I preface all of this this comment by saying that I know very little about examiner.com and nothing at all about this Philip Anschutz.

My take on this merger is a simple one: it's only logical that NP would want to expand and merge with another, bigger company. I say this because, while I love my time on NP, and I think that it is a wonderful site, it needs to expand and it needs to get bigger. On a typical day, we might get 5/6/7 pages of new, legitimate posts (at least I think it's about that many when I check the 'recent' pages for for new posts). That's not a great deal of traffic/ participation, when you think about. Also, in comparison to another citizen journalism site with which I am familiar, we comment very little on posts. (The other citizen journal site I mention often has hundreds of comments on posts.)

Now, while this suits me because I like how NP is intimate, how you can get to know all of the frequent members very well, and how the staff are very available, I can completely understand how NP as a business will want to expand. It needs to, really.

Why didn't they talk to us beforehand? I'm not entirely sure they need to. They don't pay us to be here, we don't pay them to be here, everything we do here is off our own bat, so I'm not sure that consultation is an essential.

And I say all of this as one of the longest-standing guest editors on the site who has put in many, many hours (days? weeks? years?) of my time working to make this site a better place. We need to remember that NP is a business and that that is likely to be its primary focus.

REV J

I do not advocate hunting. :)

But I do agree with the rest. Something just doesn't make sense here.

generaldecay

No they don't have to answer to us. But keep in mind US is the writers who made the site successful, and it would have shown common courtesy to do just that. Instead of charging in like a bulldozer. There is something called tact and PR.

As far as other sites being more popular... Well most of them did not get nominated, now did they?

It is not about the quantity, GD, it is about the QUALITY. A lot of people like to read papparazi fluff, probably the majority of the people, but that doesn't make it good stuff.

I have a healthy respect for money, but when it boils down to money being the main objective, well that is just wrong.

I say this as a longstanding guest editor at NP: I have an awful feeling that because NP was doing so well as a citizen journalism site, that it had to be shut up.

I suspect this place is planning to turn into just another examiner place and Rev J you are right it does not make sense, except that that this was the plan in the first place....   To buy out NP in order to shut up TRUE citizen journalism. 

It is different writing for someone who starts the business in their garage, and writing for someone who uses his money and his status to tell you how to write.

When they don't ask us, then they are telling us...

Mike, I think you started out as a good guy, but the money just got you "high", and it is looking like you did sell us out, and we can't help but feel stabbed in the back. Rev J you don't have to hunt him down because his conscience will, if there is any decency in the man.

Nevertheless, NP will not have to worry, there are many who like the taste of money and they will jump on board. Heck I may even be part of it, except money won't be my prime motive.

NP just won't be the same, ever again.

Thanks for the link. Steve

  Oh my goodness.  I am amazed to read this whining.  No freeeee lunch anywhere!  You want to bloviate for free with not an ad?  The world does not work that way.

You can still write your stories about hating right wingers!  My lord are you going to stop eating because right wingers are making your food or what.  You seem to be really showing the underbelly thought processes of "loons".

Frankly I would call the FBI over the comment by you Jermano.  You are way out of line.   The world would stop if we suddenly "bleeped" everyone you do not like. Your philosophy is right on for right where you chose to run to  You truly do not represent
Christ behavior.  He will judge and he will do the justice in his own time and he does not need you

No probs Steve. I wouldn't use FF without it.

I love firefox but now I really love firefox.

As in all my post, I welcome opposite views. However, as per NP policy, I do not advocate personal attacks on the authors.

The topic is about how we feel about the Examiner's approach, and all the big advertising thrust on us.

been using since it was invented.........greatest boon to mankind since the invention of PreparationH, and both have the same effect.

Who are you talking about free lunch QH... The writers are the ones who built NP..who put the hours and time and sweat in to make NP....and what do the writers get? They get dumped by selling out to the Big Media bosses. You are the one eating the free lunch here....Hey by all means call the FBI.... Freaking Bungling Idiots. I am not out of line...I am trying to make NowPublic..honor its committment to real citizen journalism and not sell us off to the guys who crashed the banks...who wrecked the economy....and are under indictment for insider trading scams.  I didn't run here I came here to make it a better world, to stop the wars and killing...and the belief that China is some threat to the world. You have no idea what you are talking about QH... I don't represent Christ behavior? I suppose NP staff does by selling out to the Big Money Media Crooks..... the very guys who cocoted the phoney wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.......... You people take things so out of proportion....like hunting for Easter Eggs.

The Rev.

Sara,

This is my answer to QH... see above.

NP is a world platform and I'm concerned how the Examiner will influence the International discussion. I have been writing on Food and Travel on NP for a couple of years now and already it is clear that NP is changing. I hate the advertising.  Also many of us signed a contract about a year ago concerning advertising.  I'm assuming that none of that applies anymore.  I fully expect to see changes, the question is will they be in the interest the interest of the members or the owner. Time will tell!

Moonwolf quit, he was not banned.

Please refrain from personal attacks, they go against the Code of Conduct.

Glad to hear! Thanks for clarifying.

I don't mean to break any rules, my apologies. However, Mike is directly tied into the subject at hand.

I have to say that writing for NP has been one of my greatest experiences. I am grateful for this opportunity such as it is.

I brought up this topic in the first place, because as journalists, we have to question the current news and dig out all angles.  We must not be afraid to speak up. If we don't, who will?

Part of getting to the truth is being allowed to express concerns as well as our gleeful anticipations alike. And for that I give NP much credit.

As for the future of NP, I am torn as many of us are. And yes, change is inevitable and difficult.

Thanks for taking the time to join into the discussion. I am irritated by the advertising too. I hope in the future they will do it more tastefully, so as not to kill the story.

Would you want it to always be the same though? It's the nature of the business to change and adapt as the times change.

Think about even one year ago, and the changes that have taken place for us in that year; if we hadn't changed and grew and developed new technology and continued to refine our platform, NP wouldn't be here today.

I for one wouldn't want NP to always be the same. Change is good, it can be hard and scary at times, with some mistakes being made and other successes being won, but I always think of the news business as a constantly changing platform. Look at newspapers, they're dying out because they can't change fast enough.

I value our members very highly and the discussion here is a good one to have I think. I don't have any answers for you as I was not involved in this aspect of the business, but I don't see any censorship going on here or anyone being told to 'shut up' - pretty sure that's against our code of conduct... ;)

Amy you have been the best of NP! I hope they appreciate you as much as we do.