Paying writers with Google Adsense ads is 'fairer' claims Apple-centric 9to5Mac founder Seth Weintraub
Prominent Apple blog 9to5Mac pays its staff with Google Adsense ads embedded in each writer's news posts - meaning the more popular a reporter's stories are, the larger their salary.
Seth Weintraub had no media experience prior to starting the site
Speaking to Business Insider, Seth Weintraub who founded the site claimed had no idea how to pay contributors when the site was first established.
As a result, Weintraub said he gave every 9to5Mac writer ownership of the Adsense ads on their posts, with lead reporters getting extra space on the site’s homepage. He added that this is “the fairest way to pay a writer”.
The 40-year-old founder of the Apple-centric site said: “I’m honestly surprised more people don’t do it, because it actually takes away a lot of the complexity, because if people say ‘I’m not making enough money,’ I’m like, ‘Write more stories, get more page views.’”
With the eccentric scheme, 9to5Mac writers never make less than $10,000 in any given month according to Weintraub.
Earlier this week, 9to5Mac, leaked documents alleging that Apple Pay will launch this weekend.