Terijo and Dinah Davis — I believe that is the nub of the problem, and the source of any confusion to the writers. The only complaint I’ve ever seen about requesting items for publication on Medium arises from the misleading terms of the standard message, saying that the publication will be paid for the writer’s piece. That confusion could easily be solved by a change to the standard message.

Terijo, like you, I was thrilled when a publication requested to add my (as yet unhoused) piece, and for me, it was a way into a publication I’d wanted to join, but which didn’t have published guidelines for submitting. I can’t see how writers – particularly new writers, finding their way around the medium – will be helped by the latest change.

Medium and Ev Williams, I support publications like Code Like A Girl that are working to amplify the voices of everyday people to inform, teach, and support Medium readers.

Please do not remove the ability of publications to request content.

Please work with publications to make joining publications easy for both writers and publications.

Please work with publications to make it easier for them to communicate with their writers in a way that doesn’t require them to leave your platform.