Summary

The editor of "Britain and Ireland" is facing challenges with image licensing and writer compliance with submission guidelines, leading to anxiety and a struggle to balance editorial standards with empathy for contributors.

Abstract

The editor has recently established a new publication, "Britain and Ireland," and is encountering issues with contributors submitting stories with improperly licensed images, which cannot be used behind a paywall. Despite clear guidelines stating the use of Unsplash images, personal images, or other correctly licensed images, the editor is experiencing difficulty in rejecting submissions that do not comply, causing anxiety and a dilemma over whether to assist writers by sourcing suitable images. The editor, who also has a job, personal life, and their own writing, is finding the task of maintaining the publication's aesthetic standards while adhering to copyright laws to be more time-consuming and stressful than anticipated. The editor has suggested that writers should select images before writing their stories to ensure they meet the necessary criteria and has emphasized the importance of high-quality images for the travel-focused publication.

Opinions

The editor is strict about image licensing due to the liability for copyright breaches and the associated fines.
There is a strong preference for using Unsplash, Pixabay, or Pexel for images, or for writers to use their own enhanced photos.
The editor feels compelled to help writers by finding alternative images, despite the time and mental energy it requires.
The editor is conflicted about responding quickly to submissions versus taking the time to consider their responses properly.
There is an acknowledgment that the editor may be overthinking the situation and that it is causing undue anxiety.
The editor believes that the visual quality of the publication is crucial and that grey, washed-out pictures are unacceptable for a travel-focused publication.
The editor is hesitant to reject submissions due to the effort already put in by the writers, even if the images are not correctly licensed.
The editor feels like they are being overly critical or harsh when enforcing the guidelines, which is not their intention.
The editor suggests that writers should ensure the availability of suitable images before writing their stories to avoid these issues.

Am I An Editor From Hell?

Picture licencing is proving to be a problem

About a week ago, I started a new publication called Britain and Ireland. I invited submissions, added some writers, and received some good stories, with great pictures. I was on a roll!

But already I’ve run into problems. I’ve just rejected a story because the CC image licence is restricted — it does not allow monetary gain, and the story is behind a paywall.

My submission guidelines are very clear that people should either use Unsplash images or use their own images. If they must, other images that are correctly licenced for use behind a paywall are also OK. I’m strict about this, because as publisher, I’m liable for fines associated with copyright breaches.

I HATE saying no!

But when people don’t follow those guidelines, I HATE having to say no. It actually causes me a lot of anxiety. I end up wondering whether I should help the writer and try to source suitable images for their story myself.

I’m compelled to help; to look for alternative images. I spend time and mental energy worrying about whether if I turn something down, I’m being too harsh. Part of me wants to take time to consider how to respond, but I also feel I should respond quickly… because to keep people waiting is rude.

But the trouble is, I’ve got a job, a life, and my own stories to write. I don’t have time to fix problems with people’s images, and I don’t want it to cause me anxiety. I’m sure I’m over-thinking this!

A few days ago, with an author’s permission, I put an image through a filter to enhance it, because otherwise it was going to be grey and washed out on the publication’s feed. Thankfully they were agreeable to that, and it was fine.

One grey, washed out picture is fine occasionally, but if they’re coming in daily and filling the ‘latest stories’ feed, it’s going to undermine what I’m trying to achieve with the publication.

My publication has a travel focus. Have you ever seen a travel brochure full of grey washed out pictures? Of course not. Good images are important.

Unsplash is limited, I know. But I manage to find images that are suitable for my own stories. Sometimes they’re not perfect, but that’s OK. I also use my own images, which I spend time digitally enhancing, so they’re good.

There are other options. There’s Pixabay and Pexel, who both licence images for commercial use. Press Offices can be helpful too.

If images are going to be a problem, perhaps writers should look at what images are available before they start, then write their stories with those in mind.

I don’t want to knock people down

I appreciate people’s enthusiasm and I don’t want to knock people down. I know they’ve gone to some effort to source a photograph, even when it doesn’t have the correct permissions. That’s why I find it hard to say no.

I’d just prefer they find something on Unsplash that does the job! And if they really can’t find something that’s both legal and reasonably good, perhaps the story isn’t right for my publication.

Anyway, right now. I feel like an editor from hell, and I’m sorry about that, but this is harder than I thought!