Help Wanted: Writers, Journalists, Illustrators, Videographers, and other content creators...

Hello members and visitors of ATS.

In 2016, we're planning some significant changes to continue to bring AboveTopSecret.com to the forefront of alternative news and views. A major part of our effort is to begin seeking out talented writers, journalists, illustrators, videographers, and other content creators for a revived effort with exclusive original content.

And, as I've previously alluded to, a major part of that content creation effort will involved the development of a free open source platform for the creation and delivery of news across the increasingly broad spectrum of screens and devices. The content creators we select in the early phases will be involved in specifying the design of the toolset for rapidly creating digital content, and getting the results out to every possible kind of device.

Ideally, our early content creation partners will have had some experience in writing editorial or journalistic pieces on politics, world events, and alternative news. The same holds true of illustrators and video creators. However, we're looking to create a new breed of digital news platforms, so we'll eventually be needing lots of people with a passion for alternative news and views.


What You Should Do:

If you're interested, send your resume and cover letter to; 2016[at]theabovenetwork.com - the "[at]" actually being "@".

If you don't want to reveal your real name or published writing samples at this early phase, that's fine. But writing samples will help.

In the subject of the email, start it with "content creator:" to help make it easier to sift through the applicants.


What You Can Expect:

If we select you for the early phases of the project, we'll need to know your offline information, as you'll be asked to sign a Non-Disclosure agreement. This is because you'll be part of a team working to design the future.

We will establish a secure environment for collaboration of the team, as well as the sharing of files and information.

When the project is complete, you'll be given credit as part of the team that developed the free open source software.


Will You Get Paid?

That's a good question.

Once the platform is deployed, yes, content creators who submit accepted content will receive a guaranteed minimum, then a percentage of the advertising your material generates.

During the development process: it depends. We hope that our team is able to rapidly create a rough prototype that illustrates the uniqueness of the new platform. On the strength of that prototype, we'll seek out crowd funding as a means to potentially attract high-tier talent, resources, marketing, etc. Part of the crowd funding, if successful, is earmarked as compensation for your time spent on the project.


Free Open Source Software

My vision is to take advantage of the core talent of ATS members, along with others concerned about the future of news and information, to create a unique platform for collaborative journalism. While we (ATS) will use that platform for our original content, the completed software will be made available for anyone to use, free of charge.



There are a few more surprises coming... but this is the first step.

Thank you.

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

Well I guess I am first reply. Am I allowed to reply? Ok so let me ask this, does the community have any interest in hearing interviews with actual people in "the streets"? That is to say, the homeless, the low income segregated communities of urban environments like housing projects and section 8?? Much of the general consensus of the ignorant is that black neighborhoods are just raising each other in violence, drugs, and racist attitudes. That hispanic communities are stealing jobs and leeching off medicaid and so on.

I would love to do interviews in the streets to show the ignorant how they have been played, and that many of these thinking human beings actually know just as much, or even more so about the conspiracies or our governments and the NWO as beyond the generalizations and stigma that is slapped onto them by sheltered middle and upperclassmen of society who never have to or have the spine to visit these communities and just speak with the human beings living there??

Just a thought. I do not have "victim" or "afraid" plastered on my face so I naturally go into any neighborhood where the good little middle and upperclassmen warn their friends and family not to venture into because dino-media has told them it can be scary.

I dunno I dont really care about money. I just want people to see human beings and not stereotypes and generalizations.

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

Well I will reply as to help Kick this thread back onto the Pages! This sounds like a fantastic and Fun idea!!

I have to ask, for Myself and I hope other Fiction Writers here, will there be a place for Fiction/Fantasy Stories along side of the Alternative News and Views sections? I for one would Love to submit Previously Written, and/or New Material, Stories for this Project! You know, as a Breather/Break from all the News... Just a thought for You guys here S.O.... Thanx.

Here's to the New Frontiers!!! Syx...

Sounds fantastic! I'm not a great writer, so I'm not going to apply, but I can assist with coding/programming (particularly for mobile devices) should such a need arise. Looking forward to seeing what this turns into!

a reply to: AmericanRealist

From You:
"I dunno I dont really care about money. I just want people to see human beings and not stereotypes and generalizations."

I really really like this!! I think it is a Great Idea!!! Good Luck!!! I hope You will be the "Guy on the Street"

a reply to: SyxPak

I would love to be the guy on the street, and at the same time bring more people from these communities to our community here. I guess I will just have to start off with some video interviews and see where it goes.

a reply to: AmericanRealist

I seriously Wish You Well in this venture! I do hope they, (ATS) will see the benefit of having someone, hopefully You, on the Streets! I do think this is a very good idea!!! Talk about realism! Right?

Now for it to be really affective, We need to get those "sheltered" folk in here to see these videos and articles...

We can hope the M.S.M. will get wind of all this and put some of it on 'their' air!

Great! Here's to the future of ATS!

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

Will there be a need for a content editor - that is a person who will double check all information as well as make sure spelling and grammar are done properly? If so, I may think of applying. I currently work as a writer (doing random articles for one site and health-specific ones for another), but have no experience in writing with regard to alternative media, so I don't think my writing talents would be particularly useful.

a reply to: SkepticOverlord
Hiya SO,

Actually tried to contact the abovenetwork through the proper channels many months ago; one of my friends who is a professional director wanted somewhere to put some side projects. The person tried to make contact, too and we asked ATS staff members advice on how to make this contact.

A loooooooooooong time went by and not so much as a 'not interested' one liner. Unfortunately its not the first time I've had this experience here where I (or one of my friends) has asked a question and not received a reply. Guess I'm just wondering if something changed? At this stage if I suggest to the same people go through seemingly the same channels to get involved in my hobby (ATS) they're going to freaking slap me.

Is there a reason for the lack of replies? Does it mean 'not-interested-and-can't-be-bothered-telling-you-we're-not-interested' or does it mean something else? Is it different staff vetting the applications? The same staff? Etc ...

Not trying to be a pain, but if I was going to mention this to the people I think would genuinely add value they're likely going to have the same concerns albeit be less interested in asking what changed.

Do I have to wear pants?

originally posted by: skunkape23
Do I have to wear pants?

Yes. Except for Tuesdays. Tuesdays are 'pants optional'.

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

Hey Skeptic, do you need music?

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

Well, I for one am eager to see what comes of this.

The concept has enormous potential, not just for success, but if it works, to change the face of journalism and information access. We certainly are living in interesting times!

Hmmm Interesting.

Sounds above my level of experience.

Only thing I have under my belt is WordPress.

Be curious to see where this goes.

I would do the work for free if that insured accurate untwisted unbias news gets out to the public.

Looking forward to the future reform here at ATS

I have seen so many incredibly talented people pass through the doors here, and slip out again, unnoticed and unappreciated. Talent, when it arises, needs nurturing and here, too much reward goes on empty vessels making lots of noise. I know, I have been such a vessel

I definately support the initiative, only time will tell on the follow-through.

This has been a long time coming, and I hope to see it come to fruition and grow the site as it should be. I will say though, that formal education and previous employment aside, we DO have some extremely talented writers here. Hopefully they will be considered at some point as well. Many would love to contribute to helping ATS.

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

This sounds exciting. When I left school I did a communications course at College, a stipulation of my conditional acceptance to the Journalism Degree course at Robert Gordons University in Aberdeen. Fortunately I started a rock club and continued down that path for 13 years. I say fortunate as I didn't think I could sensationalise things the way the MSM do or even pester grieving relatives until they give me the inside scoop on their loved ones. Although I chose a different path I am a keen writer and have written short stories, poems and was a contributer for a music fanzine back in the late 90's. On top of this I've also proof read a few chapters of a forthcoming vampire novel. I could send you my resume but considering I have never been paid for my writing I couldn't really put much about that in there, it would all be Djing, Labouring, Retail, Security and Bar Work.
Aside from this, living in Scotland there isn't a huge amount I could report on in person, Scottish threads don't seem to get much attention, I believe the Referendum stuff was the absolute pinnacle of responses to threads specific to Scotland.

a reply to: djz3ro

scotland is where faslane is ,so you might be able to give nuclear sub movements as well as updates on military ships being built there ,not to mention the buckfast culture and how they live compared to the elite in scotland..
for the record i think they faked the vote

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

Just a quick note of something I realised just now.

Your banner, which sits at the bottom of the main page and says "Help Wanted" actually links to one of the NLBS video threads. It might be wise to link instead, to this thread.