Forbes.com | University of California Santa Barbara
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara sent out questionnaires to Huffington Post bloggers identified as the site’s most frequent contributors to find out their attitudes to unpaid blogging. Here’s what the researchers found:
* Ninety-six percent of those surveyed believe that their postings are equal to or more valuable than contributions made by paid Huffington Post editors and curators.
* Sixty-nine percent believe bloggers should share in the $315 million payday.
* A majority (54%) say HuffPo should develop a flat-rate payment schedule for contributors (based on words per post, for example).
* Most respondents (54%) say HuffPo bloggers should press their case through some form of concerted action, such as online organizing or unionization.
* Despite mixed feelings about the merger, the majority (92%) of our sample indicates it will continue writing for HuffPo after the merger.
* Almost half (46%) of our respondents say they’ll contribute because they benefit from the exposure their work receives at HuffPo, which in turn generates ancillary opportunities, such as book sales or consulting jobs.
Comments