Nonprofit Journalism Comes at a Cost - Oct 06, 2009
by The Center for the Future of Museums News Department
Slate columnist Jack Shafer analyzes the potential drawbacks of a nonprofit model for failing newspapers. The questions he raises are equally pertinent to museums. What are the expectations of funders? How do they influence the message? Does the prevalence of free (volunteer) labor that comes with nonprofit status drag down salaries of paid staff? (OK, I made that last one up, but he does talk about the effect of volunteers at nonprofit museums on the ability of for-profit newspapers to compete effectively.)
by The Center for the Future of Museums News Department
Slate columnist Jack Shafer analyzes the potential drawbacks of a nonprofit model for failing newspapers. The questions he raises are equally pertinent to museums. What are the expectations of funders? How do they influence the message? Does the prevalence of free (volunteer) labor that comes with nonprofit status drag down salaries of paid staff? (OK, I made that last one up, but he does talk about the effect of volunteers at nonprofit museums on the ability of for-profit newspapers to compete effectively.)