Appreciation/Gratitude

Thank You, Ev Williams

Your bonus this month adequately provides the family grocery

When I received an email notifying me of Medium earnings this month, I was expecting the usual coffee money but was pleasantly surprised to receive a bonus. There are many write-ups about the bonus. Some query the notion while others are happy about it. However, since it is a bonus, I am personally grateful to be one of those who received it.

I cannot compare the Medium platform to another, although some have tried to. Medium is about the best platform for writers. I am not speaking about remuneration here, but the engagement with other writers as well as the interface. I see Medium as an International Platform that brings all writers of different genres together. And that is what I love about Medium.

It cannot be disputed that Medium has its own reputation in the media, nevertheless, most of us here are in it for a long haul.

A New Dawn At Medium

I want to believe this bonus, the first of its kind brings in a new era that you announced a while ago. This new era saw the departure of some of your editors. It means, Ev Williams, that you are very interested in bringing up the best for writers on this platform. With that in view, I want to make some suggestions that will further positively enhance Medium future. I hope to see the following achieved in future Medium:

1. Have Editors From The Platform

Who is better to select stories for further distribution, other than editors selected from the platform. Luckily technology has made it easier for remote working. They can have allocated genres and hours per week to look at stories and select appropriately for further distribution. Of course, they are not to select their own story. There are many qualified writers on the platform that can do this conveniently. Remuneration is agreed between you and them. I can easily recommend five people, that I follow, and allocation of the genre to them will be based on the Team's perception of what these people can handle. The five are Dr. Mehmet Yildiz (Technology), Shin Jie Yong (Coronavirus/Microbial), JJ Lim, BSc (Hons), (Food/Nutrition), George J. Ziogas (Motivation/Education/Life Lessons), Allison Gaines (Race/Diversity & Equality). Look for a qualified writer for the appropriate genre. There are many others who can be remotely employed to handle this.

2. The Role Of Publications On Medium

I am afraid that the role of most Publications on Medium has not been positive. You have once mentioned that they fall below your expectations. Some Publications have become so arrogant that they take weeks to get back to writers, to inform them that their story is not accepted in their pubs. Most ignore writers totally. How can this be allowed on Medium? These Pubs gain followers from the very writers they shun. Apart from the Illumination group, most pubs do not treat writers well.

They have not offered to the writers the kind gestures and liberty you gave them. They have definitely not passed it on. Most treat writers badly. So how can these Pubs bring in new members when they emit venom.

Medium membership can grow quickly by the affiliate model. Let existing members do the marketing and watch what happens.

3. Find A Way To Pay Members whose Countries Are Not Supported By Stripe

I was surprised when I read that members from a country like India are not paid because India is not supported by Stripe. This is not a tenable excuse at this age, Ev Williams. Whatever happens to the good old bank transfer? These members are on Medium Platform, not on Stripe Platform unless of course, Stripe is one of the Medium group of companies.

I want to plead that these members be treated the same way by looking for a viable alternative. It can be done, please, Ev Williams.

4. Food For Life

There is a saying that ‘’Give a man a plate of fish, he will have a meal. However, if you teach him how to fish, he has food for life’’. How about looking at the long-term plan where writers can invest in Medium shares. This of course will depend on whoever is interested in the scheme. Writers can take on this mantle of long-term investment on a platform that delights us so much and we want to be part of its growth.

Once again, thank you, Ev Williams.