About Us

TheContributor.com is a news organization drawing from a network of hundreds of blogs, online submissions and original reporting to deliver stories you may have missed. We cover everything from local city council meetings to international events; from Mars to your backyard. We feature citizen journalists alongside seasoned professionals with the occasional concerned taxpayer. All are welcome to contribute to the conversation.

Oh and we pay revenue share to bloggers for using their content. We pay our contributors (a little, at least). Click here to join our network.

FAQs

Why would you pay for content?! Don't you know this is the Internet and NO ONE pays for anything?!

Yeah, yeah, we know. However, content has value to advertisers, owners and investors and that should translate into money to content creators at some point. That point is now. We pay bloggers.

How much do you pay?

We share revenue generated from your stories. The Contributor splits advertising revenue on story detail pages 50/50 with content providers. As a member of our network you'll be able to check your balance and request payment at any time. We automatically send you a check when your account generates over $50.

Can I join without being paid?

Of course.

Do I need a blog of my own to be a Contributor?

No.  We can use your existing blog and an RSS feed in full text form (as opposed to summary) to bring your content to our network. Or... You can sign up without a blog and post directly to The Contributor.

How can I suggest a blog or a writer be included in your network?

Email us or direct your favorite blogger to our sign up page.

Who chooses which posts get featured?

We have a tireless team of editors who go through each and every post hand-selecting the best of the best. Yes, it's daunting, so you should be nice to us.

What makes a great Contributor post?

The first thing we look for in a post is story. Something interesting. Something different than what's currently bouncing around the echo chamber: A new take. New information. Clean writing. Good grammar (AP Style is preferred). We love local stories: elections, zoning issues, neighborhood politicians. We love strong reporting and adore passion on any topic. We go through a mountain of posts each day, we value solid work and we use it.

What we don't like are posts that are basically just a block quote of other articles. Posts with cheap shots (i.e. calling someone who disagrees with you a stupid moron) don't make the cut. Same goes for posts with the words "Nazi" or "Hitler" in it (save those that are actually about the history of WWII). If it resembles the forwards you get from your cantankerous shut-in second cousins, we probably won't use it.

Our Team

Editor-in-Chief: Tina Dupuy

Tina is an award-winning columnist, investigative journalist, and the former managing editor of Crooks and Liars. She appears frequently on MSNBC, Current TV, RT and BBC and all over the radio frequencies via KCRW’s To The Point, The Stephanie Miller Show, and The Leslie Marshall Show. She writes for Mother Jones, The Atlantic, Skeptic, Fast Company, Alternet, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Times, and Newsday among many others. Her op-ed column is syndicated in over 80 newspapers a week. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Follow her on Twitter: @TinaDupuy

Executive Editor: Rob Tornoe

Rob is an award-winning cartoonist, columnist and designer. He draws cartoons for Media Matters, the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Press of Atlantic City, and Philadelphia NPR-affiliate WHYY. He also covers the media for Editor & Publisher magazine. His cartoons have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post and on MSNBC and NBC's Meet the Press. Twitter: @RobTornoe

Project Manager: Dori Graff

Dori Graff is a tech entrepreneur and avid cat wrangler.

Executive Director: Lee Rogas

Lee is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, elder advocate, election judge and water-colorist. He is a founding partner and COO of Warecorp, an international software engineering, and consulting company. He is also the co-founder and COO of DrupalSquad and helped fund The UpTake. An early adopter of the internet he had a browser in 1994, has worked on numerous Fortune 500 interactive projects for the last 16 years. He usually starts his day on Reddit, is an avid science geek, and loves SF, movies, cooking and art. A 5th generation Texan, he now resides in Edina, Minnesota.

Publisher: Chris Dykstra

Chris Dykstra is a serial technology and media entrepreneur, community leader, and artist. He is a founding partner and CEO of Warecorp, an international software engineering, and consulting company working with impact entrepreneurs and change agents; Founder and President of DrupalSquad, on demand Drupal maintenance and support; Co-Founder of The UpTake, an acclaimed non-profit online video news organization; and Founder and Publisher of TheContributor.com, an online, daily publication of the work of an international network of bloggers. Dykstra has spent the last twenty years leading software and web teams, starting companies, playing soccer, creating art and maturing as human being and an impact entrepreneur. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Twitter: @duckstrap.