Comments on: The Examiner.com Now Wants to Become A Bastion Of Citizen Journalism

By: LC

LC — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:12:11 +0000

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

By: ravi

ravi — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:36:31 +0000

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

By: Roger Williams

Roger Williams — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:54:27 +0000

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??

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:56:46 +0000

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

By: mary McGrath

mary McGrath — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:47:36 +0000

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.

By: Marco

Marco — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:33:50 +0000

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.

By: Gavin DeHouser

Gavin DeHouser — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:22:19 +0000

Sounds an awful lot like a company called About.com

By: winchinchala

winchinchala — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:15:27 +0000

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

By: winchinchala

winchinchala — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:07:39 +0000

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

By: mary stahl

mary stahl — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:22:20 +0000

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?

By: Rhonda Kuykendall-Jabari

Rhonda Kuykendall-Jabari — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:02:03 +0000

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.

By: Acquanetta Ferguson

Acquanetta Ferguson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:19:05 +0000

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

By: F

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:33:50 +0000

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.

By: steve

steve — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:24 +0000

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

By: Margaret Studer

Margaret Studer — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:36:32 +0000

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

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:39:01 +0000

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….

By: Mark Mayhew

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:09:57 +0000

We’re into July now and I see Examiner.com articles showing up alot in Google News =)

By: Gaia Best

Gaia Best — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:48:29 +0000

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

By: Cattiva informazione: Appello per fermare l’attacco alla Luna « Paoblog’s Weblog

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:56:41 +0000

[...] i propri “articoli” in cambio di una paga da fame (25 dollari al mese di media, secondo TechCrunch). Basta chiedere e si diventa [...]

By: RealityJunkie

RealityJunkie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:33:00 +0000

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.

By: hj

hj — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:22:24 +0000

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.

By: Shelley

Shelley — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:26:09 +0000

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.

By: Jolie du Pre

Jolie du Pre — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:07:04 +0000

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.

By: Diana Rajchel » More Examining Examiner

Diana Rajchel » More Examining Examiner — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:26:55 +0000

[...] article on Techchrunch gives some perspective onto what’s going on – sort of. If I’m putting together my understanding of the comments well enough, I’m [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:21:31 +0000

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.