'Pro bono' does not mean working for free

A note from Kevin Allman to Poynter Online:

Phil Rosenthal's story on Arianna Huffington's foray into the local blogging market included this line: "Writers work pro bono."

"Pro bono" means "for the public good." What Rosenthal should've said is that Huffington wants writers to work for free so she can sell ads around their work. That ain't the public good. That ain't good, period.

The Huffington Post has been a winning formula, because it gives platforms to Huffington's D.C. and L.A. buddies who need vanity exposure more than they need money. But when she comes into communities and applies the same formula, there's another word for that formula, and it's exploitation.

It's hard for me to take any "progressive" site seriously that expects people to work for free while the founders make money. At least Wal-Mart pays minimum wage.