This has happened to me! Had an interview with this magazine, and they showed interest on me; I was called on to the 2nd and 3rd interview. The 3rd interview was actually an "induction" as I was introduced to everyone in the office and was asked for cover ideas for the next issue. Unfortunately, I did not get the job; but ironic enough the mag issues that followed had my cover suggestions and some adjustments were made on the mag which I had discussed with the Editor & Consulting Editor of that mag! When I asked about reason for not being hired, I was told I was "too old for the market!". Not that I'm not old, but it's interesting to know that someone at age 28 is "too old"!!!

To think my idea landed on the cover! Btw, 28 is NOT old!

What was the idea that you pitched to the Ed? Without saying what it was, or at least giving some sort of hint, it's very hard to determine whether you were in fact a victim of "idea-theft", or whether, as is often the case in the media world, it was simply a coincidence.

In my case, I'd call it genuine idea-theft. Since what was discussed in the interview (e.g. the cover idea) was eventually implemented.

It's hard out there for a pimp!

I'm sorry, people, but if you share an idea with someone, in any way, shape, or form, you can't seriously expect it to be protected by any kind of tacit or actual agreement on the sanctity of ideas.
Truly creative people are only too happy to share their ideas with others, because they know that ideas are just that - ideas.
So stop complaining about people who "steal" your "ideas", and start turning your ideas into action. That's the only way you'll earn respect/admiration/money in any line of business.
For instance, we all know who invented the electric light-bulb...Thomas Alva Edison, right? Wrong. He didn't invent it all all. He simply took an existing idea, improved on it, and made it work.
So you can say he "stole" someone else's idea, but the truth is, he was the one who made that idea work in practice. Same applies to any idea you might care to mention to an Editor!

That's stealing not improving an idea...

It's true about what happens but I totally disagree with the notion that companies can steal people's ideas all willy-nilly becuase you work for them! There must be a way of acknowledging whose idea it is. You make it seem so normal and right ...it isn't! You're probably one of those "bosses" who thrive on stealing their subordinates' ideas and you're just too comfortable with it. It's wrong!

Just goes to show how the some people lack basic morals. So, all you do is change the idea a bit and it is alright? So, does that make Plagiarism right? You just use someones idea and make it better?
Shame on you!

disgusting!

The debate is about the alleged stealing of ideas, not the stealing of actual work. If someone steals your work, they're plagiarising. If someone steals an idea, well, they're just stealing an idea, and there is, unfortunately, no copyright on ideas.

it's stealing actual work - which in turn is stealing an actual idea.

...the whole point is, there's no point complaining about it when it happens.
In fact, you should feel happy when someone steals your idea, because it's a confirmation that your idea has value! (Then again, you may just be flattering yourself, and what you perceive as "theft" may simply be coincidence.)
The fact is, people in the creative industries borrow/steal/appropriate/plunder ideas from each all the time. Picasso did it, Quentin Tarantino does it, South African advertising agencies do it without shame or apology.
Only amateurs and prima donnas complain about their ideas being stolen...professionals just shrug their shoulders and get on with the job.

No wonder you don't see it as wrong.

Do I say anywhere that stealing an idea is is the "right" thing to do? All I'm saying is that it happens...and that only amateurs and prima donnas complain about it, instead of just getting on with the job. Stop jumping to absurd conclusions, and try contributing something intelligent to the debate.

and an original idea

You are incapable of constructing a sentence longer than five words, or a riposte of any level higher than nursery school. I think you must have come to the wrong site by mistake - shouldn't you be updating your profile on Facebook, or something?

Wow! Well done!

so expect to get what you gave!
You're insensitive to how the publisher of the post and others feel about their ideas being jipped.

So, don't be surprised if someone disrespects you.

Just a thought :)

Come on, you dished it out by No hard feelings
so expect to get what you gave!
You're insensitive to how the publisher of the post and others feel about their ideas being jipped.

So, don't be surprised if someone disrespects you.

Just a thought :)

It still does not make it alright.

If you say that someones idea sparked your idea then that's fine. But give credit where credit is due.

Sometime Coincidence is an awesome excuse.

Hi there

I work as an editor, and I would never knowingly commission an article pitched to me by one writer to another writer. However perhaps some of my own freelancers do assume that I've stolen their ideas.

Sometimes that may be because it's an idea triggered by what's current or in the news (power shedding, green living, etc.). In this case it's not uncommon for three or more of my writers to suggest the same story. Most magazines also brainstorm ideas within the team, so if an idea comes up in a team discussion before we receive your pitch, there's no guarantee we'll choose to commission the article to you when it's already on the table.

Sometimes writers pitch an idea like: 'I'd like to write something on winter skincare.' If you don't have an angle that makes a pitch unique, then I'm afraid you can't claim I've pinched your idea. If I'm editing a magazine with a beauty section and it's the June edition of COURSE I'm going to do something on winter skincare! The same goes for 'I want to write something on heart disease' in Heart Month, or covering Aids to link to Aids Day.

It also makes sense to keep up with what a magazine has already covered recently, so you don't waste time suggesting an article that was covered two editions ago.

If an idea is pitched by more than one writer, or it's too generic to count as a writer's unique pitch, then I commission the best writer for the piece.

So my recommendation is: make sure you suggest articles that have a unique angle on a topic, and make sure you keep in mind the magazine's target readership when you choose that angle. Then, give the editor enough detail in your article outline to show that you've thought it through and to intrigue them.

Best of luck with your future pitches!

Unfortunately, there is no copyright to an idea. If you feel strongly about your concept, pitch it until someone buys in.

Considering the drivel that freelancers turn in and then expect to get paid for, it's no wonder features editors feel distinctly fleeced. My feeling is if a freelancer suggests an idea, take it, write it yourself, and put it on the cover because you'll end up rewriting their copy anyway. I am astounded at the poor quality of writing from self-proclaimed experienced journalists who then have the gaul to demand top freelance rates.

Journo's aren't paid well...

Erm, yes, we are poorly paid. But I distinctly remember that lecture while studying. Of course, I didn't believe them at the time... Then again, if I wanted to make money, I would have gone into finance (shudder).

Plenty of them win awards for those articles too. It's the copy eds that should get the credit!