Journalist Updates

Greetings, Chobots!

In April we introduced a program called the "Journalist Program" -- once approved by the mods, players who owned their own blog were able to join this group of elite bloggers, and received benefits such as having their blog enlisted in the blogroll, and a very cool badge on their playercards. This program was immediately a success; many Chobots started working hard on their blogs to make sure it met all the requirements to be able to join the program.

The moderators were astonished at all the creative and amazing blogs that were created by Chobots, and to make sure everyone got an equal chance at being a Journalist, moderators asked bloggers to submit their blog at the beginning of each month. Over time it appeared that only the same people became journalists every month, and that those with not much design experience didn't stand a chance! The mods also noticed how the Journalists didn't get enough perks and rewards for having such amazing blogs.

That is why we decided to step it up with the Journalist program. Beginning in the new year, we are launching the next version of the Journalist program. The basics are still the same: in the beginning of each month you submit your blog and if it's approved, you will be enrolled in the program. However, there are new requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to become a Journalist, and of course new perks!

From now on, we are no longer looking at the design and activeness of the blog, but at the content. We will no longer accept blogs that just paraphrase posts from the official blog. Instead, we are focusing on the creativity, originality and overall writing/blogging skills of the authors. This means that you have to use your own creativity to create original content that appeals to the readers. You could, for example, write diary entries, publish interviews, write stories, collect information, report gossip/news 24/7... anything! Your blog does not necessarily need to contain all the latest updates, however it needs to be related to Chobots somehow.


Some of the revised perks of being a Journalist includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Journalist badge on your playercard with your blog title
- The possibility for your blog to be featured on the play page
- Your blog will be featured on the Official Blog
- Moderators will bookmark your website!
- You will be invited to write one blog post on the Official Blog.
- You will be added to an exclusive mailing list to receive all the behind-the-scenes information and news before anyone else does
- One free week of citizenship in the beginning of the month.
- Automatically receive the feather item
- PC moderators even though their card is blocked
- Purple nametag

Of course, the list is incomplete as we will be adding more and more perks to the Journalist program as time goes by.

Now that you've been informed about the new Journalist program, you can start preparing your blog as submissions will start on the 2nd of January, 2013. Remember: be creative and original. Your blog is a symbol of all your hard work and commitment, and you can use it to keep track of your journey.

Good luck,
Jake