Furious Seasons

October 10, 2007

Fundraiser--Final Day

Another $100 came in via PayPal overnight, bringing the fundraiser total to $1,725, not counting various checks that the USPS hasn't stuffed in my mailbox yet. It'd be great if another $275 could come in today, so that the fundraiser could make it to $2,000. I'll update the total after the mail comes later today. And, then, I will generally shut up about money--aside from letting you all know the final tally in a few days--until I give this another shot.

I truly appreciate all the contributions, especially given how difficult the media economy has become in this country and how difficult it is to find decent-paying freelance work (it's next to impossible when you primarily write about mental health issues especially from as provocative an angle as I do). But, then, perhaps the media in this country knows exactly what it's doing on mental health issues, and I am out of touch.

To whit, I offer this piece from Fox News' web site, which was posted yesterday. Headline: "New Medications More Effective for Treating Bipolar Disorder." What medications? The entire class of atypicals including Clozaril. Apparently, Marrecca Fiore, who writes health articles for the network, didn't even do a Google search about these drugs (and they are so in the news that it's difficult to believe she couldn't have known of their problems), which are touted in her piece by actual working doctors, who probably don't listen to their patients very much or pick up a journal article very often. Nice reporting there, News Corp!

Isn't it amusing that someone so clueless is employed as a journalist while folks like me are barely employed? OK, maybe amusing was the wrong term.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at October 10, 2007 12:05 AM

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Comments

Not amusing--infuriating. It annoys me when people don't do their research and then are touted as the "experts." Once upon a time journalists had to have rigorous research and street-beating skills.

I wish I could contibute funds, but I'm a freelancer myself.

Posted by: flower girl at October 10, 2007 08:50 AM

I'm gonna make one more appeal for the fundraiser, and donate to honor my daughter, she's one of the most special people you would ever meet. Her story is scattered about the pages here, long before I ever had a blog. For that I'm grateful for a place I could read what I suspected for years re: Pharma, funding, and mostly Wrong dx Childhood Bipolar Disorder and Zyprexa documents sealed that deal. Philip has generously allowed me to ramble in lengthy comments, sometimes way too long. No censorship.
I would like to see this blog continue to succeed and we all need to make a living.

Posted by: Stephany at October 10, 2007 02:56 PM

I think what you do is so awesome. Unfortunately most of your audience is on a limited income I think for obvious reasons. I know you've considered having advertisements in the past. Another suggestion might be to form a non-profit media group and perhaps more people would be inclined to give money that way and the whole grant thing.... Just a thought...

Posted by: Christin at October 11, 2007 06:17 AM

I realize how frustrated you are with your life and your condition, i feel your pain as a fellow bipolar sufferer. but does it really make you feel that much better to put others down? the journalist doesn't profess to be an expert, but interviews people who do claim to be experts (doctors) and it's those experts who make the claims made in the article.
nonetheless, i find a positive attitude and practicing kindness help me get thru the rough time.

Posted by: truthseeker at April 4, 2008 07:24 PM