The New Gossip Girl

[Lexi]

For the past 18 months I have been working as the head of a non-profit organization that provides meals, shelter, counseling, etc. to homeless people, addicts, victims of domestic violence, etc.

This organization was founded by my father almost 40 years ago, well before I was born, so it's near and dear to my heart.

It has been a difficult tenure for me at the helm. The previous director embezzled a lot of money, and there were alegations of sexual misconduct at the shelters (between volunteers and guests). All of this was made very public in a very small town before I took over.

Since I've been here we have managed to clean up the place, but donations from the community are at an all time low while demand for services is at an all time high --- so last month I decided to forego my salary and continue working as a volunteer.

My position only made about $2,000 per month, but that will feed a lot people and keep a lot of children warm throughout the difficult winter months.

But of course, I also have to eat and stay warm myself, so I started looking for part-time work I could do from the office or from my apartment. I am being offered freelance writing work for a local internet company that runs several blogs and news websites. A few hours of work per day will net me about $1500 per month, which is not bad, but I am a little skeptical about the type of writing I have to do.

I am being asked to write gossip articles on the likes of Britney, Paris, Lindsay, etc., which will be syndicated to blogs all over the net. Even though it's easy work, I think it creates a conflict with my purpose of helping others.

So I am torn. I have to pay rent and pay the bills, and the flexibility this job provides is exactly what I need, but it seems I will also have to sacrifice my core values by spreading Hollywood gossip with a small town twist.

Any thoughts on this relating to my conflict? How can I learn to separate my purpose/values and my part-time work?

[Destine4destiny]

I believe you should embrace it because there is a lesson to learn from obstacles that are put in our face so don't feel like it's the end of the world for you. It is a new beginning and change is needed for spiritual growth never take something that may seem negative now as completely negative because there is always positivity in it so embrace it , keep your head up , and stay focus and you will go a long way.

[funchy]

It depends how you view the articles you write. If they're purely entertainment, that's not against your mission to help others. If you're not comfortable doing them, then the best thing to do is to decline. You don't want anything you might regret.

I am also the Executive Director of a 501c3 non-profit. Based on what I've learned in my position, I'm thinking that you should accept the $2000 salary. If you're feeling guilty for taking it, use that energy to motivate you to work harder. There are grants and fundraisers out there. Rather than spend your spare hours writing, can you spend those hours applying for grants? Or spend it doing direct-mail to some of your donors? Or solicit new support from businesses in the area? All it'll take is one or two grants and that'll more than cover the $24k in salary you draw. This way you stay focused on your non-profit and not be split between the non-profit vs paying jobs.

[carenkh]

I'd accept the salary from the non-profit, and work to change the image it has. We had a situation here with the United Way, when it was revealed the director was paid $1.2 million a year. Donations virtually stopped, until she was forced to resign and they changed their policies so that wouldn't happen again. They did the work to regain the trust of the donors.

I think that's worth $2,000 a month, don't you? And accepting that would mean your energy wouldn't be leaking out to other meaningless ventures - like writing about Britney.

[Chris Cade]

You could just moonlight as a stripper - they make lots of money!

In all seriousness - ask yourself this question:

As an Executive Director of a major corporation devoted to the well-being of humanity, if you had $2,000 per month to pay a person... would you prefer to pay them to do the freelance job, or your current job?

It's easy to think that by not getting paid we're somehow doing good... but how much good could you do if you kept the $2,000 / month pay AND spent time volunteering? (instead of volunteering and then working a job that contradicts your values just to pay the bills)

Not saying that's what you should do... but look at things from a slightly elevated perspective from a bird's eye view.

What do you see?

[ellie]

Oh I would love that job. I love bitching about people I don't know and especially celebrities I'm a bit of a perez fan myself. In fact I have said on occasions to myself that I would love to be a secret gossip columnist

But if it's not something you would love then maybe, it's not right. Can I ask how will you write really good articles, when your not into the subject matter? I guess what I like about gossip bloggers, like perez, is that there wrapped up in it all, you can tell it's their life.

[pyrogen]

Long outdated response, but heck...

I was intrigued by this thread.

My view is that celebrity types have got to know they're gossip fodder and that being a laughing stock is the flip side of being adored. They knowingly walk that tightrope.

You're not really HARMING anyone, it's not the same as gossiping about your coworkers to get them fired.

[dice]

Hollywood gossip is actually really entertaining to the general public and not degrading by any standard - 98% of the people who read it are aware it's either blown far out of proportion or completely fabricated.

I don't believe anybody is seriously hurt by tabloids (save in rare cases where the paparazzi harass people like Michelle Williams right after Heath Ledger died). Its just another genre of entertainment. Not even the celebrities take it seriously - they can avoid the publicity if they really wanted to. (When was the last time you read a story about Leonardo Dicaprio?)

Look at TheSuperficial.com if you're ever in doubt. SO many people get a really good laugh out of that site, including myself. I don't even read the actual 'stories', I just look at the picture's and the commentary. Sometimes it really sparks my mood up.

One thing: If you're going to write false stories, go all the way. Be obscene. There's no point being discreet and humble when everyone knows it's all satire.

[SimonaRich]

Remember we are all one consciousness, and what you do bad to others will eventually come back to you in some form or shape.

Of course you have more options than to gossip about someone. I'm sure you can start your own venture or bring income from somewhere else.

Gossiping feeds your ego, so if you want to expand your ego for it to overtake your life, go ahead...