Money In War, But Not For the Witness

Francesca Borri is an Italian freelance war correspondent. She wrote an essay about her job (“…the editors back in Italy only ask us for the blood, the bang-bang”) and also shares what she gets paid, which is: $70 per story. To be on the frontlines of a war. $70! What.

And here’s what it costs her to be in the country:

“Sleeping in this rebel base, under mortar fire, on a mattress on the ground, with yellow water that gave me typhoid, costs $50 per night; a car costs $250 per day. So you end up maximizing, rather than minimizing, the risks. Not only can you not afford insurance — it’s almost $1,000 a month — but you cannot afford a fixer or a translator.”

Support The Billfold

The Billfold continues to exist thanks to support from our readers. Help us continue to do our work by making a monthly pledge on Patreon or a one-time-only contribution through PayPal.