Valnet, a digital media investment company behind multiple gaming, technology, and lifestyle sites, has issued new “Pay Per Session” contracts to writers and editors. The terms are described as rewarding top-performing articles, but they also include a minimum views threshold below which writers receive no payment. Valnet has a history of negative treatment of staff and freelance writers, including accusations of content-mill practices and poor pay. The company has also faced claims of copyright strikes against YouTube videos critical of it and blacklisting writers who complain. Lex Luddy reported that “permalance” staff received revised agreements with minimum article viewership requirements for payment.
"Valnet, the self-proclaimed "leading digital media investment company" behind the likes of , OpenCritic , and over a dozen more gaming, technology, and lifestyle websites, isn't known for paying its freelance writers well. But new "Pay Per Session" contracts issued to writers and editors at on May 21 threaten to break new ground when it comes to click-mill-style exploitation."
"According to details outlined in TheGamer's Slack, these new terms, mandated by Valent management, would "reward top-performing articles." However, last learned, based on the details outlined in the newly issued contracts, that the proposed "performance structure" would also result in writers not being paid at all if their articles do not exceed a minimum threshold of views."
"Valnet has previously been accused of copyright striking YouTube videos that include negative statements about it and blacklisting writers who complain about how little they're paid. One of those writers is Lex Luddy, the editor in chief of Startmenu and a former junior editor at , who stated earlier today in a post on Bluesky that "permalance" staff at the site were recently issued new contracts."
"The revised agreements require "a minimum article viewership threshold for payment," and some staff at the site a"
#freelance-pay #digital-media-companies #content-mills #performance-based-contracts #copyright-and-platform-disputes
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