Online journalists write news content for distribution on the internet, seeking to answer the “Five Ws” of an event. A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or a native language is useful, as is hands-on experience in student publishing. Online journalists often work from home and may write blogs to attract editors and clients. They can work with various news services and must make their articles stand out to compete with other journalists. Freelance online journalism allows for flexible hours and cost savings, but salaries vary based on secured contracts.
An online journalist generates news content for distribution on the Internet. As in other forms of journalism, online journalists seek to answer the “Five Ws” of an event: who, what, when, where, why, and also how. Common news content is usually in an article format written with an objective view. Opinion articles and blogs can take a more personal angle to a story. Online journalists often work from home independently.
A bachelor’s degree can be a practical necessity for anyone wanting to be an online journalist, although online journalism involves more educational flexibility than traditional journalism. Popular degrees for online journalists are communications, journalism and a native language such as English. Hands-on experience in student publishing can also be useful for potential online journalists. Building a portfolio of writing samples can help online journalists attract the attention of paying clients.
Before securing writing contracts, online journalists often write blogs to capture the attention of editors and the general public in their field of expertise. Blogs can be maintained on personal websites, dedicated blog pages, or professional news sites. In recent times, blogs have become a widely accepted means of reporting and debating news and opinion. Many well-known public figures regularly contribute to some form of blog.
After forming a collection of written samples, an online journalist can pursue contracts with news editors. Working with editors remotely, or exclusively by mail, telephone and the Internet, is called freelancing. An online journalist might initially submit an article idea to an editor and later establish a contract with regular writing assignments.
Online journalists can work with many types of news services. Many traditional newspapers publish content online, such as The New York Times and USA Today. Cable news networks, which primarily generate content for cable television, may employ online journalists on their websites. Some newspapers, like the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, only publish online content.
When online journalists aren’t promoting their material or looking for new contracts, they spend their time primarily developing story ideas and producing articles. This may involve conducting research and interviews for the content of your stories. It may also be necessary to locate photographs or work with a photographer to add images to the article. Online journalists must also make their articles attract the attention of online viewers, as they are often competing with other journalists for the public’s attention.
Writing as a freelance journalist online can have advantages and disadvantages over more common types of work. First, working from home allows a journalist to set their own hours. You can also save on transportation and office expenses. However, online journalists typically do not have set salaries. They are usually paid based on which contracts they are successful in securing, which can vary from month to month.
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