Overview:
Two fresh contributors—Maria Cornejo and Nathan Dube—have entered the Presence News monthly writing competition. Their debut articles, covering Los Angeles culture and social media innovation, mark the start of their journey toward securing a paid writing position with Presence News.
Presence News is excited to welcome two new voices into its monthly writing competition. Aspiring contributors have the opportunity to showcase their work and earn a spot as paid writers.
On August 19th, 2025, both Maria Cornejo and Nathan Dube published their first articles with Presence News. They officially entered the competition.
Articles
Maria’s article, Hidden Gems of South Bay Los Angeles: 5 Must-See Spots Beyond the City, takes readers beyond the well-trodden paths of Los Angeles. She uncovers cultural landmarks, serene parks, and historical treasures tucked away in the South Bay.
🔗 Read Maria’s article here
Nathan’s feature, Yuvoice: The Socially Conscious Platform Aiming to Redefine Social Media, explores the mission of Yuvoice. It is a new social media startup designed to help changemakers, activists, and nonprofits connect and drive real-world impact.
🔗 Read Nathan’s article here
These articles mark the beginning of their participation in the Presence News Writing Competition. It was launched shortly after the debut of our new website on June 7th, 2025. Each month, the competition highlights fresh perspectives and diverse topics. The top five authors earn a paid writing position. Winners receive $8 per article. The goal is to raise wages in the future as the publication continues to grow.
Current Top Author
Currently, William Barber holds the top spot in the competition for a second month in a row. Barber has consistently impressed with his strong writing and unique insights, keeping him in first place for August. Unless a major upset occurs in the final weeks of the month, he looks poised to remain in the lead. Still, the arrival of new contributors like Cornejo and Dube means the competition could heat up at any time. If fresh talent rises to the challenge, an upset is possible.
The competition not only encourages creativity but also provides a platform for emerging writers to reach a wider audience. By highlighting local culture, technology, social justice, and more, contributors bring fresh insights to Presence News readers. They work toward building their own writing careers.
Presence News is thrilled to see what Maria, Nathan, and future contributors will bring to the table as the competition continues to expand.
Editor’s Disclaimer:
At Presence News, the only way contributing writers can see which articles are resonating most with readers is by reviewing the monthly ebook. It showcases the Top 20 articles of each month. This system helps writers understand what trends are emerging with our audience over time. For transparency, our website readership in August 2025 surpassed 10,000 visitors—a figure that does not include the additional reach from shares across our social media channels. (Monthly Ebook is free on Amazon to read with Kindle Subscription. Each article on our website also has a view count allowing to check views manually. Top 5 authors also scored on other aspects such as creativity, community engagement & other metrics.
