Examiners are the local insiders and topic experts who power Examiner.com, the insider source for local information and resources. If you are interested in becoming an Examiner, here are are some suggestions on how to increase your likelihood for acceptance. Begin by applying online.
Choosing a topic:
The first step of the application will be to choose a topic. This will become your Examiner title (Honolulu Surfing Examiner, for example). There are a couple different ways to find a topic title. If you know what you want to write about - surfing, for example - the fastest is to use the blue Find a Topic search bar and type in the keyword "surfing" then click the brown search button. If you prefer, you can browse available titles by category using the dropdown menu of categories.
When selecting your topic, consider asking yourself the following:
What are you passionate about? Writing about your topic should be fun, so don't choose a topic that will feel like a chore to write about. Successful Examiners publish at least two to four brief (200-400 words) articles per week.
What are you qualified to write about based on your background and experience? Examiners must be credible and reliable resources for their topics. This could mean a veterinarian in Omaha writing as the Omaha Pet Health Examiner or, it would also be acceptable if the veterinarian chose to apply to be the Omaha Fishing Examiner if she has passion and knowledge on fishing.
Writing sample:
The final step of the application will be to provide an original brief sample article (200-300 words) to demonstrate your writing so we can get a feel for what your Examiner content would look like. Here are things to keep in mind:
Write on topic. We will be evaluating your knowledge of your topic, so if you're applying to be the Honolulu Surfing Examiner your sample should be about surfing in Honolulu. You may paste in an article you've previously written only if it is about your topic.
Localize. Find a way to provide a local angle even if you're writing on a national or global topic. For example, if your chosen topic title is Denver Cancer Examiner your article can provide an update on the latest international cancer-related research, then offer information on a Denver-based resource for local readers to get more information.
Write in the third person. Avoid "I," "me," "my," "mine" and other first person pronouns. Examiner.com is not a platform for personal journaling, so rather than
I am planning to go to the County Fair this weekend and really hope I don't have to park a mile away like last year.
Write this instead:
This weekend, June 1-2, is the County Fair. Parking tends to be a challenge, so plan to wear comfortable walking shoes in case you need to park in one of the lots farther away. The best spots usually fill up by 10am.
Check spelling and grammar. You will be evaluated on your writing ability. Therefore, proofread your application prior to submitting it. Examiners are encouraged to follow the AP Stylebook.
When you have properly submitted your application, you should immediately receive both an on-screen and an email confirmation. If you do not see this, it is likely that your application was not submitted correctly.
Once you've properly submitted your application, it will be reviewed by a member of the Content Team. You will be notified of acceptance by email, so be sure to include Examiner.com on your email program's safe senders list.
Applicants usually receive the email response within one day to one week; however, if the applicant volume is unusually high, it may take longer. All applicants will receive an email response. Examiner.com's current acceptance rate is about 40 percent.
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If you are interested in becoming an Examiner, read my article What is Examiner.com and who are Examiners? and then complete the online application.
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