Yahoo is inviting users to produce content for its Web properties and get paid for their work via its new Yahoo Contributor Network.
"The launch of the Yahoo Contributor Network is a great example of how Yahoo is executing against its content strategy," Carol Bartz, Yahoo's chief executive, said in a statement. "In less than six months since the acquisition of Associated Content, we've completely retooled the platform in order to bring the people's voice to Yahoo."
The Yahoo Contributor Network allows people to use their creative talents, taking pictures, recording audio, or writing stories for different Yahoo sites. Associated Content, purchased by Yahoo in May, already has 400,000 freelance writers, photographers, and videographers in its ranks. These independent producers will be absorbed into the Yahoo Contributor Network.
Users who are already Associated Content contributors just have to sign into the Yahoo Contributor Network with their existing username and password. Otherwise, to begin submitting stories and multimedia content, users must fill out a registration form. Users will earn money based on the performance of their articles.
"Bringing this authentic perspective to Yahoo's most popular sites will deepen our engagement with the millions of people who visit us every day and provide new opportunities for creative contributors who participate in the Yahoo experience," Bartz added.
Through this program, user-generated content will be featured on sites like Yahoo News, Yahoo Sports, and Yahoo's homepage.
"With the launch of the Yahoo Contributor Network, our contributors now have an unprecedented opportunity for exposure and distribution across Yahoo's portfolio," Luke Beatty, vice president and general manager for Yahoo, said in a blog post. "Associated Content has been known for maintaining the industry's largest contributors base, and with the launch of the Yahoo Contributor Network, we've added scale and reach that sets us apart from any other crowd-sourced media platform."
Yahoo said its material is viewed by more than 600 million unique visitors every month.