If it ain't broke, fix it anyway?

[midgedear]

I just did an article on the Executive Director of the a local art league who could have put me in touch with at least 150 artists, but the online newpaper I've been working for is in the slooooow process of completely overhauling their system. I used to get my article as perfect as possible, upload it and correct any of the remaining imperfections. I did it the same way Friday, uploaded it and it has been stuck there ever since. So, while there are no glaring mistakes, the beautiful postcard I imbedded is sitting there with it's head cut off and the slideshow is all the way to the right of the page, totally disconnected from the article.

One of their prettiest features, the slideshow, now looks the same as the ones I get from my friends in personal emails and the new page format looks like a blog!

Why is it that not just this publication, but everyone these days, seem to live by "if it ain't broke, fix it anyway?" This improvement has cost everyone their hard-won followings and money, not to mention the incredible amount of effort spent on attracting that following and making that money!

Will it take their crashing and burning like the Chicago Tribune when it changed formats? People thought, "Why buy a cheezy imitation when we can have the original?" and started buying from the competition. The Trib returned to it's old format, but not before it lost a lot of momentum. Or how about Coca-cola in 1992? Pepsi is still profiting from that fiasco! Why do they insist on improving something that's already good?

It's been three days and so far, no change. Is anyone feeling me here? Can anyone explain this "fix it anyway" phenomenon?

[herdon]

It's a bit of a stretch to call Examiner.com an 'online newspaper'. It's a lot closer to a blog network than an online newspaper.

[midgedear]

I was being polite. That's what they call it. Whatever you want to call it, it's messed up. The point remains, why the heck is the trend these days, to try something new when what's available works just fine. Go ahead and try something or tweak here and there to stay current, but overhaul? Overhauling is only necessary if something's broken badly.

[herdon]

Well, the Examiner's website was pretty horrid. It certainly needed an overhaul. I think the real issue is that the new site doesn't seem much better. In two years, I don't think the staff has really learned much of anything about how to design and run a web portal.

[midgedear]

Sad. I thought I'd get some input here. There are a lot of Examiners here. Still absolutely nothing fixed yet, at least as far as my stuff goes. Did you used to write for Examiner?

I was doing it for the experience and exposure. They were at least, up front about the money. If you want to be rich, don't work for us! Kind of funny, I thought, but some of the artists I've interviewed take it seriously, as did this Executive Director of the Art League. I'm ashamed of how her story turned out. She let me use a beautiful picture and the head is cut off!

I still think an "if it ain't broke, fix it anyway" attitude is prevalent, especially in the computer or IT world. I'm a nurse by profession and they change our programs at least yearly, and while I know we need updates, working in an electronic medical record, while it used to be efficient and easier to read, has become so time consuming and confusing now, that it is absolutely nonproductive.

Just ranting. And maybe that's what I wanted to do here. Lol! Needed someone to commiserate with me.

[zanizh]

I'll join you. I will still write for Examiner in a way but it will only be enough to stay active and collect the money from page views. I'm moving my entire local reader base to a blog. I actually think I can do more with it in this capacity.

I used to love Examiner and I published 5-12 articles a week. While some writers there were inclined to write whichever way they wanted, I stuck to the guidelines and to my topics. Only I can control how I write and I don't worry about how everyone else writes. And for me and the purpose of it, I did very well; especially with my local column. People know me around here as the writer of the DeKalb County Examiner.

Examiner's main problem here is they are trying to compete with other content mills instead of sticking to the strict premise of local (and good) content in the first place. They are "upgrading" (if that's what you want to call it) strictly for the networking of writers, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but now they've screwed it up to the point that it's not serving its local purpose. As far as networking, there was no way I was going to direct readers to columns that were as shoddy as what they turned out to be.

This isn't to mention that writing is a full time job for me. I pay taxes on it and it puts food on the table. From the time Examiner rolled out the "upgrade", I started losing money. Hopefully, private clients will help fill that gap.

In any case, I've set up the domain on Blogger "DeKalb County Examiner" and I'm still doing my job with more leeway than I had before. I'm going to submit my local articles to Associated Content for more upfront then what Examiner paid me anyway and easily link it up to the new domain. You might could do the same.

[midgedear]

Yes, I've read your articles. In fact, I subscribed and commented on your page. Gotta support my sisters in Alabama! I'm originally from Mobile.

More to the point, I've enjoyed your articles. I've visited your blog as well. Does Associated Content pay? I keep thinking it's not about the money, but have to admit albeit sheepishly, it sure would be nice to have a few more bucks!

I know I'm not used to it and maybe it will grow on me, but I don't care for the new site. Someone there said their blog looks better. I have to agree, and I especially grieve the passing of the old slide show. It really was one of Examiner's stronger features.

[zanizh]

I can't even get in to see my comments! LOL. Thank you for reading my stuff. I make a great deal more on AC then I do on Examiner (I stuck with Examiner for the local aspect). I write popular content for page views and other things for upfront payment.

Speaking of slideshows, I had to go back in and redo most of them for copyright information and proper attribution because they didn't transfer with the info I put on them. The copyright wasn't mine and I had permission to use them as long as the attribution and copyright information was on there. Examiner (and I) could've gotten in trouble! They also don't link up to the articles anymore. :(

[midgedear]

Well I need to check it out then. I am so dissappointed with Examiner. It's so complicated now. They gave me Naperville Contemporary Art Examiner, but when you look up Illinois, Naperville isn't even listed. I'm asking for a broader area like Suburban Chicago or at least West Suburban Chicago. Since it doesn't look like they're going to focus on my local content I may as well use the name 'Chicago' to get more hits.

I'll still be checking on you my Southern Sissy. Take care. By the way, you can personal message me here anytime and look up my email. I'd love to hear from you from time to time

Thanks for your input.