Writing for Newspapers

[Windlord]

I'm curious if any of you have ever written for a newspaper? Not as a fulltime staff Journalist, but more freelance.

I wanted to get into the freelance Market, and I heard that this was one way which to get some viable experience so you can sell yourself better when you move up a little higher, into Magazines and all that. So I was wondering, do you have any advice?

I have some questions. What is acceptable to write about? What kinds of stories should I avoid, and what kinds of stories should I try to write if I'm going to freelance for the Newspaper? Who should I contact? The Editor? Should I ask for, or suggest assignments, or try to turn in ones that are already written?

Any other advice would be much appreciated.

Peace,

Windlord.

 

[The Julikenz]

Greetings Windlord

Some great tips i've been given for breaking into journalism (either freelance or full time) have been:

Start local

- Find out who the editor of your local newspaper is, and contact them. (If you can't find their name in print, politely call the switchboard operator and ask. )

- Make a pest of yourself to the Editor. If you are unsucessful initially (which it is likely you will be), go back and try again in a few weeks.

You could ask him/her about how you could be more involved, offer to submit some examples of your work, ask them if they have a need for a particular field, etc.

Do your reseach.

- Planning to be a freelance writer? Know who your favourite free lance writer is.

- Know your fields - if you're planning to write about politics for example, be able to discuss your local Politicians and issues on cue.

- Build up contacts and maximise your position in the community.

Don't approach the editor wanting to do something you could come across as knowing nothing about.

Putting together persuasion

- Have an updated CV that is informative, concise, and grammatically correct. (Hint: spelling mistakes won't get you a shot )

- Include anything you've had printed with your name attached.

Your aim isn't so much to sell yourself (don't include every achievement and award you have) - but to show yourself educated and experienced. If you've never had anything in print before, try submitting writing to the opinion pages of other local papers about the area's your interested in. It's not grade A - but it's your name in print and an example of your knowledge and assets you could bring to their paper.

The best of luck to you, brother.

 

[Fozzwald]

I'm curious if any of you have ever written for a newspaper? Not as a fulltime staff Journalist, but more freelance.

I wanted to get into the freelance Market, and I heard that this was one way which to get some viable experience so you can sell yourself better when you move up a little higher, into Magazines and all that. So I was wondering, do you have any advice?

I have some questions. What is acceptable to write about? What kinds of stories should I avoid, and what kinds of stories should I try to write if I'm going to freelance for the Newspaper? Who should I contact? The Editor? Should I ask for, or suggest assignments, or try to turn in ones that are already written?

Any other advice would be much appreciated.

Peace,

Windlord.

As a longtime news reporter who moved over to sports five years ago, I'd say your best bet would be to study the paper for a time and see what it is they don't staff. Depending on the size of the paper and how many communities they cover, that could be anything from city council meetings, certain commissions (planning, airport, etc.) and that sort of thing.

The size of the paper should determine who to contact. If it's a large metro paper you're much better off trying to contact the section editors (such as news editor, lifestyles editor) rather than the man in charge.

If it's a smaller paper that doesn't carry a lot of national wire stories don't forget about the sports department. There's a number of summer activities such as Little League, Babe Ruth baseball, American Legion ball, youth soccer leagues that will fill space and make parents happy that the regular sports crew doesn't really want to cover. (I'm speaking from experience there.)