Is there still a concern among journalists that the Huffington Post is non-union and uses lots of unpaid bloggers, which drives down pay across the board? I have a friend who is a journalist and she posted something on Facebook within the past year discouraging people from sharing their stories on FB. I tried to Google the issue but it seems like the boycott started in 2011 and has possibly been lifted.
I'm a union journalist. To me it's not really an issue of union vs non-union, but if a company uses stringers and freelancers in place of full-time staff (i.e. ones who receive benefits.) The use of stringers is a huge issue, particularly in sports and among photogs.
HuffPo writers are unionized btw.
Thanks for clarifying. I couldn't find her post so I wasn't exactly sure if/what the current issue was, or if there were still things about HuffPo that were concerning to some journalists.
Post by broadsheet on Nov 11, 2016 10:08:16 GMT -5
was5 I'd never discourage people from avoiding non-union content, but instead try to push the idea that higher pay/benefits and good working conditions will result in better journalism.
Post by redheadbaker on Nov 11, 2016 14:10:45 GMT -5
If I can make another suggestion - interact with journalists on social media. Follow their profiles, retweet, comment, share. This increases their reach, and they can use these metrics when applying for jobs, negotiating salary, etc.
Post by Velar Fricative on Nov 12, 2016 7:17:50 GMT -5
I have another another suggestion as well. Check your local library to see if they have digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. It's free (helpful to anyone for whom subscriptions aren't in the household budget), but technically not since your tax dollars pay for the library, which pays a pretty penny to ensure everyone has access to information. If there are no digital subscriptions, let the director know you're interested and they may price it out and see if their budget will allow for it.
I have another another suggestion as well. Check your local library to see if they have digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. It's free (helpful to anyone for whom subscriptions aren't in the household budget), but technically not since your tax dollars pay for the library, which pays a pretty penny to ensure everyone has access to information. If there are no digital subscriptions, let the director know you're interested and they may price it out and see if their budget will allow for it.
OMG, thank you for this. I knew I could get ebooks through the Free Library of Philadelphia, but I didn't know about their other digital resources.
I have another another suggestion as well. Check your local library to see if they have digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. It's free (helpful to anyone for whom subscriptions aren't in the household budget), but technically not since your tax dollars pay for the library, which pays a pretty penny to ensure everyone has access to information. If there are no digital subscriptions, let the director know you're interested and they may price it out and see if their budget will allow for it.
And if they don't have one, have them contact their local paper's digital marketing manager. Most libraries will be given free or extremely reduced rates. Before I became a sahm I worked for Gannett doing this (among other titles)