it is a little discouraging, but personally, my motivation is to share information that i feel is important for others to see rather than make a profit. hopefully this platform will continue to grow, allowing for greater earning potential more in line with actual views, but either way i'm happy to be here. it is unfortunate that journalists face a near constant struggle when it comes to earning income for their work. many hoped steemit would be a solution to this problem. fingers crossed it will grow to be just that.