She's strengthening her personal brand and potentially gaining access to new clients for future work. I have absolutely no problem with her asking for donations, but let's not be disingenuous :)
This is the first time I've seen "do it for the exposure" in the wild (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/exposure). And you even called the other person disingenuous (albeit in jest). I'm impressed.
Looks like I missed the part where someone else was making money off her reporting and refusing to pay her, do you happen to have a link?
Ahhhh, yes, the 'giving exposure' argument.
Did you somehow misconstrue my post as an argument that she should not be paid?