Gridiron Sports Magazine / GSN Publications / Bernard King

[angelahoy]

From: Angela Hoy
To: gridironsportsmagazine@hotmail.com, bernardking@nextel.blackberry.net
Subject: COMPLAINT about Gridiron Sports Magazine
Date sent: Mon, 03 Apr 2006 10:28:02 -0400

April 3, 2006

Gridiron Sports Magazine
C. Jemal Horton, Editor - gridironsportsmagazine@hotmail.com
Bernard King, Associate Publisher - bernardking@nextel.blackberry.net

WritersWeekly.com has received a complaint about:
Gridiron Sports Magazine / GSN Publications / Bernard King

WritersWeekly.com is a publication that publishes information for and
about freelance writers. The publication is the largest-circulation
freelance writing ezine in the world.

As part of that information, WritersWeekly.com publishes a Warnings
section on its website and in its newsletter. This warning section
contains reports about publications that are unprofessional in dealing
with writers, have refused to pay writers money owed to them, who have
not abided by their contracts, or who have unfair contract terms. These
reports are used by WritersWeekly.com's subscribers to decide which
publications they should and should not work with.

Your firm has been submitted to us for inclusion in the
WritersWeekly.com Whispers and Warnings section.

Step one of our investigation of this report is to gather all relevant
correspondence between your publication and the person submitting the
complaint so that we can piece together that person's side of the story.
Step one of our investigation has been completed.

K.S. (name removed for publication but was, of course, provided to
the publisher) alleges you owe her $990.85 and that you owe other
writers money as well. See complete allegation under my signature.

-----------------
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
-----------------

The second step in our investigation is to send this communication to
your firm to get its side of the story. If you have evidence disputing
these allegations, or would like to make your own statement about these
allegations for publication in our report, please email
angela@writersweekly.com within two business days.

***All correspondence for our investigations must be in writing and is
subject to publication.***

If there is no response to these allegations, WritersWeekly.com will
still publish this complaint, but our readers will not be able to read
your side of the story.

We appreciate your prompt response in this matter.

Angela Hoy
Publisher
WritersWeekly.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE COMPLAINT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: K.S.
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 12:55:46 EST
Subject: for whispers & warnings

Hi Angela,

I have a problem with a "publication" - Gridiron Sports Magazine and
its publisher, Bernard King. Myself and about ten other freelancers
were promised thirty cents a word to write assignments for
this publication. I have personally written five pieces for them to date.

I sent an email to the other writers, to learn that none of them has been
compensated either. The statement from the ghost at the "publication" is
that the magazine has not been published yet but is expected to be in two weeks.
I have been getting this same song and dance for ten months.

I wrote five pieces for a total of 2,831 words at .35 a word. He owes
me $990.85.

~~~~~

Dear Writers:

Thank you for your interest in writing for Gridiron Sports.

You have been assigned to write stories about members of the 2006
Gridiron Sports Super Team, our version of a Super Bowl team that feature
the NFL's elite. This letter is to inform you of the guidelines involved
with that story. Please view the attachment to this e-mail and look for your name
in bold print beneath the player(s) you have been assigned.

-- You will write a story explaining why the players you have been
assigned are worthy of being on the Super Team. Highlight what makes them
unique as players and/or people. Use statistics and/or observations about
their playing ability to support why they are among the NFL's elite.

-- Each story will be no more than 500 words.
-- The pay rate is 35 cents per published word.
-- The due date is Jan. 22, 2006, by 11:59 p.m.
-- E-mail your story to gridironsportsmagazine@hotmail.com.

Thank you, in advance, for your time.

Please e-mail Gridiron Sports Magazine confirming that you have read
this e-mail and received your writing assignment.

Sincerely,
Bernard King
Associate Publisher
Gridiron Sports Magazine

~~~~~

Ok Guys,

this the final update of the articles. We are getting ready to go to
press the layout is complete and the only thing we need is the articles
updated to date. Chris I have your articles. Steven, I am just waiting on your
other article and your done with your updating also. Kenneth and Keeley, it's
not much that you guys really have to do, but go ahead and make sure
eveything is still intact though. Kenneth, I am not going to publish the...

[This part of email was removed because involved specifics on each writer's article.]

Please have articles by December 23, 2005 so we can get the press ready.

~~~~~
PUBLISHER RESPONDS
~~~~~

From: "Gridiron Magazine" <gridironsportsmagazine@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: COMPLAINT about Gridiron Sports Magazine
Date sent: Tue, 04 Apr 2006 20:44:23 +0000

Per your email, Gridiron is a start up magazine. The agreement with
writers was payment within 45 days after publication of the magazine. The
magazine is scheduled for print in April of 2006.
Thanks for for inquiry
Bernard

~~~~~
WRITER RESPONDS
~~~~~

From: K.S.
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2006 17:58:50 EDT
Subject: Re: (Fwd) RE: COMPLAINT about Gridiron Sports Magazine

Hi Angela,

As I stated earlier, they have been singing that same song to me for over
ten months. So, if that's the way they want to play it; now you have their
deadline to publish in print. Let's wait 'til May, if they claim another delay.

Thanks bunchs,

Keeley

~~~~~
WRITERS SENDS REMINDER TO US IN MAY
~~~~~

From: K.S.
Subject: whispers and warnings
Date sent: Wed, 10 May 2006 15:23:31 EDT

Hi Angela,

Just checking in about the Gridiron Magazine warning that I initiated a
couple of months back. I wrote to Bernard King about the promise of the
April publishing and of course he won't reply.

~~~~~
WRITERSWEEKLY CONTACTS PUBLISHER AGAIN
~~~~~

From: Angela Hoy <angela@writersweekly.com>
To: "Gridiron Magazine" <gridironsportsmagazine@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: COMPLAINT about Gridiron Sports Magazine
Date sent: Thu, 11 May 2006 11:49:01 -0400
Copies to: bernardking@nextel.blackberry.net


Hi Bernard,

April has passed and still no print magazine. Please provide an update.

Angela Hoy
WritersWeekly.com

AS OF THIS POSTING, THE PUBLISHER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO OUR INQUIRY.