And, well, Mike Elk needs a vacation:
In less than 3 hours, I am more than halfway to my fundraisng goal for "labor reporter vacation" – help me http://t.co/JCIZcenS7e
— Mike Elk (@MikeElk) March 18, 2014
Oh but if you are intersted in crowd funding a labor reporters vacation, here is the link to help me http://t.co/JCIZcenS7e
— Mike Elk (@MikeElk) March 18, 2014
From his gofundme page:
After covering the Chattanooga Volkswagen labor dispute for the last 6 months — and not really sleeping for the last two months — I am beat and in desperate need of some time in the sun. Alas, as a labor reporter, I can’t actually afford to take a real vacation because most people read my work without actually paying for it.
The reaction is decidedly mixed:
Man of the people @MikeElk would very much like you to pay for his holiday: http://t.co/xAxKfp9HgT
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 18, 2014
Strange New Respect RT @charlescwcooke Man of the people @MikeElk would very much like you to pay for his holiday: http://t.co/VHXAL2qNfm
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) March 18, 2014
@iowahawkblog @charlescwcooke Yeah, asking my readers is pretty much how I get all my electronic toys. @MikeElk
— Moe Lane (@Ogiel23) (@moelane) March 18, 2014
.@freddoso @charlescwcooke @Heminator @MikeElk Rattling the tip jar is surprisingly hard to do comfortably, at first.
— Moe Lane (@Ogiel23) (@moelane) March 18, 2014
@moelane @freddoso @charlescwcooke @Heminator @MikeElk There's a writer online I think nailed it though, that you have to be shameless.
— Neil Stevens (@presjpolk) March 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/New0rleans_Lady/status/445916247054495744
https://twitter.com/dugan84/status/445916412582694913
Recommended
https://twitter.com/LilMissRightie/status/445932204024004608
https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/445922319899557888
Kinda funny. RT @charlescwcooke Man of the people @MikeElk would very much like you to pay for his holiday: http://t.co/cLI5lYdqZu
— Jordan Gehrke (@Gehrke) March 18, 2014
@Heminator @charlescwcooke @MikeElk Actually, I applaud this.
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) March 18, 2014
@freddoso @Heminator @MikeElk I’m indifferent philosophically, cos it’s an entirely private transaction. Still, I couldn’t ask other . . .
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 18, 2014
@freddoso @Heminator @MikeElk . . . people to pay for my vacation. I just couldn’t do it.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 18, 2014
@charlescwcooke @Heminator @MikeElk You mean you'd have trouble asking strangers to pay. Doesn't your employer effectively pay for it now?
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) March 18, 2014
@charlescwcooke @Heminator @MikeElk What could be more meritocratic than submitting to public judgment (expressed in dollars) re your value?
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) March 18, 2014
@freddoso @Heminator @MikeElk Yes. It also effectively pays for my food and car, but I’d have trouble asking for those online too.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 18, 2014
So, @freddoso has changed my mind. This is actually pretty great: http://t.co/xAxKfp9HgT
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/445931229586935808
https://twitter.com/SonnyBunch/status/445931341616783360
@Heminator @charlescwcooke If you like my work, pay for my vacay? I don't have a problem w that.
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) March 18, 2014
@Heminator @freddoso That was what was irritating me, but I suppose David would say that money is fungible and the distinction here is thin.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 18, 2014
As of this post’s publication, Elk has received $615.00. Not surprising given the incentives he’s offering to prospective donors:
Again, all donations up to $500 will be matched by a generous reader. Donations over $50 get a postcard with an original drawing by me, and donations over $100 will get an original Mike Elk drunk dial from a beach.
Plus there’s this:
@charlescwcooke @freddoso @Heminator @MikeElk Although people are doing more for society sending him on vacation than paying him to write.
— (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) March 18, 2014
Good point!
***
Related:
Labor journalist Mike Elk laid off from In These Times magazine
Liberal journo Mike Elk sad about death threats to death threat connoisseur Erik Loomis
‘Weird for a grown man’: Reporter accusing another reporter of cyber-bullying sparks mockery
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