Monday 16 July 2012

Discussion:: Should Book Bloggers Get Paid For Their Reviews?


This morning author Michelle Gorman of Misfortune Cookie wrote about an experience she had with ChicLit Girls when she asked if they would review her book. They responded with a letter stating a good review would cost $95.00. This is where the drama begins. If you want to read the emails exchanged, I suggest you check out Michelle's blog

Let's weigh in on the subject at hand--should they be paid for their reviews? ChicLit Girls stated that Kirkus charges for their reviews. Which they do, $425-$575 per review. I find that steep, but not unreasonable. They are professionals. Once the book has been reviewed, the author has the right to do with it what they want--publish it on the site or not. The question is not if Kirukus should be charging but if book bloggers should charge for their reviews?

What say you?

We'd all love to be paid for doing what we love. I love to read and if somebody paid me to do it I would feel I hit the jackpot. I understand that these book bloggers are just trying to get paid for doing what they love, but I'm not sure I would categorize them as book bloggers any longer if they were receiving monetary compensation for reviews. Book bloggers work countless hours {for free} to promote books. We don't have the kind of monetary sponsors the rest of the blogging world does. We are lucky if we get free books. What I find shady is that they are stating that they will provide a good review for the price of $95.00. That doesn't sound like an honest review to me. Heck, I only accept books for review I think will knock my feet off! Don't we all do that? But, we're not guaranteeing a good review before we've read the book. They should also be clearly stating on each subsequent review {and their website} if they were paid for their opinion. All in the name of full disclosure. I'd like to know which books paid for a review, but I'd be hard pressed to find it honest. I don't know if I could trust it.

But why aren't we charging for our reviews? Wouldn't you like to be paid for your hard work? I'm not charging because I do not personally have the credentials to do it. I don't feel that book bloggers hold that kind of klout in the industry. Most authors and publisher's aren't even sure how to deal with book bloggers. They are trying to figure out how we fit into the marketing plan. I book blog because I love reading. I love talking about good books. I don't want to be the kind of person that only talks about books that I've been paid to talk about. A marketing tool to be used however author's and publisher's want. I don't feel I would be able to give unbiased opinions on books if I was being paid per review. I do find ethics come in to question when one guarantee's a good review, for a fee, without having read the book. Readers want honesty. I know I do. 


Do you think Book Bloggers should be paid for their reviews? Let's get a good discussion going. 

13 comments:

  1. I completely agree with you. Book bloggers are not professionals and should not be paid. And reviews should be honest! Why would you want to read reviews that you know someone paid for a good one? Personally, I was ecstatic when authors started to offer me books for my honest opinion. I think that's what book blogging should be: sharing your honest opinion with others. You should be doing it because you love it, not because someone is paying you.

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    1. I think that newspapers and magazines are professionals and deserve the right for paid reviews. Their subscriptions cost money to run and therefore if you want space there, you need to pay. But, a book blog? No way. The point of book blogging is sharing honest opinions. I don't think I could trust a paid review.

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  2. This is really interesting. I definitely do not think book bloggers should be paid, unless it is a proffessional journalism site or newspaper. I love book blogging and reading, and although getting paid for it would be amazing, we are technically being paid - in books! Also, if the reviewer didn't like the book, why would you want to pay someone to disencourage your book?
    Thanks for sharing, Mary! :)

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    1. Kirkus will review the book and the author/publisher can decide what they want to do with it. If they choose they can have it published on the site. But, these book bloggers were guaranteeing a positive review for the $95. Without having read the book. That's unethical in my book.

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  3. I don't think I could trust any review that was paid for. I must prefer the honesty that comes with a review by a friend or a fellow book blogger. :)

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  4. I'm with you 100%. I feel like when I get a book in exchange for a review we are in a win-win situation. I read because I love it. What is better than finding a new book to love and sharing it with everyone? Great post. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I think, like you, I don't have a problem with them charging for reviews. If people are actually willing to pay, why not? I can't see why an author would pay that amount to these people, but maybe some people will.

    What I do find disturbing is that they pretty much guarantee they can give this book a positive review in exchange for the money, without having read it.

    When I look for books, I read the blurb, read what my friends on Goodreads are saying, read samples, etc. to decide if it might be something that interests me. Sometimes I'm wrong. How can you know for sure you will like a book before reading it?

    I can only conclude that, even if they don't like it, they routinely lie and say they do. Why would someone want to publish a blog full of lies, is what I can't understand. It must be for the money. I do find that part unethical and mind-boggling.

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    1. Right! The issue isn't that they charge for reviews, it is that they are guaranteeing a positive review for a fee. That is what makes it unethical. Charging for reviews is just a way they are trying to make money with all their hard work and I don't have a problem with that. I don't know why would actually pay for it from a book blogger, but that isn't the issue.

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  6. I think that for professional journals, like Kirkus,it's okay to pay for a review -- because the review is done by a professional reviewer. For the most part, it seems like book bloggers, myself included, post our personal reviews just because we like to share our opinions on what we're reading. I think that telling an author that you can guarantee them a great review if they pay you seems a little shady .... If I were an author, I'd rather have a bunch of honest opinions, than great opinions that I have paid for to receive. Just my opinion. :)

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    1. So true. I wonder how many author's actually paid for reviews?! I'm dying to know. It wouldn't be worth it to me as an author to have a lie as a review.

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  7. I think if they want you to do a review with them then they should provide you with a copy of said book. I think I am along the line that you are. If your a professional yes you should get paid but there are SOOOOO may people who blog that you can't say your professional because you have a blog. ANY ONE can start a blog! I think they stuck their foot in their mouths when they said if you want a GOOD review it will cost $$$ If it's good it's good give me your HONEST opinion not a paid one!

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  8. If they would charge for an honest review, I could understand it. Blogging takes a lot of time. But on the other hand: you do get a free book, so it's a nice deal if you get one and you write a review about it.. I'd feel blessed if I'd receive ARC'S! I've started blogging, because I love talking about books: I love reading. I never expected to get paid for it.

    And saying 'it takes a lot of time and effort', that's true: but nobody is forcing you.

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  9. I am not a professional, I am a mom who happens to have some free time and loves talking about books. I get enough freebies out of my blog to feel like I'm getting paid (and I don't really get many ARCs, I rely on the library and a generous book budget and great used bookstore for most of my books!)

    I can understand Kirkus fees, they are PROFESSIONALS. (Although the prices seem a bit steep! And, I have to question if they are honest reviews.) I absolutely do NOT agree with writing a dishonest review. I rely on reviews when I'm buying books, and to find out that someone wrote one on a book they didn't read, or a positive one just for the sake of getting paid? That bugs the heck out of me!!

    So yeah - no, charging is NOT acceptable. Unless it's for a publication or other professional situation. But not for Joe-Schmoe-Blogger.

    -Jac @ For Love and Books

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