Conflict of interest

So here I sit, flipping back and forth between American Idol and the Olympics, waiting for a phone call, contemplating my next plan of attack at work. I still hate my job, but my hate marathon has hit a snag. They've finally given me something to do that I like that is an actual marketable skill, not to mention a path to an actual career. I've been asked to write web content. Something that always bothered me about my shitty job was that even though I work in an editorial department, I can't consider what we do to be writing or editing. We reassemble as many messes as we can in a day. How much, not how good. And that always really chapped my ass as an actual writer. If there was something that the idiot sales reps neglected to write down while they half-mindedly interviewed members who were paying hundreds of dollars for an imaginary service, which was then "edited" by India by people who don't speak the fucking language, it oftentimes comes back to me unclear. When I was told that we were not supposed to contact the people about whom we were writing to clarify the information, I was honestly a little shocked.

But now, I write personalized content and communicate directly with the members. Holy shit - I've always wanted to do this. I actually used to do this, when I worked at a legitimate publishing job. I've done two of these assignments so far, leaving both members satisfied with what I wrote for them and, I felt, well taken care of. It's a good feeling. I even forget that I'm doing this for a company that is horrible and treats everyone like shit, and scams innocent, vulnerable people. So now I'm faced with a conundrum. Do I try to advance in a company I feel is morally wrong? Do I stick around and build a portfolio of clips, even though the clips are material produced for a scammy, dirty place?

Most importantly, I need to ask for a raise. They are giving me work that is for a position that pays twice as much as I make now. They can't ask me to "chip in" or "take one for the team" - this isn't a fucking internship. (Even though I get paid as much.) We're veering into new territory here - new media. New media does not make a tiny wage, not even in my area. After consulting with a staffing person from across the hall - who tells me people from my company are in her office constantly - I've decided that I'm going to be paid what I'm worth. If I'm writing web content, I need to be paid like a content writer. I'm not an intern. I'm not a volunteer. And if they want to fire me, it's their loss.

Or - I fake it till I make it. I pretend to like the company - glgh - and express genuine interest in wanting to work for them in this area. I try to get promoted, maybe I get promoted, then I split for something better.

Or - I ask for a raise. They ignore me. I bring it up again because I won't be ignored when it comes to being paid what I'm worth. They stop giving me the work. I'm back to writing angry, vitriolic tirades and have even more proof that this place is a shittyass dump.