by Ann Kjellberg, editor Bookstagrammers have created thriving communities of previously isolated readers longing for connection, while selling many many books. Should they be paid?
Great article. I do think Bookstagrammers should be compensated for their work- as well as freelance reviewers and editors, MUCH more than they are now. How this is supposed to happen, I don't know. Perhaps there could be a fund like BINC (that supports booksellers) for Bookstagrammers (or even freelance book reviewers for that matters) - publishers can pay into this, and then it gets distributed. This would feel less like publishers paying directly for a review or coverage, but I don't see how the situation changes otherwise. Publishers used to spend much more on print advertising...and now they don't , but then spend on Google, Facebook and INstagram ads.
Oh sorry I missed this until now! Interesting idea. I think Binc is really a charitable organization that comes to the rescue of those who apply for aid; it's not set up to support booksellers across the industry. Reviewers and editors are paid by publications (subscribers) not publishers... Jaron Lanier has said that if people paid modestly for social media content the underlying economy of it would be more transparent. It's Instagram/Facebook that is the "publisher" here, and ultimately the one making the profit, with Instagrammers giving them their content for free. Thanks for reading and writing and keeping me thinking about this!
But this does make me think beyond the disappointment of more and inevitable commodification of internet creativity. At first it was cool—wow, tiktok selling books!
But moving through that, I notice that I always learn something from Book Post. Sometimes, as in posts in the past weeks, it’s hearing a grownup voice dethroning the authors I worshipped last time I thought of them, sometimes it’s just how deep the product placement runs. The perspective always opens my understanding, letting me into the space to see and evaluate and enjoy the written word that much more.
Thank you so much! It means so much to hear from you guys out there. It's such an intimate form, this newsletter thing. Different feeling from a magazine that is on some shelf for everyone to see. But it can all feel very quiet sometimes and it's wonderful to know when our posts strike a chord! I really recommend the Town Hall with the Bookstagrammers. They seem like very dedicated and intense people--it's not so much about selling something for them as keeping an ecosystem going and being respected. They are very aware that *someone* is making money from the work they are doing...
Nancy, thank you, that's so illuminating! So when a Bookstagrammer is paid by your department, is that indicated at all in their posts? (Have a look at the Town Hall: these Bookstagrammers seem never to have been considered for a paid gig and the publishing reps there did not indicate that they had paid Bookstagrammers.) I'd love to know what you think about my follow-up tomorrow!
Great article. I do think Bookstagrammers should be compensated for their work- as well as freelance reviewers and editors, MUCH more than they are now. How this is supposed to happen, I don't know. Perhaps there could be a fund like BINC (that supports booksellers) for Bookstagrammers (or even freelance book reviewers for that matters) - publishers can pay into this, and then it gets distributed. This would feel less like publishers paying directly for a review or coverage, but I don't see how the situation changes otherwise. Publishers used to spend much more on print advertising...and now they don't , but then spend on Google, Facebook and INstagram ads.
Oh sorry I missed this until now! Interesting idea. I think Binc is really a charitable organization that comes to the rescue of those who apply for aid; it's not set up to support booksellers across the industry. Reviewers and editors are paid by publications (subscribers) not publishers... Jaron Lanier has said that if people paid modestly for social media content the underlying economy of it would be more transparent. It's Instagram/Facebook that is the "publisher" here, and ultimately the one making the profit, with Instagrammers giving them their content for free. Thanks for reading and writing and keeping me thinking about this!
This is a really interesting topic to contemplate. You have raised questions I hadn’t thought of. Looking forward to more discussion!
Thanks for reading and responding! Have a look at the comment above from Nancy. Looks like there are a lot of different arrangements out there...
I wish I was shocked.
But this does make me think beyond the disappointment of more and inevitable commodification of internet creativity. At first it was cool—wow, tiktok selling books!
But moving through that, I notice that I always learn something from Book Post. Sometimes, as in posts in the past weeks, it’s hearing a grownup voice dethroning the authors I worshipped last time I thought of them, sometimes it’s just how deep the product placement runs. The perspective always opens my understanding, letting me into the space to see and evaluate and enjoy the written word that much more.
Thank you, Book Post!
Thank you so much! It means so much to hear from you guys out there. It's such an intimate form, this newsletter thing. Different feeling from a magazine that is on some shelf for everyone to see. But it can all feel very quiet sometimes and it's wonderful to know when our posts strike a chord! I really recommend the Town Hall with the Bookstagrammers. They seem like very dedicated and intense people--it's not so much about selling something for them as keeping an ecosystem going and being respected. They are very aware that *someone* is making money from the work they are doing...
Nancy, thank you, that's so illuminating! So when a Bookstagrammer is paid by your department, is that indicated at all in their posts? (Have a look at the Town Hall: these Bookstagrammers seem never to have been considered for a paid gig and the publishing reps there did not indicate that they had paid Bookstagrammers.) I'd love to know what you think about my follow-up tomorrow!
How interesting! That's so much for filling us in! It is amazing this whole new thing they have created.