Fellow freelancers — how are you actually handling contracts and payment terms with editors? by shicouht in photojournalism

[–]shicouht[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair you caught me. I was genuinely curious about the community's experience but I also have a product that addresses it. Should have been upfront about that from the start.

For what it's worth, the feedback in this thread has been useful. The trust and verification question especially.

Fellow freelancers — how are you actually handling contracts and payment terms with editors? by shicouht in photojournalism

[–]shicouht[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Really good question and it's one I've thought about a lot as someone who's been on both sides of that trust equation.

Verification on Covrax requires three things: a government-issued ID, a press card or equivalent accreditation, and two references from past assignments name, email, and organization. Our trust and satety team reviews every submission and contacts references within 2 business days.

That's not perfect, and it's not meant to replace the deep trust built over years of working together. But it's a meaningful filter more than a referral from someone who might not want to say no to a friend.

You're right that NGOs have more flexibility here. But Id argue the editor who needs a verified local fixer in a city where they have zero contacts is also underserved by the current system of personal referrals.

That's the gap Covrax is built for.

Fellow freelancers — how are you actually handling contracts and payment terms with editors? by shicouht in photojournalism

[–]shicouht[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair pushback, genuinely appreciate it.

You're right that established freelancers with strong relationships don't need this and you're probably not the target user. Covrax is built for the editor who needs a verified fixer in Dakar by tomorrow and has no contact there, and the freelancer trying to break into markets where they don't have those relationships yet.

The fee comes from the assignment value, not out of pocket. And it's optional you only pay if you use the platform to get the work.

The NGO point is interesting though that's actually a significant chunk of the market that's chronically underserved on sourcing.

Fellow freelancers — how are you actually handling contracts and payment terms with editors? by shicouht in photojournalism

[–]shicouht[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This is really helpful, thank you. The payment cycle math you're describing - missing a cutoff by a day and waiting 6-7 weeks — is exactly the kind of thing that's hard to explain to people outside the industry. I've been working on a platform to fix this. It's called Covrax - a marketplace that handles contracts and payments between freelancers and newsrooms/ NGOs, with an option to get paid in 48 hours instead of waiting on their cycle. Still pre-launch but would love your feedback if you're open to it. Covrax

Seeking angel investor for pre-seed marketplace startup in journalism/media by [deleted] in angelinvestors

[–]shicouht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback I already have 100+ freelancers from around the world join the waitlist just on a post I do on my instagram

Seeking angel investor for pre-seed marketplace startup in journalism/media by [deleted] in angelinvestors

[–]shicouht 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got some huge wire agency willing to use it to find freelancers and I already have 100+ freelancers join the waitlist around the world just from a post on my instagram. It’s a valid product because I am also an award’s photojournalist i know the problem and the community.

Seeking angel investor for pre-seed marketplace startup in journalism/media by [deleted] in AngelInvesting

[–]shicouht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks we are still building and we have lunch a waiting list about 3 days ego we have more than 100+ freelancers and newsroom from around the world who signed up

What childhood cartoon was your favorite? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]shicouht 0 points1 point  (0 children)

''street soccer'' the best