually pretty sweet because I get to do destination pieces, some passable photography, a little about boats, etc. I don't do any technical work because that is totally out of my area of expertise. I know little about fishing and only slightly more about recreational boats. An editor of mine, who has been very good to me in the past, just emailed me an article idea:
Mariah, we want to do a piece on outriggers, sort of a "spring tuning" bit. Interested?
I know what outriggers are and what they're for, but other than that I am totally unqualified to write this article. My editor knows this. He also knows that my father is the leading expert in the recreational boating and saltwater fishing industries (this editor and my dad have known each other for many years). What I have a problem with is that I could write this piece and get $700 for it, but I would have to rely very heavily on my dad to help me. Basically, he would be the one doing all the work, which the editor MUST realize. I feel like this editor is using me to get a heavily discounted Dean Clarke piece on fine-tuning outriggers. It just seems shady and makes me feel bad.