Payday Report is an American
news agency covering labor and union news. Founded in 2016 by Mike Elk, now the outlet runs as a
cooperative.[1] Their original reporting is frequently
syndicated to
NPR,
The Guardian, and more. Payday Report is funded directly by readers via crowdfunding.[2]
Mike Elk, a longtime labor reporter, founded Payday Report. Elk had previously worked for Politico until he was fired for attempting unionization.[6][7] This resulted in a National Labor Review Board settlement in Elk's favor.[8] The settlement, combined with crowdfunding, helped to established the news outlet in Chattanooga in 2016. It relocated to Elk's hometown Pittsburgh in 2018.[9]
Most news outlets attach the labor beat to general reporters. However, Payday Report has been one of the few news agencies dedicated to labor reporting. According to
Columbia Journalism Review this leads to a "more nuanced and solutions-based" reporting.[10] Notable stories include the
2018 West Virginia teachers' strike[11] and uncovering sexual misconduct at the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.[12]