USA Today Takes the Plunge: Paper to Pay Bonuses to Writers Based on Page Views

All, Media Gossip/Musings Jason McIntyre April 7th. 2011, 12:43pm

USA Today had a conference call last night and according to a source, the paper outlined a plan in which it will pay annual bonuses to writers based on page views. The goal, obviously, is to get writers thinking digital. But once writers start scrutinizing their page view tallies, and realize slideshows, rumors, and celebrities drive traffic, what will be the impact? And will other newspapers follow?

[Full Disclosure: Gannett is an investor in Big Lead Sports, but this news was independently sourced.]

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68 Responses to “USA Today Takes the Plunge: Paper to Pay Bonuses to Writers Based on Page Views”

1
ms621 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:46 PM
This seems about as smart as paying teachers based upon how their students do on standardized tests.
2
bsanders37 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:49 PM
But once writers start scrutinizing their page view tallies, and realize slideshows, rumors, and celebrities drive traffic, what will be the impact?
I tell ya, the lid popped off that can a worms like a virgin’s wad.
3
ATL_Badger Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:49 PM
So… every USA Today Article will now have “Erin Andrews” somewhere in the title?
4
Tim Ryan (TheSportsHernia) Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Cavs in 6.
5
Mantis Toboggan (Your comment is awaiting moderation) Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:50 PM
But once writers start scrutinizing their page view tallies, and realize slideshows, rumors, and celebrities drive traffic, what will be the impact?
I like slideshows.
6
starkweather Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Oh noes! Our last bastion of journalistic integrity is down the tubes!
7
Ty_Webb 1.0 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:51 PM
athlete dong making a comeback
8
s1rweeze Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:52 PM
But once writers start scrutinizing their page view tallies, and realize slideshows, rumors, and celebrities drive traffic, what will be the impact?
More “Stoops To Coach The Notre Dame Jets Of Michigan In A College Football Playoff Featuring Bernard Berrian As McNair’s Murderer” posts?
/just kidding
//meme overload
9
bsanders37 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Who’s this “Gina Holden” above the fold there? I’m intrigued.
10
mrejr8234 comes for the sports posts but stays to kill the local inhabitants Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:52 PM
athlete dong making a comeback
dont call it a comeback it’s been here for years!
11
Mantis Toboggan (Your comment is awaiting moderation) Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:53 PM
athlete dong making a comeback
Sadly, we might have seen the end of chicken legs.
12
ATL_Badger Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Who’s this “Gina Holden” above the fold there? I’m intrigued.
HA! I was going to ask exactly the same thing. Me likey.
13
heldover Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Gannett has two Ts.
14
Curtis the Close talker Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:54 PM
But once writers start scrutinizing their page view tallies, and realize slideshows, rumors, and celebrities drive traffic, what will be the impact?
And restaurant fights! Don’t forget restaurant fights. That’s the niche that needs more exploitin’!
15
BFFredo Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:55 PM
And how is this going to improve/maintain journalistic standards? In effect, the USA Today is signing up to be the American version of England’s The Sun.
Why not just start putting pics of topless women on there and get better pageviews that way?
16
Roethlishotdog Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:55 PM
Gannett has two Ts.
Not until they fork over some more $ they don’t
/TBL
17
coop247 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:56 PM
If we can’t look to USA today for journalistic integrity where can we?
Duffy thinks no one should ever be paid, except college athletes.
18
BFFredo Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Gina Holden: Appears as Dale Arden in SyFy’s version of Flash Gordon
Oh God! I had erased that shitfest from my mind!
19
bsanders37 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Why not just start putting pics of topless women on there and get better pageviews that way?
We had a “Page 3″ girl in the entertainment section of my college newspaper. You’d be amazed at how many girls volunteered to be featured and photographed for it. It was quite fun.
20
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:57 PM
Gannett has two Ts.
there’s always one in a crowd
/sometimes it’s me
21
ms621 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:57 PM
More “Stoops To Coach The Notre Dame Jets Of Michigan In A College Football Playoff Featuring Bernard Berrian As McNair’s Murderer” posts?
Or Chris Petersen to Mississippi State rumors…
22
Ty_Webb 1.0 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:57 PM
We had a “Page 3″ girl in the entertainment section of my college newspaper. You’d be amazed at how many girls volunteered to be featured and photographed for it. It was quite fun.
Denmark has this in the weekly TV Guide
23
bsanders37 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:58 PM
Gina Holden Fist Pump YEA!
24
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Full Disclosure: Gannet is an investor in Big Lead Sports,
i love the honesty.
/sometimes when we touch, the honesty’s too much
25
Ty_Webb 1.0 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Or Chris Petersen to Mississippi State rumors…
“you can take this to the bank”
26
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Gina Holden Fist Pump YEA!
jeezus sanders, are you her anti-publicist?
she looks haunted and really hungry
27
cracker jack Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:01 PM
I’ll take the USA Today seriously when they get rid of that man-hating lesbian Christine Brennan off the rotation.
To be fair, she hates women too
28
ATL_Badger Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:01 PM
You’d be amazed at how many girls volunteered to be featured and photographed for it.
Least surprising thing I’ve ever read.
29
BFFredo Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:01 PM
We had a “Page 3″ girl in the entertainment section of my college newspaper. You’d be amazed at how many girls volunteered to be featured and photographed for it. It was quite fun.
But that’s just it, you’re not having a “serious article on crisis in Japan” right across from “Peta, 23 from Essex”.
30
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:02 PM
I’ll take the USA Today seriously when they get rid of that man-hating lesbian Christine Brennan off the rotation.
To be fair, she hates women too
so that leaves her sexual outlets very limited
31
SouvenirCity Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
Gina Holden Fist Pump YEA!
She kinda looks like Emma Stone a little.
32
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
let’s get back to sports….ozzie guillen thinks Opening Days are a pain in the ass
33
bsanders37 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:03 PM
But seriously, USA Today is the Two and a Half Men of journalism. I’ll be interested to see if any respected entities actually begin to follow this paradigm.
34
bsanders37 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Gina Holden side boob?
35
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:05 PM
But seriously, USA Today is the Two and a Half Men of journalism.
which one is bob nightengale?
36
ATL_Badger Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:05 PM
let’s get back to sports….ozzie guillen thinks Opening Days are a pain in the ass
A team deals with it for what, 3 games tops? Big fucking deal. You can trot out to the first baseline 3 times a season Ozzie. It won’t kill you.
37
spencer096 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:06 PM
who is this gina holden? id like to tongue punch her peespot.
38
Mantis Toboggan (Your comment is awaiting moderation) Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:06 PM
To be fair, she hates women too
so that leaves her sexual outlets very limited
Then I’m guessing she’s a succubus
39
heldover Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:06 PM
there’s always one in a crowd
/sometimes it’s me
Full Disclosure: I work for one of their TV stations. Hooray, McNewspaper!
/Looks over shoulder
//Sleeps with one eye open
40
spencer096 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
AWESOME.
41
starkweather Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
I’ll take the USA Today seriously when they get rid of that man-hating lesbian Christine Brennan off the rotation.
Really? That’s all it would take? Have you ever read USA Today? It takes about 6 minutes to read every word in that rag
42
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
atl squid (if i may), ozzie is a load of fun. someone’s gotta be the ass hat and he is. and when he isn;t he’s funny
how many times do we wish sports folks would speak their minds/say non-pc things? he takes care of that for baseball
43
Jim Harbaugh Scramble Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Can’t wait to some writer figures out that boobs are the best way to get page views. Might actually check out USA Today once this happens.
44
ATL_Badger Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:08 PM
who is this gina holden? id like to tongue punch her peespot.
Ditto. Why haven’t I even heard of her before?
45
St. Bear Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:08 PM
We had a “Page 3″ girl in the entertainment section of my college newspaper. You’d be amazed at how many girls volunteered to be featured and photographed for it. It was quite fun.
No, I wouldn’t.
/women are whores
//and men are stupid
46
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
JHS, USA TITTAY
47
bsanders37 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
Can’t wait to some writer figures out that boobs are the best way to get page views. Might actually check out USA Today once this happens.
This is how it starts, next thing you know Starbucks is giving out handjobs and the South is eating at Assfuckers.
/Idiocracy’d
48
PL StabbinKabin Is Crucial Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
Peter Northstars. Epic T-Shirt
49
Vladdy Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
Fausto is on Fiiiiiyyyaaahh
50
BFFredo Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
so that leaves her sexual outlets very limited
I think the problem is her sexual outlets are not getting obstructed, if you get my drift and I think you do.
51
ATL_Badger Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
atl squid (if i may), ozzie is a load of fun. someone’s gotta be the ass hat and he is. and when he isn;t he’s funny
how many times do we wish sports folks would speak their minds/say non-pc things? he takes care of that for baseball
dDn’t get me wrong. I love ozzie. wish more people were like him. I tend to agree with him on a lot of things. But this just seems like something that really isn’t that big of a deal.
52
heldover Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:09 PM
id like to tongue punch her peespot.
Bravo. I’m using that.
53
starkweather Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:10 PM
the South is eating at Assfuckers.
Ahem! Buttfuckers, thank you very much, and it’s a national chain
54
St. Bear Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:10 PM
Have you ever read USA Today? It takes about 6 minutes to read every word in that rag
Not gonna lie, the first thing I do when I pick up a USA Today is check out whatever bright and shiny graph they have on the front page.
55
arkbadger Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:10 PM
yessssssss
56
starkweather Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:12 PM
The bright and shiny graphs are USA Today’s brand. I think it’s also the closest they come to investigative journalism. I always liked looking at their headquarters when I was a kid.
57
starkweather Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:13 PM
I clicked on your link, Badger #A, and I just barely stopped the story from loading as my HR manager walked past my desk
58
heldover Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:13 PM
Holy shit. I would buy a Peter Northstars jersey. If the team is smart, they’ll sell these things online and send one to Peter North himself to get a pic of him wearing one.
Step 3: PROFIT
59
bsanders37 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:13 PM
The bright and shiny graphs are USA Today’s brand. I think it’s also the closest they come to investigative journalism.
If you’re ever lucky enough to take a newspaper design class, they’ll pepper you with USA Today front pages and sections. And if you take a feature writing class, you’ll never come in contact with the publication. Just one of those things.
60
BFFredo Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:15 PM
I’d take a Peter Northstars tee as well.
61
arkbadger Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:15 PM
I clicked on your link, Badger #A, and I just barely stopped the story from loading as my HR manager walked past my desk
haha, sorry about that dude.
62
sportsgal116 Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:24 PM
I wonder what gets the most page views over at ESPNW – the articles about the latest fashions or the articles about which sports you should watch to make guys like you.
63
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:24 PM
And if you take a feature writing class, you’ll never come in contact with the publication. Just one of those things.
true enough, especially concerning their freelancers
64
starkweather Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
That’s pretty slick, Vez. I’ll click on the link a few times throughout the day in an attempt to pad ~~your~~ yer pocket
65
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:27 PM
i have a crazy idea…how about bonuses for breaking a story? or consistently beating the competition (which is every other paper in the US)?
66
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:28 PM
I’ll click on the link a few times throughout the day in an attempt to pad your yer pocket
aw starkington, i’m just having fun. if you really want to pad my pocket, i’ll hook you up at paypal
67
starkweather Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:31 PM
if you really want to pad my pocket, i’ll hook you up at paypal
I want to. It’s not that I don’t want to, you understand. Hey what’s that over there behind you?
/runs out of the room
68
YouKnowMeAl Says:
April 7th, 2011 at 1:56 PM
stark, that’s funny
/i think