14 DAY TRIAL // To say that journalism is changing these days is an understatement. Though some would argue that it's not journalism itself that's changing, it's just the way it's produced, distributed, paid for, and consumed.
Gawker has always seen itself at the forefront of these changes and that's certainly true now that it's crowdfunding a video of Toronto mayor Rob Ford apparently smoking crack.
The crowdfunding is to raise $200,000 (€154,000) to buy a video in which said public official is seen smoking out of a glass pipe. The video is in the hands of some mysterious folks looking to make a buck.
They tried to sell it to the Toronto Star for $40,000 (€30,800), but the Canadian newspaper didn't bite. Gawker is interested but the price has since went up to $200,000.
Which is where you come in. Gawker needs you to help raise the funds needed for this enterprise so it set up a campaign on Indiegogo.
It's been going great too; Gawker is almost a quarter of the way there, with some $45,000 pledged so far. There are 10 days to go so there's every reason to believe that the funds will be raised.
Gawker says the money will help those in possession of the video, who are afraid of Ford and his influence, move to another city for their safety.
However, if for any reason Gawker fails to buy the video, the funds raised will go to a Canadian non-profit focused on helping those with drug problems.
But the discussion is bigger than bringing down an apparently dodgy mayor, which is obviously worthwhile.
Journalists have paid for stories and sources before, they have been doing so for ages, but it still poses an ethical question, on where that money is going and on whether getting people to directly pay for this is a good thing.