Comments on: How to send a +972 reporter to Egypt via crowd-sourced funding http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/ Independent commentary and news from Israel & Palestine Fri, 24 May 2013 11:24:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Lisa Goldman http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6952 Lisa Goldman Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:28:12 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6952 I am working on a new style. How's it going so far? I am working on a new style. How’s it going so far?

]]> By: richard Allen http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6950 richard Allen Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:24:24 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6950 Lisa, did someone steal your computer and write that last response? That was altogether far too patient and forbearing. Lisa, did someone steal your computer and write that last response? That was altogether far too patient and forbearing.

]]> By: Lisa Goldman http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6622 Lisa Goldman Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:43:33 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6622 Kubbeh, you are correct in noting that journalism is a profession, not a hobby. It sounds as though you worked at a time when one could make a living from freelance journalism. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case - partly because people like me write for free, online, meaning that you don't have to pay the price of a magazine to read an article - and partly because journalism is in a financial crisis, meaning that fees have been severely reduced, so freelance writers find themselves unable to make a living. <br></br> I am glad you liked my article, and thank you for saying so. Of course it is your choice to pay for my work - either here or in other forums. That is why it is called a donation. You, the reader, assess the value of my work and donate in kind. If you would rather not donate you can still read my work, because it is available to all, whether they pay or not. So it is really not necessary for you to announce that you have no intention of donating - especially since you are making the announcement using an assumed name. If I don't know who you are, how am I supposed to know who to thank? <br></br> Just to clarify: I am not going to Egypt for a holiday or a sightseeing venture. I am going to work. Some of my articles from Egypt will be published in well-known international newspapers. Unfortunately, however, they have all cut their rates, meaning they do not pay enough to cover my expenses and my labour. So the question is whether or not I will get paid for my work, and that is up to readers to decide. I am looking for a new model that will allow me to write articles like this, which take a lot of time and effort, and be paid for my effort. <br></br> To my great pleasure, many readers have decided that they do value my writing and have donated in kind, so there's no need for you to worry about being unable to afford a donation. I understand. Times are tough! Kubbeh, you are correct in noting that journalism is a profession, not a hobby. It sounds as though you worked at a time when one could make a living from freelance journalism. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case – partly because people like me write for free, online, meaning that you don’t have to pay the price of a magazine to read an article – and partly because journalism is in a financial crisis, meaning that fees have been severely reduced, so freelance writers find themselves unable to make a living.

I am glad you liked my article, and thank you for saying so. Of course it is your choice to pay for my work – either here or in other forums. That is why it is called a donation. You, the reader, assess the value of my work and donate in kind. If you would rather not donate you can still read my work, because it is available to all, whether they pay or not. So it is really not necessary for you to announce that you have no intention of donating – especially since you are making the announcement using an assumed name. If I don’t know who you are, how am I supposed to know who to thank?

Just to clarify: I am not going to Egypt for a holiday or a sightseeing venture. I am going to work. Some of my articles from Egypt will be published in well-known international newspapers. Unfortunately, however, they have all cut their rates, meaning they do not pay enough to cover my expenses and my labour. So the question is whether or not I will get paid for my work, and that is up to readers to decide. I am looking for a new model that will allow me to write articles like this, which take a lot of time and effort, and be paid for my effort.

To my great pleasure, many readers have decided that they do value my writing and have donated in kind, so there’s no need for you to worry about being unable to afford a donation. I understand. Times are tough!

]]> By: kubbeh http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6621 kubbeh Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:25:02 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6621 i really liked your article, but i'm afraid i'm not going to subsidise your travels across the middle east. When i war a freelance reporter for an english language israeli title, no one would pay for my travel costs, even the fare from jerusalem to tel aviv. Being a writer has plenty of perks - but they come with their downsides too. ↲journalism is a profession, blogging is a hobby. i really liked your article, but i’m afraid i’m not going to subsidise your travels across the middle east. When i war a freelance reporter for an english language israeli title, no one would pay for my travel costs, even the fare from jerusalem to tel aviv. Being a writer has plenty of perks – but they come with their downsides too.
↲journalism is a profession, blogging is a hobby.

]]> By: rick http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6497 rick Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:14:04 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6497 ez, welcome! mileed from al-horeya is like paypal. he steels some of your money by delievering you and leavs you without rights haha ez, welcome! mileed from al-horeya is like paypal. he steels some of your money by delievering you and leavs you without rights haha

]]> By: Romain http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6493 Romain Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:52:02 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6493 Lisa, Flattr may be appropriate to have each of your article rewarded. Honestly, I think that the amounts wil be symbolic considering the size of the community, but Flattr is definitely a very interesting service. Neal is right about crowdfunding platforms such as kickstarter or indiegogo: they are more appropriate for the funding of a specific project. You will have to carefully choose what you offer to your sponsors. Here is an example for an IT open source project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/721744279/push-the-freedombox-foundation-from-0-to-60-in-30 ++ Lisa, Flattr may be appropriate to have each of your article rewarded. Honestly, I think that the amounts wil be symbolic considering the size of the community, but Flattr is definitely a very interesting service.

Neal is right about crowdfunding platforms such as kickstarter or indiegogo: they are more appropriate for the funding of a specific project. You will have to carefully choose what you offer to your sponsors.
Here is an example for an IT open source project:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/721744279/push-the-freedombox-foundation-from-0-to-60-in-30

++

]]> By: ezequiel Kopel http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6485 ezequiel Kopel Wed, 09 Mar 2011 01:48:58 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6485 Rick: jajaja I discover you!!!. Tell her about the "dangerous waiter" in al-horeya, please, give all the information!! dont keep the change! Rick: jajaja I discover you!!!. Tell her about the “dangerous waiter” in al-horeya, please, give all the information!! dont keep the change!

]]> By: rick http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6483 rick Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:13:50 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6483 lisa, u should try flattr!! but tonight have a stella at the odeon or al-horeya. cheer cairo! looking for more stories from your trip. save travel back!! lisa, u should try flattr!! but tonight have a stella at the odeon or al-horeya. cheer cairo! looking for more stories from your trip. save travel back!!

]]> By: Neal http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6481 Neal Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:00:31 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6481 What about Kickstarter? Might be a worthwhile place to give a shot. What about Kickstarter? Might be a worthwhile place to give a shot.

]]> By: Lisa Goldman http://972mag.com/how-to-send-a-writer-to-egypt-my-experiment-in-journalism-2-0/11713/comment-page-1/#comment-6478 Lisa Goldman Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:31:02 +0000 http://972mag.com/?p=11713#comment-6478 Romain, this is the first I've heard about Flattr. I'll take a look in the morning and see if it works. And thank you - I've been looking for an alternative to PayPal. Romain, this is the first I’ve heard about Flattr. I’ll take a look in the morning and see if it works. And thank you – I’ve been looking for an alternative to PayPal.

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