Orlando

Hometown Bugle deserves nothing. Look in this business, it is difficult to get a part time job. If you were working at Burger King and was able to get a part time job at McDonald's, no one would say anything as long as the jobs didn't conflict.
People need to eat. They need a decent place to live. A decent car to drive. The wages this business shells out is awful.

 

Badger's next piece in the Orlando paper will be very, very scrutinized. It's a big one, and it's going to get big play here and elsewhere.
This is the first I'm seeing of the past 'transgressions' but I'm eager to see this upcoming piece (no clue when it's running).

 

Actually, all this happened three years ago so her next piece in the Sentinel won't be very, very scrutinized.

 

You can't drive the Burger King company car to get to get to your McDonald's job, though.

My point is . . .

. . . if a writer wants to do freelance work, that work and the travel involved should be on HIS OWN TIME OR THE TIME OF THE COMPANY HE IS FREELANCING FOR. You can't just piggyback on the shoulders of the original company.

If you hired someone to mow your lawn and let them use your lawnmower to do the job, you would NOT let this person use your lawnmower to mow someone else's lawn after they finished yours.

 

Actually I have allowed someone to more my yard and to use it to mow someone elses. It wasn't a big deal.

 

Sorry, I should have been more specific - the subject matter will make it a hot topic.

 

how can that point even be argued?

 

seriously... shut the fuck up.

 

Since it's so tough to get a job in this business, it makes sense to appreciate the job, at least to the point where you can communicate with your boss about a freelance opportunity you have.

It's not cool or smart to just say "Those jerks don't pay me enough; what I do freelance isn't their business!" It's just dumb.

If you can't communicate with your boss about the freelance stuff you produce elsewhere, you're bootsing them.

 

Simon, your response tells me all that I need to know. Have a great day.

 

Wow, Simon, that's some contribution to the discussion.

Especially when there is a lot to what boots says.

I'm not advocating sneaking behind your employer's back. But if they have no problem with you doing stuff on the side, why is it a problem to you?

And let me add this disclaimer: I almost never take on free-lance work. My time is worth too much to me.

 

What I think needs to be stated is that for most journalists, getting a regular part time job to make ends meet is out of the question. The hours clash. If you can get an extra buck or two, I see nothing wrong with that. Like I said, you have to survive.