I sat across the table listening to the pitch. The assignment, should I choose to accept it, would be to record myself reviewing a shopping app, giving my honest opinion. Let’s see… combine my video and Web experience with my love for expressing my never-ending opinion? Where do I sign up! Plus, for less than an hour of my time, I would be compensated what some people make for a week of full time work. Not a bad gig, right?
Here’s the problem. The app, and subsequent review, would also be indirectly promoting a retail giant that I just so happen to despise, a company I have written about in the past (and not so favorably). In fact, it’s the same evil chain that I continue to boycott, for several reasons ranging from their clueless employees and dirty stores to unfair business practices and corporate bullying of the little guys.
But Mama’s got mouths to feed, people. At least that’s what the little money-hungry devil on my shoulder tried to convince me. “Just take the gig and dance your way around the store portion of the review,” Little Lucifer taunted. “Readers would totally understand that you, like millions of other Americans, have to make decisions that best work for you. If that means swallowing your integrity to support your family, so be it!”
I swatted at my shoulder-devil, knocked him to the floor and stepped on him until his little imaginary guts spilled onto the painted concrete. Then I politely declined the offer, explaining that I would be happy to partner on a future project. Because more than new shoes or a family trip to the movies, my kids need a role model, someone who stands up for what she believes, and isn’t afraid to be unpopular.
Now if you added a zero to that offer, that’s a whole new ballgame.
How much is your integrity going for these days?
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Jackie
After 14 years working in network and syndicated television, Jackie's career shifted from the small screen to the computer screen, as the founding editor/spokesperson of a parenting site, produced by Warner Bros. Since then, Jackie's work has included the production of video series and podcasts and writing for television, Web and magazines. Jackie is the co-host of Broadscast, an irreverent web radio show, and the executive editor of TheRickiLakeShow.com.
When not online, Jackie enjoys spending time with family honing her stand up and sarcasm skills , much to the chagrin of her husband and three kids.
I refused to give a major popular magazine a photo I had of the men’s locker room at Beaver Stadium. It wasn’t even the right locker room (it was for a story on the Sandusky scandal) but the editor pursued me a few times. Minimum price would have been perhaps $500. Maximum price around $5,000. I asked a professional photographer if he would do it, he said, “No. I wouldn’t touch that one.”. He gave me the price range for photos for that magazine.
I just turned down a gig because while I liked the product, I didn’t “love” the product and really didn’t feel like I could write about something I wasn’t passionate about. I think integrity is all we really have in this industry.