Ethically, should I do this?

The rundown: I'm an NHL beat writer for a big daily. I have a blog on the side through the newspaper's Web site, but virtually no one – and I mean NO ONE – reads it. A pretty big hockey-only Web site recently invited me to be one of its paid bloggers.

Other credentialed NHL reporters have already made the leap from their newspapers/stations elsewhere into the blogosphere, but for me that's not enough of a green light. My gut tells me that, since I already keep a blog (albeit an unpopular one) through the newspaper that is allowing me to be a credentialed reporter in the first place, I shouldn't be taking money to provide exclusive content for someone else's Web site. And if the content isn't exclusive, I shouldn't be taking money for it.

Thoughts?

 

If your newspaper doesn't care, it's not a problem.

You are going to discuss it with your newspaper, aren't you?

 

It depends on what the bosses say. You're on their dime when covering a game. So it's not a matter of ethics per se, it's getting permission to freelance on the side.

 

Doesn't hurt to ask.

 

As long as your shop is cool, I see no issue with it.
Full-timers freelance all the time.

 

Ask your current shop. You could be making a mountain out of a molehill, especially if your bosses don't care about possibly freelancing in addition to your work for your current shop.

 

yeah, but ask your SE and nobody else. absolutely no reason to break the chain of command on this one ... and you'll probably receive a much more favorable response as well.

 

SE's are usually ok, as long as the paper gets a credit, or even better, a link back to your newspaper blog

 

let me throw in a disclaimer: the editor i have now is cool as shit.

with that said, i'd let guys/gals do just about anything if it meant picking up extra cash or making a name for themselves as long as their work at the paper didn't suffer and they weren't branching off into a classless endeavor.

editors i've had in the past? not so much.

 

If you're at a big daily, maybe some of the other pro beat writers have been in your situation. See if there's any precedent for this.

 

i think asking a bunch of questions lowers the chances of enigami getting the green light. why start a debate that weighs the positives and negatives? ask the one person who matters and get it over with.

 

And get the approval in writing. Especially if you work at the Orlando Sentinel.