COMPLAINT about 4a Magazine / 4amagazine.it

[angelahoy]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: COMPLAINT about 4a Magazine / 4amagazine.it
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:03:26 -0400
From: Angela Hoy <angie@booklocker.com>
To: redazione@4amagazine.it, mediarelation@4amagazine.it

June 17, 2009

Katiuscia Matteucci - redazione@4amagazine.it, mediarelation@4amagazine.it
4a Magazine

WritersWeekly.com has received a complaint about:
4a Magazine / 4amagazine.it

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, haven't paid writers money that is 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.

-------------
THE COMPLAINT
-------------

UN (name not published here but was, of course, provided to the pubilsher)
alleges you owe Euro 1000.

See 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 you do owe this person money, we strongly suggest you read
this article before responding:
http://www.writersweekly.com/the_latest_from_angelahoycom/003628_09132006.html

Our report on your firm is scheduled for inclusion in our
publication next Wednesday, though it may appear in our Whispers and
Warnings forum before that time.

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
-----------------

[UN] wrote:

It´s all in the letter below.

No, I did not quote her before publishing. But I asked in two e-mails how much they usually pay and she answered by telling me "you tell me how much and we can make a transfer after the publication". I heard nothing for over a month until I sent an e-mail asking what was happening. Then the story was already published.

The contact person is Katiuscia Matteucci, the magazine name is 4a
Magazine and the e-mail address is; redazione@4amagazine.it

UN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[UN] wrote:

Dear Angela,

I am a Swedish travel writer writing for magazines in Scandinavia, UK, France, Spain and occasionally for the US. I read about your website considering non-paid articles.

A photographer and I sold a story to a fancy design magazine in Italy called 4aMagazine. They bought the piece and published it in April 2009. In my correspondence with the editor (I still have every e-mail) she wrote "you tell me how much and we can make a transfer after the publication". That´s after I have asked in 2 emails how much they would pay. And the answer I get now is that it is too expensive (I´ve charged Euro 1000 which is about half what we get in, for instance Sweden) and that Italians get a maximum of Euro 300 for text + pictures. The last bit I have no possibility to argue with and it doesn´t really matter, the way I see it (though I seriously
doubt that expensive Italy has journalist that could survive on that money).

Best
UN

[angelahoy]

PUBLISHER RESPONDS

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: R: COMPLAINT about 4a Magazine / 4amagazine.it
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:32:20 +0200
From: Direzione4aMagazine <editore@4amagazine.it>

Gentile Angela,

sono il direttore della rivista 4aMagazine, in riferimento al caso del
sig. [UN] vorrei dire che lui ha inviato una mail chiedendo se ci
interessava pubblicare la Ruina Habitada.

La mia collaboratrice Architetto Katiuscia Matteucci ha risposto che
potevamo inserire un articolo con tre foto chiedendo se c'era un
pagamento da fare.

Il signor [UN] non ha mai detto quanto era il costo, anche se noi
abbiamo precisato che comunque sarebbe stato pagato dopo l'uscita del
Magazine.

Lui ci ha mandato le tre foto in alta risoluzione e noi abbiamo
provveduto ad inserirle

citando sia lui che il fotografo, il testo invece non lo abbiamo
inserito perchè troppo grande quindi noi abbiamo provveduto a scrive un
pezzo sulle informazioni fornite da lui.

Il signor [UN] poi ha reclamato la sua parcella dopo un mese ma
senza aver mai firmato un contratto, che noi di solito facciamo, e senza
neanche dirci un costo preventivo. Quando è arrivata la fattura abbiamo
ritenuto che il prezzo di 1000 euro per le tre foto, senza esclusiva e
senza matrice non fosse giusto. La nostra proposta è stata di 300 euro,
come suggerito dall'Albo Nazionale dei Giornalisti in Italia, la cifra è
al di sopra delle parcelle per un servizio di questo genere,
considerando che non è stato

un lavoro che noi abbiamo richiesto su commissione ma una sua proposta
di pubblicazione.

La ringrazio e saluto

Paola Butera

TRANSLATED (roughly) USING GOOGLE'S TRANSLATOR (http://translate.google.com/#):

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Complaint about Magazine 4th / 4amagazine.it
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:32:20 +0200
From: Direzione4aMagazine <editore@4amagazine.it>

Dear Angela,

is the editor of the magazine 4aMagazine, in the case of
sig. [UN] I would say that he sent an email asking if there
interested in publishing the Ruina Habitada.

My collaborator Katiuscia Architect Matteucci said that
could insert an article with three photos, asking if there was a
Payment to be done.

Mr. [UN] never said what was the cost, even if we
however, we stated that it would have been paid after the release of
Magazine.

He sent us three pictures in high resolution and we
proceeded to enter citing both he and the photographer, the text we do not
inserted too big because then we have to write a
part on information provided by him.

Mr. [UN] then claimed his bill after a month but
without ever having signed a contract, which we usually do, and without
even tell us a cost estimate. When the bill arrived we
considered that the price of 1000 euro for the three photos, not exclusive,
without matrix was not right. Our proposal was for 300 euros,
as suggested all year National Journalists in Italy, the figure is
above parcel for a service like this,
Whereas it was not

a job that we asked about a committee, but his proposal
of publication.

Thank you and greetings

Paula Butera

[angelahoy]

WRITERSWEEKLY RESPONDS

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: R: COMPLAINT about 4a Magazine / 4amagazine.it
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:52:09 -0400
To: Direzione4aMagazine <editore@4amagazine.it>, redazione@4amagazine.it, mediarelation@4amagazine.it

Hi Paola,

The writer stated that he twice asked you how much you pay for articles.
You responded by asking him for his price. He quoted you 1000 Euro. You
didn't respond and went ahead and published his work.

It is our opinion that, since you didn't quote him a price when he
asked, and instead asked him how much, and since you went ahead and
published his work after knowing his price, that you owe him 1000 Euro.

Please advise.

Angela Hoy
WritersWeekly.com

[angelahoy]

PUBLISHER RESPONDS

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: R: R: COMPLAINT about 4a Magazine / 4amagazine.it
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:57:11 +0200
From: Direzione4aMagazine <editore@4amagazine.it>

Buongiorno Angela, mi dispiace per l'accaduto ma non è così.
Lo scrittore non ha mai detto una cifra anche se noi più volte lo abbiamo
chiesto.
Abbiamo pubblicato solo le foto e non il suo articolo, e non intendo pagare
ciò che non è stato pubblicato. Inoltre abbiamo una scheda dei prezzi
dell'Ordine dei Giornalisti e noi ci
atteniamo a quella.
Ribadisco che è nostra intenzione pagare 300 euro e non di più, mi rivolgo
al mio avvocato per trovare una soluzione. Grazie a presto
Dott.ssa Paola Butera

Le informazioni contenute in questo messaggio, inviato, unitamente ai suoi
eventuali allegati, mediante sistema di posta elettronica aziendale, sono di
natura confidenziale e riservate all'uso esclusivo del(i) destinatario(i) e
solo per lo scopo riportato nel messaggio stesso. Se il lettore di questo
messaggio non è il destinatario o la persona autorizzata a consegnarlo al
destinatario, con la presente viene informato che qualsiasi modifica,
divulgazione, distribuzione o copia è strettamente proibita. Se ricevete
questo messaggio elettronico per errore, Vi preghiamo di distruggerlo e di
informarci immediatamente via e-mail.

~~~~~

AGAIN, ROUGHLY TRANSLATED USING GOOGLE'S TRANSLATOR:

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Re: Complaint about Magazine 4th / 4amagazine.it
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:57:11 +0200
From: Direzione4aMagazine <editore@4amagazine.it>

Hello Angela, I am sorry for what happened but it is not.
The writer never said a figure even if we have several times the
asked.
We published only the photos and not the article, and I do not intend to pay
what has not been published. We also have a price
the Order of Journalists, and we
stick to that.
I repeat that our intention is to pay 300 euros and no more, I turn
to my lawyer to find a solution. With early
Dr. Paula Butera

[angelahoy]

WRITERSWEEKLY RESPONDS

NOTE: BOLD ITEMS INDICATE EMPHASIS BY WRITERSWEEKLY.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: R: R: COMPLAINT about 4a Magazine / 4amagazine.it
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:28:05 -0400
To: Direzione4aMagazine <editore@4amagazine.it>

Hi Paola,

Below is a copy of the email correspondence between your company and the
writer.

It is clear that he asked you more than once how much you pay. You never
told him. Instead, you asked him to send you a bill.

~~~~~~~~~

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Complaint 4aMedia
Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:10:17 +0200
From: UN

Dear Angela,
below you find the correspondence between me and 4aMagazine.
I hope it´s able to follow. It´s in chronological order from the first
e-mail to the last.
Get back to me if something is not clear.
Best
UN

~~~~~

Hello [UN], I have read carefully and I decided to publish it.
My collaborator, Katiuscia Matteucci, will contact you for more details.
Thank you and I hope in other future collaborations.

Paola Butera

_____________________
Paola Butera - Editor in chief
4aMedia srl - Roma
Via Crescenzio, 20 - 00193 Roma - Italy
M +39 328 8299223 - Skype paolab1501
editore@4amagazine.it
www.4amagazine.it - www.4amedia.it

~~~~~

----- Original Message -----
From: 4amedia srl
To: [UN]
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:53 PM
Subject: La Ruina Habitada

Dear [UN],

Thank you for your consideration about our magazine, we'll be well
pleased to publish these news. Please, send us 4 pictures in hight
resolution (possibly in formed horizontal) at this address:
4amediapress@gmail.com.

Best Regard
--
Paola Butera
4aMedia Srl

~~~~~

Dear Paola,
I could of course send you 4 pictures but I need to know which ones and
how big (in high res they are today 70 MB which is very difficult to
send by e-mail).
And we also need to know how much you pay before I send them.
Best
[UN]

~~~~~

----- Original Message -----
From: 4amedia srl
To: [UN]
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: La Ruina Habitada

Dear [UN], I am glad to publish the house, we ask that you send
to this address between 4 pictures that I saw.
As soon as possible.
You write to me, please, also your bill for this.
Thanks

Paola

~~~~~

2009/2/3 [UN]

Dear Paola,
I´m not really sure what you mean.
We work as a team journalist/photographer doing all kinds of
freelance work.
This is one of the stories we have done and I´m happy you like it
and want to publish it.
But still, we try to make a living as freelancers and won´t be able
to give it away for free.
Not even to your wonderful magazine.
So, please Paola, get back to me and tell me what you want to do.
Best
[UN]

~~~~~

----- Original Message -----
From: 4amedia srl
To: [UN]
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 12:55 PM
Subject: Re: La Ruina Habitada

ok, the pictures are:
kväll 2.jpg
sovloftet.jpg
rummet.jpg
Send me the pictures one at a time at this address.
You tell me how much, we can make a transfer after the publication.
Is it ok?
Ciao
Paola

~~~~~

2009/2/12 [UN]

Excuse me Paola, what happened?
You wanted me to send 4 pictures, did you receive them?
What´s wrong with your web-site, it´s impossible to look at?
Ciao
[UN]

~~~~~

Hello [UN],
I had 3 photos horizontal and that sufficient.
My editing is a job for the layout and we have translated the text
and shortened.
I send you the pdf when it is ready.
My site web is in update, is more beautiful at the End of February

ok, ciao
Paola

~~~~~

Da: [UN]
Inviato: martedì 21 aprile 2009 12.56
A: redazione@4amagazine.it
Oggetto: La Ruina Habitada

Hello,

I have sent a story for publishing to Paola. It´s about a ruin, La
Ruina Habitada, that has been transformed into a home.

I haven´t heard anything from you for months and I need to know if
you still want the story. Or can I send it to other Italian magazines?

Please let me know as soon as possible.

Best

[UN]

~~~~~

----- Original Message -----
From: 4amedia srl
To: [UN]
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:53 PM
Subject: La Ruina Habitada

Dear [UN],
we had published the news in the last issue. Please, tell us your
address so we can send you a copy of the magazine, and your invoice and
your information to do a bank transfer.

Best

Arch. Katiuscia Matteucci
4aMedia srl - Roma
Via Crescenzio, 20 - 00193 Roma - Italy
M +39 333 7592293 - Skype katiuscia.matteucci
redazione@4amagazine.it 4amediapress@gmail.com
www.4amagazine.it - www.4amedia.it


~~~~~

[UN]
Inviato: venerdì 24 aprile 2009 12.27
A: Redazione4aMagazine
Oggetto: Re: La Ruina Habitada

Dear Katiuscia

thank you for answering. I have already sent an invoice by mail to
you but maybe it got lost so you will find it as an attachment to this
email.

I would appreciate if you could send two copies of the magazine, I
want to send one to the architect Jesus Castillo.

Please send them to:

[UN]

~~~~~

Dear [UN],

of course we can sand you two copies of the magazine, but just a
question.why is your invoice so expensive? Please, can you explain us
about it?

Thanks
Arch. Katiuscia Matteucci

~~~~~

Dear Katiuscia,
I asked Paola in three emails (I still have them) how much she
would pay for the story about La Ruina habitada and she said "just send
the photos and then you can send the bill". So I sent an invoice on a
sum that is a lot lower than we usually get paid here in Sweden for a
similar article. I was very distinct in every email I sent that I wanted
her to tell me how much you pay just to avoid any trouble afterwards.
It feels very strange and not very professional to come now and say
that the invoice is too expensive. At this stage we cannot say no to you
using the material since you already have published the story.
We are two professional freelancers who try to make a living out of
writing/photography. And we always try to avoid problems like this by
asking before we sell stories.

[UN]

~~~~~

Dear Katiuscia,
did you receive this message? Now it´s 2 months since I sent my
invoice the first time. I really hope there is no problem?
Also, you promised to send copies of the magazine?
Best
[UN]

~~~~~

----- Original Message -----
From: [UN]
To: Redazione4aMagazine
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 8:22 PM
Subject: Re: La Ruina Habitada

This is the third time I am sending this invoice, dated 30th
March 2009.
The invoice is attached to this e-mail and if this is not paid in
10 days I have to take legal actions.
I really don´t like to do that and I really like the idea of your
magazine.
But we are professionals and also must make a living out of our work.
I really hope we can settle this now.
Regards
[UN]

~~~~~

Dear [UN],

probably you didn't receive may last mail.I forward it to you again.

Best

Arch. Katiuscia Matteucci

Da: Redazione4aMagazine

Inviato: mercoledì 20 maggio 2009 12.00
A: UN
Oggetto: Re: La Ruina Habitada

~~~~~

Dear [UN],

Please, tell us the price of the feature and of the pictures
about Swedich register. We didn't asked the exclusive, you can sell your
news to others magazines or papers. In Italy there is a fixed cost for
journalists and photographers and the total cost about the Italian
register is max ? 300,00.

You never said to us to do a proposition, we work with great
international photographers that for one picture require they take about
? 50,00/80,00.

I'm sorry for the misunderstand. You are free to sell your news
to others. It isn't a job order.

Best
Arch. Katiuscia Matteucci
4aMedia srl - Roma
Via Crescenzio, 20 - 00193 Roma - Italy
M +39 333 7592293 - Skype katiuscia.matteucci
redazione@4amagazine.it 4amediapress@gmail.com
www.4amagazine.it - www.4amedia.it

~~~~~

Dear Katiuscia,
below you find the e-mail conversation between me and Paola.
There is not one word about a fixed price. She writes "you tell me how
much and we can make a transfer after the publication". That´s after I
have asked in 2 emails how much you pay. It couldn´t be more clear.
We never talked about an exclusive and the story has been sold to
other countries. In Sweden (and France and England) the price for text+
pictures for a story like this is about Euro 1800. That´s why I set the
invoice to Euro 1000, to give you a good price.
Once again, if you had told me that the maximum would be Euro 300
I would never have let you buy the story.
But it is too late now since you already have published the story.
In your email you say that I can sell to anybody. But you know as
well as I do that no other Italian magazine or newspaper would buy a
story that already has been published.

Best
[UN]

[angelahoy]

4a Magazine HAS STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE WRITER WHO IS OWED MONEY

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Fwd: [Fwd: Re: R: R: COMPLAINT about 4a Magazine / 4amagazine.it]]
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:13:51 -0400
To: Direzione4aMagazine <editore@4amagazine.it>

It has been 6 days and we have not yet received a response to the 2
emails below.

Angela