Is Writing Online for the Examiner a Real Job or a Scam?

There has been some talk that writing for the Examiner online is a scam - because some writers did not feel that they earned what they should be getting, or erroneously thought they were applying for a full-time job.

As a writer for the San Francisco Examiner online, I can say with all honesty that this is absolutely not true. I have been a publishing reporter for the Examiner now on Green Living and Climate Change for over 4 years, and although this position does not pay my mortgage or much of my bills, writing for them has helped increase my visibility, get the word out about climate change, and introduced me to many people I might not have met otherwise.

Like world known climate scientists, environmental and human rights advocates - and people that are concerned about the planet like I am.

So is it a scam? Absolutely not.

When I first became an examiner for the San Francisco Examiner, I had to fill out an application and pass a background check. I also had to submit examples of my writing. Much like applying for any other job except there was no face to face interview. After being accepted I started writing about my one of my passions, Climate Change, which was the topic I was hired to write about.

I am also considered a "Green Living" examiner, so I also write about green living from time to time. My articles generally run about 500 -1,500 words, and I usually include Getty Image Photos (which are supplied free of charge via the Examiner) and I sometimes include videos from YouTube or Grab networks (Grab is supplied by the Examiner and you get a small compensation for using a Grab video)

There is a "pub" editing tool which I use to write and edit my articles in (this is also supplied and managed by the Examiner) and you can also write your article in Word then publish it though the Pub tool. Over the years, the Pub tool has been re-designed many times. making it easier and easier to use.

5 stars to the Examiner for constantly improving the tools they provide for their writers and publishers.

OK, so now about the money part, and this is where some people may have been misled, but not by the Examiner itself. The Examiner lets you know this when you apply, that you will be paid per click, and those clicks usually mean only pennies. BUT, if you are a prolific writer, and you have a following and a hot and/or interesting topic, those pennies will turn into dollars.

The most I have made at the SF Examiner is about $100 for one month, and that was mostly from one article of news that I wrote that month about the drought that was declared a national disaster in the U.S. (which we are still in btw)

I would suppose it's possible to make a full time income writing for the Examiner, but for me it's honestly just some extra money and the idea that I'm writing about something that I'm passionate about.

I have read of some Examiners earning anywhere from $500 to almost $2,000 a month at their Examiner site, but I could't tell you what topic what they were writing about (it was obviously one of great interest and generating a lot of reads)

Writing for the Examiner also helps me to promote my other writing sites, which are here at HubPages and my own website www.DorsiDiaz.com. As writers, you know cross-promotion is always important.

Here are the things that I consider the best things about writing for the Examiner:

• Free access/press credentials for topic based shows, meetings and events
• Social exposure
• The ability to write about something that you are passionate about to a targeted crowd
• The "Examiner University", where you can learn AP style writing and hone your writing skills (earn while you learn!)
• Meeting other writers and like minded readers and fans
• The ability to earn some income (This will depend on how much, how well, and what you write about)
• Free use of Getty Images and Grab Networks
• Great publishing tools, help and a forum for writers
• Referral compensation for referring other good writers
• Working for a reputable company. The Examiner online is owned by Clarity Media and Anschutz
• Good addition to add to your resume and/or writing portfolio

• Examiner perks and bonuses (discounts for car rentals, restaurants, hotels, etc)

As far as my rating for working with the Examiner as a freelance writer/publisher, I give them 4 stars. I would have given them 5 except that I do feel that they should give their better writers and publishers more incentives to earn.

After all, researching topics is alot of work, and it would be an additional incentive to attract and retain quality writers and reporters with better monetary incentives.

If you would like to write for the Examiner on topics or news that interests you, you can thank me for giving you this honest information by telling them you were referred by me (Dorsi Diaz ID #LYY4nX) and you can apply here to write: Write for the Examiner.

Good luck if you decide to apply, and remember, you can always tie in and cross reference and provide back-links to your hubs here at HubPages. And if you are not already hubbing, you can join HubPages here for free: Sign-Up for HubPages