I really hope that everything works out well for your gf, and the Atlantic. I called trading exposure for work a despicable trend because it's happening in so many fields. Its unfair to place all the blame on the Atlantic.
People should go easy on The Atlantic. This new phenomenon needs more society-wide awareness and technologies for micro-payments.
My understanding is that regulations have stymied micro-payments. If that is the case legislation should be adopted to correct this.
Journalism is extremely tough, and has much more of my sympathy. I have total disdain for operations like SXSW that are very profitable and still stiff their talent.
EDIT:
After posting this I thought about how your gf may or may not be embroiled in this controversy. I think the issue of free work/immiseration of the creative class would make a good piece. The Atlantic could acknowledge that it has succumbed to economic (and perhaps social) pressure, do some human interest pieces on people that have been effected, people that have found ways to be viable despite the economic changes, and maybe regulatory reforms that might make micro-payments feasible.
I could see a continuing series on this topic being well received. This issue made it to the top of HN today, I think that validates the market.