Huffington Post strike/boycott

[catsmate]

Newspaper Guild Calls for Unpaid Huffington Post Writers To Strike

In a sternly worded release, the 26,000-member Newspaper Guild has called for all unpaid writers at The Huffington Post to go on strike.

Here’s more from the release: “The Newspaper Guild is calling on unpaid writers of the Huffington Post to withhold their work in support of a strike launched by Visual Arts Source in response to the company’s practice of using unpaid labor. In addition, we are asking that our members and all supporters of fair and equitable compensation for journalists join us in shining a light on the unprofessional and unethical practices of this company. Just as we would ask writers to stand fast and not cross a physical picket line, we ask that they honor this electronic picket line … Working for free does not benefit workers and undermines quality journalism.”

More from here and the NG release is here.

I think I see problem straight off; there use of the term "quality journalism" in conjunction with the Huffington Post.

 

[Checkmite]

Isn't the Huffington Post supposed to be a collaborative blog, rather than an actual "newspaper"?

 

[quixotecoyote]

Yes and no. The article shows the distinction between the paid staff and the unpaid contributors. Huffington says she's just providing them a platform and places no responsibilities on them, and so has no responsibility to pay them.

Makes sense to me. I agree that a mass of unpaid writers hurts professional writers, but it's an argument from consequences to say that means the Huffington Post should pay bloggers.

 

[dudalb]

Heck I hoped it was a boycott until the Huffpo improved it coverage of science and medicine, which is now a Woo fest.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

Isn't the Huffington Post supposed to be a collaborative blog, rather than an actual "newspaper"?

Pff, I'm still trying to get an account just to post comments. I've emailed their tech response four times...

Of course, I want to post comments against the woo that runs rampant. Most of the articles I read on there are by authors trying to sell their books.

It's not a dailykos set up.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

Heck I hoped it was a boycott until the Huffpo improved it coverage of science and medicine, which is now a Woo fest.

That's what I was hoping, too.