Ethically, should I do this?

[enigami]

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?

 

[Magnum]

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

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

 

[Stitch]

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.

 

[SportsDude]

Doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

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

 

[forever_town]

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.

 

[Tom Petty]

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.

 

[spaceman]

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

 

[Tom Petty]

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 shirt.

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.

 

[21]

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.

 

[Tom Petty]

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.

 

[Chi City 81]

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