Magazine journalists work in print media and have longer deadlines than newspaper journalists. Freelancers spend more time looking for work and submitting proposals, while staff writers get stories from editors. Magazine writing is more detailed and in-depth, with a range of possible topics. Magazine journalists have more time to arrange interviews and research stories.
Unlike television or radio journalists who broadcast their stories, a magazine journalist works in print media. Newspaper journalists also communicate through print media, but a big difference is daily versus monthly deadlines. The duties of independent magazine journalists and those working on a publication staff can be similar, but they differ in the amount of time required for each task.
For example, as independent magazine journalists often have to write at least several different publications a month to earn sufficient income, they typically spend a lot of time looking for work. While every magazine journalist needs to get approval from an editor to write a specific story, it can take longer for editors to approve story ideas from freelancers and writers. Therefore, freelance magazine journalists tend to submit proposals regularly for story ideas. Staff writers are more likely to get stories from editors than independent magazine journalists.
Once a story idea is approved or assigned, both types of magazine journalists are often required to do research. This could involve looking up historical facts such as the age of a building, finding a piece of a local lighthouse, or interviewing lottery winners for an article on how to hit the jackpot. Interviews can be done in person, but they can also be done over the phone or even by email to save the journalist’s time. It may be necessary for freelance journalists to spend more time traveling to research stories than writers do.
Magazine journalists must use integrity to use facts when preparing articles for publication. While many magazines are more opinion-oriented than is necessary for newspaper journalism, magazine journalists still need to be ethical and accurate in the way they express themselves. Magazine writing tends to be much more detailed and in-depth than newspaper reporting. A magazine journalist usually has a range of possible topics to cover in addition to a longer article.
A magazine journalist generally has a more open format to work with than the typical journalism style of presenting the most pressing news first. For example, a newspaper article about the opening of a new museum might start with opening dates and specials, then the exhibits that set it apart, and end with possible future additions to the building. A magazine piece at the same museum opening might begin with the writer’s take on the venue or the exhibits in which he or she supports the point with information about other museums and display options.
While magazine journalists may have weeks to a deadline for an article, a newspaper reporter usually has a deadline of the end of the same day. Newspaper journalists often have to rush to schedule pertinent interviews, whereas a magazine journalist often has more time to arrange meetings or phone calls with the people involved in a story. Whereas a staff magazine or newspaper journalist usually works on one story and one deadline at a time, the freelance journalist can alternate his or her efforts between multiple stories with different dates.
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