The Examiner.com is not what it appears to be. It is not the online outlet for the Examiner newspapers (the San Francisco Examiner,Baltimore Examiner, and Washington, D.C. Examiner) owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz. It is, however, owned by the same Anschutz-backed company that owns those newspapers, the Clarity Media Group in Denver. That’s how it got the URL.
But the Examiner.com has no use for professional journalists. It is instead an experiment in pure citizen journalism. Right now Examiner sites have officially launched in beta for five cities—San Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore, Denver, and Seattle. Although other cities like New York are coming along. The sites have been live for a couple months without any promotion, and collectively are already attracting 1.3 million visitors a month in the U.S., according to comScore (which is nearly double from July). CEO Michael Sherrod says the internal numbers show 3 million monthly uniques.
Each site offers up hyper-local news written by contributors called “examiners.” Sherrod, who used to run worldwide communities for AOL and was with Digital Cities in the mid-1990s, has already recruited 800 examiners and wants to get to 1,000 by the end of the year. These examiners might have their own blogs, but the Examiner offers them a bigger platform to get their voice heard. The point, though, is not to write about themselves, but rather about what is happening in their communities.
“We are not looking for people who are inwardly focused,” says Sherrod. Rather, he wants people who are experts in their field, whether that is real estate, restaurants, parenting, sports, technology, or business.
These writers are vetted and paid based on how many pageviews and advertising clicks their articles can produce. The pay is not a lot. It starts at a $2.50 for every thousand pageviews. The median amount each examiner s making right now is $25 a month, although Sherrod has written a check for as high as $1,700. Anschutz is bank-rolling the whole project. He is the only investor (the amount is not being disclosed).
The approach reminds me of what Helium is doing with general-reference topics, but focused on local news instead. In theory, it makes sense. Newspapers don’t have the staffs to cover local news as much as they used to, and arguably the people who care the most about what is happening in a given community are those who live there. So why not let them tell everyone else what is going on?
In practice, I can’t say any of the articles I’ve skimmed so far would make me come back for more. The writing isn’t horrible, but it is amateurish in a way that is not endearing. Maybe that is because the site is designed to look like an authoritative news site. And you end up reading an article that would never have been linked to if it were on a solitary blog. (I won’t pick on any of the writers with a link, but you can check out the site and judge for yourself). Maybe once it launches officially, it will attract a bigger audience and better examiners, and make a splash in local news.
This should do well in San Francisco, the Chronicle is doing it and the public seems to really like it.
Some of the local “examiners” are fairly decent, but I’ve been more impressed with their people who are more nationally based. The space/NASA person is good, as is the TV reviewer, the childhood writer and several of the food writers. There may be more, but that’s the ones I have seen tonight.
The problem with the Examiner is the problem you have with a lot of the “citizen” journalist sites. A lot of the posting is simply pointing people to some other article on another site.
More wreckless journalism (unrestricted) at http://www.singlepill.com
I went to the website and they pulled into a New York page. They have a New York based website up and running.
You can choose different editions around the country or a national edition. The national one has some really good people in it! It’s just examiner.com/national
Your “home page” is generated depending on your location – so if you’re in Albany, you should get New York City, etc. But you can choose to read content from any of the 60 U.S. markets or the national page. Most of the markets are not yet staffed with Examiners, though Examiner.com is always recruiting writers and you can apply on the Web site. And to say the site is not interested in journalists is not true – there are several journalists and former newspaper and magazine folks writing on the site, some of whom have held executive positions at newspapers like the Washington Post and St. Petersburg Times.
Thank you for your article, Erick. I cannot comment on the so-called “amateurish” articles you have skimmed, however you need to consider that Examiners are as diverse and individual as the subjects they write about. Each Examiner has his or her own style and approach, and this is what makes the site interesting.
As a new Examiner, my goal is to inform and educate in an interesting and non-affected way and I believe that my advantage is that I am not a professional writer – surely readers want a fresh and local point of view on things that affect them!
For those who want more information on Examiner.com, please visit http://www.exam...about_examiner/.
Once again, thanks for your article – it is great to see that Examiner.com is generating interest!
Tara Gowland
I live in Washington State and have found some good information from the Examiner – locally. I found a great curry pumpkin soup reciepe and info about local activities and personalities. There is information about sports and even where to get a drive thru flu shot. Granted all the information could probably be found eleswhere, but I like that it is all in one spot.
I read the Seattle Times and watch the TV news but I like to see things that are locally based as well. I will agree with the mention of links, I like to read the whole article not a piece that says “This just happened, read the whole story here” but I haven’t found a lot of that. I don’t mind the “find more Halloween articles here or click this to find a place locally that sells these” type things – you know that direct you for more info but I want to be able to read the article first.
I say, they are worth checking out to see what’s going on locally and taking the time to read them a few times. you might find some you like.
I wanted to add that I like having local garden information which i have found at examiner. Even in the Seattle times, they have stories on all these beautiful trees and flowers and then when I try and grow them they die. I found out it was because they aren’t from the West. So that is a good thing about this site is the local people write about local things.
I’m sure it is the same in all of the cities and that is a nice thing. Like what is happening for the different holidays locally so you can make plans easily. Okay I just wanted to explain my thoughts
the idea is great, especially in r times so people turn Info reporters and produce local news as es do with local Jobs @ http://www.Spirofrog.de
Good luck
Head’s up: I am a professional journalist. I am also an Examiner. But, my expertise or beat in journalism is not what I blog about for the Examiner. Good piece though
Dan,
Thanks much for your insight. After receiving my invitation to be an ‘Examiner’ literally ten minutes ago… Any suggestions would be welcome. Anything to avoid like the plague to ensure a shorter, rather than longer, learning curve? Any opportunities to aim for with an opportunity such as this? Lastly, most make $25/monthly? Seriously?
As a former student of Marketing, Journalism/Creative Writing, and all things Fine Art… your serious response would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
All the Best,
Mary
I am also a professional journalist and Examiner for the Baltimore Market. My approach is to support local businesses through my blog/column and to hopefully give readers info they can use.
Tracy
A number of examiners in the Chicago market are also professional journalists — the neighborhoods and dining examiners come to mind immediately, but they’re not alone.
Shonfeld said:
“In practice, I can’t say any of the articles I’ve skimmed so far would make me come back for more. The writing isn’t horrible, but it is amateurish in a way that is not endearing.”
The quality of most examiner’s writing surpasses that of Shonfeld. Perhaps he feels insecure about his employment situation and belittling other writers sooths his troubled ego…
I can’t speak for all Examiners, but I do try to make my page entertaining. Overall, I think the concept is working. People should give the site a try.
I recently became the country music writer for the Nashville Examiner.com site. I have three degrees and am ABD on my dissertation and teach journalism. I’ve been a professional music journalist for more than 20 years, so I strive to bring AP style and good reporting to my contributions on the site.
I thoroughly enjoy having an outlet for music journalism via Examiner and think my readers enjoy what I write based on feedback. I have to do the “academic thing” in my job as an educator when it comes to writing and research, so writing about music for Examiner feeds my soul, if you will.
if examiner paid better, it could carve a niche in the sports field, both locally and nationally
there are a ton of out-of-work sports writers, some very top-notch ones, who could bring a lot of traffic to the site, but out-of-work professionalists need some type of income
I wouldn’t mind them so much if they didn’t relentlessly spam sites like Reddit and Digg. They’re a bigger nuisance than associated content, even.
It’s not spam if the item provides interesting, provocative or helpful information. I’ve seen some good Examiner pieces on Reddit and Digg.
It’s spam to promote your own site on either, regardless of content. good content will find its way there on its own…
Please sign me up for your Beatles Examiner
Mike I was just going to sign up as a Beatles examiner. Nice you show interest. I do a Beatles newsletter a few times a week for my list.
You should check it out again. They have made some big changes and look like they are ready to take on the big boys.
I LOVE TABLOIDS so this is a great site. It is full of the best gossip and although most people call it crap, I love the trashy reporting stuff on celebrity accidents, what sports guy got busted and trash like that.
The writers are really bad though, I noticed a ton of articles on the site were basically articles ‘borrowed’ from other sites like People Mag and ESPN and various real news sites.
Trashy and amatuer but check it out.
ABSOLUTE OFF THE RADAR LIARS
THEY WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
THERE ARTICLE HOLD AS MUCH WEIGHT
TOILET PAPER
GO LOOK UP SAYERS ARTICLE SEE WHAT A
CREEP LIAR HE IS
Hi
I write on the Milwaukee channel on unemployment issues. Although I am not a journalist, I am a writer and professional trainer. I also volunteer for a career network helping job seekers with interview skills. The pay is meager, but I hope I am helping the unemployed with needed skills. Check out my site. http://www.exam...oyment-Examiner
As a professional writer and magazine contributor for the past eight years, I find the freedom from contributing to examiner.com refreshing since it allows me to write about something I’m very passionate about on a regular basis, bringing it to a much wider audience that may not otherwise be aware of the alternative film choices found all around the greater Los Angeles area.
What’s wonderful about the web is that it allows for experimentation in an “if we build it, will they come?” sort of way. And they indeed come. And they like. Now, I can’t imagine that the amateurishly-sounding “TechCrunch” weblog started off four years ago as the bastion of internet/technological reportage that it purports to be, stealing writers from MIT’s “Technology Review” and offering them tons of money. But I don’t know since this is the first time I’ve ever heard of this website.
I can’t comment either about the examiners you’ve “skimmed,” Mr. Schonfeld, but I seem to be surrounded by passionate, articulate, and qualified writers. As for me, I take my stylistic cues from such alternative print publications as the LA Weekly, Mojo, Punk Planet, etc., and try to stay away from the “personal diary” type of writing, which yours isn’t too far from resembling. I invite you to read some of my contributions at: http://www.exam...e-Film-Examiner.
I just started writing for the Examiner this week and will be covering my local community. I graduated from Temple’s journalism school in ‘93 and have been a professional writer and editor since. I’m enjoying writing for them and feel like I’m contributing to my own community at the same time. I’m also intrigued by the web-based model and compensation program. I think it has the potential to do quite well as the site grows. I’d encourage the author to re-think his position on so-called “citizen journalists.” Both major dailies in my city filed for bankruptcy recently. Companies and business models like this could represent the future of journalism.
how are you doing with examiner? do you feel they are ripping you off, because of the low pay.
doesn’t their system based on web hits encourage less talented writers who know how to promote themselves over more talented writers
“It starts at a $2.50 for every thousand pageviews. The median amount each examiner s making right now is $25 a month, although Sherrod has written a check for as high as $1,700. ”
I thought that the pay was $10 for every thousand page views. Can anyone provide any information about latest pay rate of Examiner.com?
Razib,
It is $10 per thousand now… I am an Examiner and have had decent success so far.
Good luck!
A fairly substantial ratio of folks claim professional writer/reporter status for this effort. With the world of dailies shrinking as it is, not a surprise. The trouble with the examiner.com will be when the amateurs start spreading their drivel and become the majority as pros flee. Good luck to all.
I’ve found a couple of these Examiners using forums to boost their page-views by just linking to stories.
Honestly, I find it cheap. The writing of these “journalists” was poor and the topics were sensationalistic at best.
This is a great idea, but some vetting OTHER than page views needs to be implemented – pay for quality, vet for quality – not for quantity.
I’ll be writing for Examiner soon. To Schonfeld and all the other “real” journalists, complain all you want, but as we get deeper into the 21st century your complaints are becoming nothing more than white noise.
I am considering writing for them as well. I agree with Jolie; it’s time to hear something fresh and maybe (probably) something better. I think it scares the journalists who have been riding the good thing for way too long….
It is difficult for me to support a newsource (?) whose ‘politics’ page is almost completely slanted to the right. Philip Anschutz is a Christian consevative with an agenda. He controls more than 6K movie screens in this country, and the Examiner. He is another oil man who thinks he can now push his views on this country. There are many other ways to access the information on the examiner.com site, and I will. Fox and Rupert Murdoch are the same, and I won’t go there, either.
While it may have taken me a minute to find this article (seeing as how this fine piece of “real” journalism is buried deep within the recesses of a Google search on Examiner.com), I still feel compelled to add my voice. As anyone reading may have guessed, I also am an Examiner- Phoenix Reality TV to be exact. Although I am content to be an “amateur” for Examiner.com, it’s probably important to note that a good percentage of contributors to the site have larger literary career ambitions. I for one applaud Anschutz and Clarity for being the jumping-off point for myself and many other dreamy journalistic newbies.
I write for examiner.com I am the arts and entertainment writer for the Hawaiian Islands.
I wrote a best selling book over here where I live on Maui, and believe me, no other place in the US needs a local writer more than our remote Island chain.
I read a feature article on the front page of a major newspaper, and it was full of misinformation and lacking in important details, that only a real insider come know. I am a valuable member to the news teams for examiner.com and have the capability to clear up those issues and inform the local public as well as the nation, so bear withhold your judgement about the quality of the writing and appreciate the content. You get a chance to look at news in a different more accurate way, and that in itself is good for the public as a whole Mahalo for rethinking the future. Gaia
We’re into July now and I see Examiner.com articles showing up alot in Google News =)
Dear Mr. Schonfeld,
This is my personal view and does not represent Examiner.com as a whole.
I am the National Tea Examiner. I have a degree in English with a minor in journalism. I have been a professional writer for a very long time, quite possibly since before you were born.
I covered the peace movement and the war in Viet Nam. Now i write about tea and do so with the same diligence i did decades ago covering some of the hottest politial issues in our country.
As the National Tea Examiner, it’s my job to be more factual and have less “personality” in my work, but our local examiners attract readers with their personal perspective on whatever topics they’re writing about. I think our readers prefer this approach. It’s as if they’re getting information from a local friend that they can trust.
Our local writers know their local area in depth and can tell the readers exactly where to do whatever it is they want to do in their area. I think that’s a good thing.
We’re still growning. i know I have a great deal of work to do still to make my site an outstanding reference for tea lovers. I’m sure that’s the case for many of the examiners. It takes time. Check back with us from time to time. I think you’ll find something unique, unlike any of the other information sites on the Internet.
Again, I represent only myself, not Examiner.com.
Margaret Studer
National Tea Examiner
Well I just read the most anti-semitic crap on the Los Angeles one, and all the people commenting on it were just crazy! And then one of my friends had the nerve to post it on facebook. I was embarrased.
105 articles and counting, and I can tell you that this has been great exposure for my writing. I’ve been writing since March 09 for Examiner and I can say I’ve had nothing but good come of it. I write book reviews, but not just any books specifically Erotica, and recently changed that to include romance as well. While my examiner name is San Diego Erotica and Romance books, I don’t just write about what is happening in the area. Since books can be read anywhere in the world I review easily assessable things.
I average about $50 a month, definitely not the big bucks, but the other benefits are these: free books, exposure to other writers, agents, publishers, and people from all over the world reading what I have to say.
So for me, this is where I need to be.
http://www.exam...-Books-Examiner
I am the L.A. Higher Consciousness Examiner for Examiner.com. Tomorrow will mark my 1st month anniversary and I’ve earned a solid part-time income (nearly $500) for part-time work. I am passionate about my subject and go to great lengths to check and re-check facts. I am a published writer and I value this opportunity to position myself as a subject matter expert. I have met wonderfully talented writers in the Examiner community. We are in a recession and the income I am earning as an Examiner is essential to my family’s survival. Further, I see nothing wrong with creating opportunities for everyday citizens to make money by writing about what they know and love.
I just wondered if all of you who are currently writing for the examiner.com were okay with providing the information for the background check?
As a former professor, published author, filmaker and journalist, I would not consider myself an amateur. As for my colleagues at examiner.com, many of them are inexperienced and cutting their teeth, but they are doing well. It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there and to be open to all sorts of remarks. Those who are more experienced, have been attracted to examiner.com because a writer is not assigned a topic, but at liberty to write about what s/he knows best in areas which are predertermined best fits for her/his knowledge and experience base. Not having an editor looking over one’s shoulder causes a writer to be very self aware. I have not seen any examiners assigned hard-hitting news; they all seem to be general topics of interest. This has generated some spectacular writing. You write pretty well. If you have a specialty, you should consider signing up Erick:) Thank you for the info on the company. Very informative article.
Cheers
I would say that while it is nice to have one’s stuff appear on a relatively reputable page-it is a step up from a blog or even ireport, the drawback to the salary you mentioned (ahem “salary”) is that one must receive it through paypal which then charges a percentage of the pittance in processing fees. Clearly pay is not the objective here. I was wondering if you got any further details on the person and the circumstances which caused a $,700. check to be written. That is almost unfathomnable.
Cheers
Sounds an awful lot like a company called About.com
Okay so I checked out this Examiner.com, and it is disgusting. But then, I am in Washington State, and I cannot speak for other alleged “journalists.” I have to agree with the author of this article. I recommend, and I do often, that people place this site on their restricted site list. For example, Randy Aaron, a supposed “journalist” relies upon sensationalism to attract readers, which is somewhat entertaining but it tires easily and when I want factual reliable feed, this site detracts from that.
I have been writing for examiner.com for about 5 months now. I am doing so because I am looking for new forums for my work, and this is one of the avenues that’s easy. You have no editors to please. Your story won’t be slashed and dashed or postponed into some issue that never seems to come. Still, it’s sad that the writers don’t share in the google revenue that is available on this site. I write for another web site that pays much more per click, and their ranking on Alexa is about 2500. Examiner is roughly ranked at 532. I think writers would be far more happy if they were compensated a bit more fairly for their labor.
One organization seems to get a lot of attention from Examiner…a right-wing entity based in DC, Virginia Beach and Atlanta, with close ties to the 500 Club…know who I’m talking about??
You can choose different editions around the country or a national edition. The national one has some really good people in it! It’s just examiner.com/national
I am the Sacramento Outdoor Cooking Examiner, and have been writing for about 3 weeks. I’m impressed with the support from Denver and the helpful editors. My column is doing very well as I’m doing local reviews, a few recipes, and some basic education on outdoor cooking. I mix local news and venues with topical , non-timely stories and am starting to feature recipes from BBQ shacks nationwide. View can range from a few dozen a day to hundreds–haven’t broken 1,000 yet. I’m going to give it a year I’m pleased and impressed.
http://www.exam...ooking-Examiner