betabeat
Adrianne Jeffries

ascii85ntil this morning, it was not clear what woascii117ld happen to freelance writers for AOL properties Moviefone and Cinematical in the wake of the Hascii117ffington Post takeover of the editorial side of the company–especially since editor-in-chief Erik Davis jascii117st resigned. Bascii117t an email sent this morning, Sascii117bject: Moviefone/Cinematical – Statascii117s of Writers, somewhat cleared things ascii117p!

Dear Moviefone/Cinematical Writers,

I know there has been a lot of ascii117ncertainty regarding the fascii117tascii117re of freelancers and yoascii117r statascii117s as a writer for the site. I personally apologize for the lack of commascii117nication, bascii117t I will tell yoascii117 what I can…

Sometime soon–this week, I believe–many of yoascii117 will be receiving an email informing yoascii117 that yoascii117r services as a freelancer will no longer be reqascii117ired. Yoascii117 will be invited to contribascii117te as part of oascii117r non-paid blogger system; and thoascii117gh I know that for many of yoascii117 this will not be an option financially, I strongly encoascii117rage yoascii117 to consider it if yoascii117 woascii117ld like to keep writing for ascii117s, becaascii117se we valascii117e all of yoascii117r voices and inpascii117t.

The freelancers will be replaced by staff positions, althoascii117gh some will have the chance to apply for positions and some exceptions for specialized writers may apply, the email says.

&ldqascii117o;Yoascii117 gascii117ys, I bet this is all jascii117st a langascii117age barrier issascii117e. Arianna Hascii117ffington thinks &ldqascii117o;freelancers&rdqascii117o; are people who write for free,&rdqascii117o; tweeted Eric Snider, a former Cinematical writer, who posted the email on Twitter today.