If you go to MediaBistro.com‘s job listings (registration required), you’ll find an ad that describes the future of the Examiner. Currently the Examiner is the free tabloid newspaper owned by billionaire oilman Phil Anschutz. But the ad is seeking freelancers who will write for the Examiner’s Web sites in 59 markets nationwide. These freelancers will be known as National Examiners (not to be confused with the supermarket tabloid of the same name). Some quotes from the ad:
- A National Examiner is a freelancer who is looking for a large audience and enjoys informing others about subjects they love. Ideally, you’ll become the authoritative guide to your specific topic. You’ll become a household name and eventually, someone will name an appliance after you. You’ll be a regular on the talk show circuit and if you hurry, you’ll make it to Larry King Live. Your unfinished meals will be sold on eBay. There will be rumors that you’re actually the adopted child of Brad and Angelina. You’ll have the paparazzi watching as you order dinner with Guy Fieri at T.G.I. Fridays. Does it get any better!
…Ideally, Examiners will post at least three times a week. Post should take no more than 15 to 30 minutes to prepare. It’s expected that Examiners will stay on top of what’s happening regarding their topic and ensure their page reflects those events. …The compensation for this role will be based on page views. There is an opportunity for incremental variable compensation based on your level of readership. The goal is to make you as rich and famous as possible. No kidding, this is like having your own Hollywood agent!
Speaking about Anschutz, the Chron’s Joel Selvin notes that the billionaire oilman is getting into the concert business in the Bay Area by leasing the 2,300-capacity Warfield Theater in San Francisco. The lease is actually held by Goldenvoice, the Los Angeles alt-rock wing of Anschutz Entertainment Group, or AEG. For the last 30 years, the Warfield’s lease had been held by firms associated with the late Bill Graham. Goldenvoice has also taken over the lease to the Grand, a 1,000-seat facility on Van Ness Avenue, a boomy room once known as the movie theater Regency I.