When we last wrote about Northcliffe Media’s “hyperlocal” online initiative LocalPeople in June, we didn’t know what the deal was for the 100 freelance “community publishers” who organise the network’s sites.
But a job listing seeking new joiners (spotted by Patrick Smith) explains: “The Community Publisher contract is for £400 per month plus bi-annual performance bonus of up to £1,800pa.”
That sounds like a pretty nimble way to staff an England-wide hyperlocal network.
The “community publishers” are part-journalist, part-community organiser – writing news, coordinating contributions from local groups and users, and promoting their site via social media.
But they won’t be tasked with ad sales. Northcliffe employs one ad salesperson for each cluster of four to six sites to sell display banners, LocalPeople MD Roland Bryan told paidContent:UK in June.
It’s not clear from the ad whether the posts are full-time or part-time.
Recently, LocalPeople had 100 sites. At these rates, that’s at least £480,000 a year in editorial staff costs. And Bryan is aiming to double the network to about 200 by next year.
LocalPeople launched in 2009 and eight of the sites became profitable in May, Bryan said.