How are you getting through the journalism collapse?

Editor's Note: A few weeks ago I started an occasional series here telling the survival stories of freelancers in this journalism collapse. It is the best way to get through it, I believe, by doing it together. You can read about my experience below. If you would like to share your story please e-mail me as little as 200 words or as many as 800 at amybgreen@earthlink.net.

By Amy Green

I have decided to declare war on the recession.

Like most conflicts, this one is born of anger. An editor asked me last week whether I have any experience interviewing. Yes, I do, I said. I explained I have worked as a journalist for more than 10 years. I am a former employee of The Associated Press, the world's largest news organization. I've been on the cover of PEOPLE, the front of The New York Times' National section, and my work also has appeared in Newsweek and The Christian Science Monitor.

Great, the editor said. Then he offered me a horrible pay rate.

Today the written word is so devalued writers virtually are expected to do it for free. Editors feel no shame in this, which makes their behavior even more bizarre. Imagine visiting a doctor's office and saying to the doctor, "I cannot offer any payment for your service, but you'll be gaining valuable exposure and experience." And imagine saying this with a look so pleasant and calm it is clear you do it every day and feel as though it is entirely natural.

That's because for so many writers it is. The tragedy is so many writers go ahead and do the work for free, depressing prices for everyone.

I hear so much talk today about "branding" yourself through the Internet, on sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. And as any conscientious freelancer would I have assembled a nice little online presence for myself through all these sites. But after suffering through article after article about the right and wrong ways to Twitter I wonder, how real is any of this? Are we all only building fake storefronts for ourselves, only to give ourselves away for free once we lure a customer inside? How do we measure success today? Is a writer who blogs and appears on The Huffington Post considered as successful as one who quietly earns $40,000 a year?

For all these reasons I have decided to declare war on the recession.

"This is America," I told Wade after hanging up with the editor. "I created my freelance business. I have run it for seven years. Every shred of success I've had has been all because of me. It is my business, and I am not letting anyone take it away from me."

Wade said I sounded like a woman possessed, and perhaps I was. I sat down at my desk and began calling and e-mailing editors. I called and e-mailed every editor who has neglected to return a message during the past two months. When an assistant asked whether she could take a message I very politely said, "I am a journalist with experience for The New York Times, PEOPLE and Newsweek. Can I just talk to the editor?"

She put me through. I left a message. The next day I called again, and miraculously the editor picked up. He sounded busy and annoyed but promised to look at my clips. A few hours later he e-mailed to say my clips looked good and here is a contract.

"I told you so," I yelled at the computer screen. Since then I've landed two more assignments, I have an editor interested in a third, and a fourth editor e-mailed today to say she wants to work with me. All are for publications that pay reasonably.

I no longer am taking no for an answer. As long as I keep getting them, the war will continue.

Amy Green is chairwoman of SPJ's freelance committee. Her work has appeared in PEOPLE, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. She is based in Orlando, Fla. Visit her Web site at amybgreen.com.