allvoices launched the “Excellence in Citizen Media Initiative” to reward on-the-ground news and opinion contributors from all over the world with a six-month cash incentive. Anyone can be a part of the initiative by joining allvoices and contributing content to the site. You’ll have six months to reach specific milestones, and allvoices will base these milestones on your collective contributions within the time period. If your total number of views is more then 100,000 you will be paid $1,000, and if your cumulative number of page views reaches 1,000,000 you will be paid $10,000. The initiative will continue until February 19, 2009.

allvoices enables contributors to build a multimedia portfolio on a profile page to track viewership of every news report and contribution (video, image, blog posts) they make to the community via the Web site, SMS, MMS or email. All reports and contributions to the site are automatically aggregated to each individual’s profile page where contributors develop fans, a readership base and opportunities to connect with other like-minded individuals.

“The business models are broken in traditional media and are undergoing tremendous change,” said Amra Tareen, CEO of allvoices. “Meanwhile, citizen reporters and freelance journalists are under a great deal of pressure to create and showcase their content and get paid. With the Excellence in Citizen Media Initiative, allvoices is experimenting with new models to support citizens, writers, journalists, bloggers, students, photographers and videographers. We give them a platform to succeed and the ability to build a global community around their reporting and contributions.”

In addition to the cash incentive program, contributors are recognized on the site for their journalistic efforts with “First to cover” badges for timely reporting, and ranking and display of contributed news on the home page. Home page ranking is determined by a combination of viewership, engaged discussion from the allvoices community, aggregation, rating and reputation. Contributors are also highlighted on the home page.

To participate in this program, new users must sign up and agree to the Terms of the Incentive Program upon registration on allvoices.com. If already registered, contributors can join from the Incentive Program tab on their Edit Profile page.