Typepad has announced that users of its Pro level of service now can display text ads to generate revenues from their blogs.
Details here.
Steve Outing writes about the new feature at Poynter Online's E-Media Tidbits:
Since a growing number of news organizations' websites now host "citizen bloggers," this might be an idea worth copying. I've been thinking lately about how to pay volunteer bloggers. Here's a way to provide them some financial incentive to keep writing without any cost to the publishing organization.
I agree with Outing that giving citizen journalists a way to make money from their work, even a small amount, is going to be a key element to the future of the grassroots media concept. Tying those payments to hits and possibly even user ratings would be a way to reward quality.
Typepad's Pro level costs $14.95 a month or $149.50 a year. So, for people using Typepad's less-expensive options (I use the Plus level), you'd have to weigh the additional features of the Pro level and your potential earnings from the ads. The latter would be a guess, as Typepad gives no indication of how much ad revenue a blogger could expect.
A related development (via J.D. Lasica's post at NewMediaMusings.com) was the announcement of Current TV's video submission policy. Current pays $250 to $1,000 for videos submitted to its web site that it then selects to air on its television program. (BTW, ya gotta check out Mark Rinehart's BASE jumping video now featured in the first slot on the Current TV home page.)
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