How do you get a job as a freelance journalist

tekmiester · Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 7

What is the easiest way to break into freelance jounalism? Should you intern somewhere or have a few years experience in a newsroom first?

Foytey · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 9

The EASIEST is most definitely the online route as you can start or join as a freelance journalist for an unsurmountable list of sites and you can truly find your niche or keep it on a broad scale.
If your goal is to be freelance than you may want to acquire an internship position through telecommuting as emphasis on 'free'. Also they have paying and non-paying job ads all over newspapers and online job boards.
It is ultimately up to you in this new age of journalism. Best Wishes.

RFL1986 · Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

In terms of real-life journalism the best way is to intern and get a feel for the position and responsibilities. Education obviously helps a lot but journalism is still a career that can be learned independently. A lack of degree will definitely make it harder to get past submitting your resume in a lot of cases though.

Mickie31 · Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

People have to get to know you and know your writing skills. If you have a website you can demonstrate your writing abilities and show potential employers what you are capable of. Nobody wants to know if you are unknown and have no samples that you can send to an employer. Why should they? It is a very competitive market and you have to be good.

Serenity · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 5

Freelancing isn't an easy job and if you don't have any clips or experience, it's nigh on impossible to get hired. I don't think the best way to go about it is as cut and dried as it was years ago. In fact I don't think there actually is a "best way" anymore.

No matter what training route you choose, you should concentrate on submitting as well while learning. Send your best work to as many relevant publishers, websites and magazines as you can with the aim of gathering clips to show prospective editors. Work hard on that and you'll get there.

econwriter5 · Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 29

There is no "easy way" to break into freelance journalism, or journalism of any kind. "Journalism" has become a rather loosely defined term with the proliferation of blogs, wikis and the concept of "instant news."

Internships are the popular route, especially for those looking to make a career out of journalism. I don't know if you're in school (high school, college, grad school, etc.) in which case getting on the school newspaper is a great way to get clips.

Joining on online website as suggested, and other suggestions, do work.

The other thing you can do is work as what is called a stringer. They usually report and write up stories no one else has an interest in covering. There are plenty of stories that deserve coverage but don't get it because no one wants to write about it, for whatever reason.

Another thing you can do is write up articles, blogs, etc. on something you enjoy, like covering a local band, tips on starting and maintaining an urban garden, simple house-hold stuff. Perhaps there is a niche that is being ignored in your area.

It is not always the subject that makes the most interesting story, but rather the way the subject is presented. You can interview someone famous, and it might be great, but if the presentation (writing, pull quotes, etc.) is bad, no one will read it.

Either way, you gotta have a tough skin and be a self-started/go-getter.

Good luck!

azaleaeight · Joined: 06 Aug 2008 Posts: 27

[quote="tekmiester"]What is the easiest way to break into freelance jounalism? Should you intern somewhere or have a few years experience in a newsroom first?[/quote]

Getting clips is important, and sometimes you can those from local newspapers (either a daily or weekly paper). Papers sometimes advertise for someone to do a little local coverage, and proving you can write well may be the only thing they require.

flowerhorn08 · Joined: 07 Oct 2008 Posts: 20

Easy way to break into freelancing journalism? Well, I don't think there are any! My friend who has a site that think that it is very easy to make money from them has put up a promotional banner in offering research writing for anyone who is interested to get his service. Well, it has been 5 months and there is absolutely no taking at all!

ibeautiful · Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 4

I agree, it isn't very easy. Sometimes I'll sell an article for 100 pounds and then there'll be no takers for two months. I've sent out articles that have received no response whatsoever after 6 months. It can be frustrating but I always tell myself that I love to write and there aren't many things I'd rather be doing with my time.

I've also found the 'Writer's and Artist's Yearbook' invaluable when it comes to websites and addresses for newspapers and magazines.

nangel78 · Joined: 28 Oct 2008 Posts: 33

I have been freelance writing for several years now and pick up projects when I can. I have read books on some websites like www.journalismjobs.com that have some writing opportunities available.

Taggart · Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 35

[quote="nangel78"]I have been freelance writing for several years now and pick up projects when I can. I have read books on some websites like www.journalismjobs.com that have some writing opportunities available.[/quote]

Thanks for the link. I don't think I've seen that site before, but I've seen some others that offer freelance opportunities.

I just glanced at the site briefly, but I notice there are some interesting job listed there, including work at NBC, CBS and Al Jazeera. Surprised

Aurora · Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 15

One way to be a freelance journalist is to be always on the look out for new and interesting story ideas. If there's something that interests you, keep an idea on local news sites. Ask yourself the following questions: What are the current stories on a particular topic? Is there an angle to a particular story that's already been written that hasn't been explored? Editors look for fresh takes on stories, and if you can give it to them, you've got one foot in the door.

venu2009 · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 3

We couldn't find any jobs for freelance journalist. Please check the keyword terms you entered. You can also try using some other keywords, or enter fewer words to expand your search.

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