Fund Chicago independent journalism

I am an independent journalist in the Chicago area, focused on exposing government corruption.  Most recently, my knowledge of FOIA law led me to be the only journalist out of 14 news organizations (including the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times) that pursued a lawsuit to release the chilling video of the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald .  

Here's the thing.  All these massive news organizations are getting the story from me (indeed, my activist friend and I precipitated the video release and probably the officer's murder charge this morning) and they're using me as a "source." I get no compensation for this. So while they're getting unprecedented viewership/readership, I still do odd jobs to make ends meet.

I may get an offer from an organization out of all this. Fingers crossed. If I do, I'll definitely fight to keep doing the same (mildly antagonistic) watchdog reporting I do now.  However, I want to continue the work I'm doing regardless of any offers.  But I can't do that without some financial support.

So what I'm saying is, if you support what I'm doing, I'd be happy to take a donation that will help me weather the cost of living while I get all this out there into the world. You wouldn't be the first to donate a small amount.