On 5 September this one year, Akhtaruzzaman Azad, a Bangladeshi creator and columnist, printed an editorial on his Facebook net page in regards to the proposed commerce to Bangladesh’s national anthem, a subject below discussion within the nation on the time.
Within the three,600-discover article, Azad asked for Pathok Sommani, or reader’s gratitude, a discover he began in April 2020. He equipped the number of a mobile finance provider tale where readers could send money.
Azad reported receiving Tk92,000 for that single article — the very supreme he has received for a single article thru this model. Right thru the final four years, Azad has printed more than 120 such articles.
“When I began this, many suggested me it became an internationally recognised efficiency model, already widely aged by musicians and artists. After I began, I seen Bangladeshi creators and artistes accepting it as well,” Azad said.
Within the closing two years, Arif Rahman, but every other Bangladeshi creator, has posted over 80 such articles on his Facebook net page, soliciting for Pronami. These articles generally fluctuate from 700 to 800 phrases. At the starting up,
Arif received a solid response from readers, nonetheless over time, the pastime seemed as if it could most likely decline.
“At the starting up, I even opinion to be quitting my job to originate that elephantine-time,” said Arif, a Dhaka-based journalist, adding, “We writers comprise a tear social media viewers, and for them, it works indulge in a subscription model. But sooner or later, readers will also feel they’ve already ‘paid’ the creator, growing a barrier.”
This, he says, is why pastime generally wanes.
The social media “chain reaction,” on the opposite hand, can furthermore play a solid role; when an editorial is widely shared, folk from diversified backgrounds have a tendency to gaze it and could send money. But this momentum generally peaks within three days, in keeping with Arif, even if it could most likely generally closing up to a week, ensuing in inconsistent enhance.
“Aloof, I’ve by no map posted a write-up that earned nothing. A minimal of some amount continually is obtainable in,” he added.
Arif’s earnings for every article comprise diversified, from Tk2 to as a lot as Tk10,000 from a single reader. On practical, he has earned round Tk2,500 for every of his 80 articles. “Most readers notify Tk50–70 is a first price amount, though before every thing, the in style became Tk100.”
Worship Arif and Azad, other writers, poets, and even singers comprise adopted this model, soliciting for Pathok Sommani or Course Pronami. This model permits readers to straight enhance creators financially thru mobile fee systems as they publish their work on social media platforms.
Poet Shoikot Amin sees it as “nearly indulge in efficiency work”.
“Writers are furthermore performing artists, in a potential. In many countries, are residing performers are given systems or rewards indulge in meals. Why can not we originate the same? If we pay to help are residing concerts, why no longer pay a creator for his or her work?” Shoikot commented.
Why are writers adopting this idea?
Akhtaruzzaman Azad writes lengthy-mark articles on political points, generally criticising the authorities and political figures. “When I began, publishing such articles became complex; most newspapers had been reluctant because of the policies and filters. So, I made a decision to publish on my social media net page, where I alone became responsible,” Azad outlined.
“Additionally, Bangladeshi newspapers, on practical, pay Tk500–2,000 for articles and on-line portals provide even less. And even then, now we must bolt them for fee,” he added.
Writing these pieces involves tall learn and time investment, generally with risks below authorized systems indulge in the Cyber Security Act. “Every article takes round 10–12 hours to total. After posting it, about a likes and shares originate no longer feel indulge in dazzling compensation. That is why I began soliciting for honorarium,” he shared.
Azad leaves the fee originate-ended, allowing readers to pay whatever amount they need. Here’s how his shuffle with Pathok Sommani, or honorarium from readers, began. As an self sustaining creator, he doesn’t discover a mounted time table; he posts articles in keeping with relevance and context, generally publishing appropriate form one article every three months or two in a week.
Arif Rahman began the usage of this model on Facebook in 2022, impressed by one in every of his licensed poets, Rahman Mofiz.
“On the different hand, I try and wait on tear ethics. I piece political solutions and non-public solutions on my platform nonetheless most attention-grabbing ask for enhance for characteristic articles that are honest, well-sourced and truth-checked,” he said. Arif’s focal point is on comparative theology and cultural reviews.
His articles on social media are generally piece of higher tasks or upcoming books. On the different hand, when he involves them in a e book, he has to plan changes to plan continuity.
“Let’s consider, after I wrote Bidrohi Puran, every chapter became over 5,000 phrases, which is too lengthy for social media. I made adjustments to publish them as standalone articles on-line. For the e book, I linked them more seamlessly,” he outlined.
One of Arif’s motivations for this model became the challenges he faced with oldschool publishing. “The time and expenses of writing a manuscript far exceed the royalties I compose. For Bidrohi Puran, I spent Tk50,000 on learn materials, nonetheless the 10% e book royalty could now not conceal even half the investment,” Arif significant.
He added, “Bangladesh’s publishing industry intently favours publishers, with most authors receiving royalties of most attention-grabbing 10–15%. As a creator, if my e book is priced at Tk500, I web appropriate form Tk50 in royalties. How can one wait on a residing on that?”
Readers desire a non-public reference to authors, and thru Course Pronami, this relationship is straight forged.
Poet Shoikot Amin shares Arif’s concerns about royalties in Bangladesh’s publishing industry and the necessity for different earnings sources.
Previous to launching on social media, Shoikot examined this model with his poetry e book Bomar Kholoshe Buddha (Buddha within the Jacket of an Explosive), printed on the Amar Ekushey Guide Ultimate 2020 with out a attach of residing tag, in its place leaving fee originate-ended.
“Some paid Tk2, while one reader paid Tk2,000. It be no longer essentially sustainable for the industry, nonetheless I wanted to undercover agent how readers valued poetry,” Shoikot said.
Since then, he has posted 15–20 articles on social media, receiving Tk2,000–2,500 on practical within 24 hours of e-newsletter. Shoikot believes Pathok Sommani generally is a supply of inspiration for writers.
Now not all is rosy in this model though.
Copyright infringement is a in style yelp for these writers. Whereas Shoikot Amin views copying as a mark of flattery and has by no map acted in opposition to “disclose thieves,” Azad has taken motion in opposition to no longer no longer up to three folk.
“Through local police stations, I held them responsible. On the different hand, I finally stopped pursuing these conditions, because it became time-involving and led to calls from their family pronouncing the ‘thieves’ had been experiencing wrong harm,” Azad said.
