Book Formatting Software - Use Wizards For Word to format your manuscript in APA Style, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA Style, and Writer's Market Style.
|
|
Six Figure Freelancer - I reveal quick-n-easy tactics that generate a 6-figure income by writing content online ...
|
|
| |
Newsroom (Index)
1. Working Writers, 2. Fast Cash Freelance, 3. Screenwriting News, 4. Writers Write, 5. Writers in the Sky, 6. Study Student News,7. Freelance Blogging News, 8. Photography News, 9. Graphic Design News, 10. E-Media Tidbits, 11. Bloggers Blog,
12. Creative Freelancing, 13. Copyright Law, 14. Book Deals,
15. Book Publishing News,16. Readers Read, 17. Literacy News,
18. Write Better, 19. Horror Fiction News |
[ View All ] | [ Archives ] |  |  |
Freelance journalists backbone of UK press
Posted on: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:44:00 +0000
The market for freelance journalists is strong, with almost a third of newspaper and magazine commissioning editors saying that at least half of the editorial content of their publications is produced by freelancers.
The survey of more than 200 commissioning editors by Daryl Willcox Publishing (DWPub) found that a new influx of freelance talent on the market due to redundancies across many publishing companies is mirrored by significant demand for freelance journalists.
Twelve per cent of the commissioning editors questioned said freelancers were responsible for more than three quarters of their content, and almost one in five (18%) said between half and three quarters of content was commissioned out to freelance journalists.
The ability to tap into expert views (69%) and specific subbing, interviewing or production skills (62%) were cited as the main drivers for using freelancers. One in three respondents said they looked to freelance journalists to provide last minute cover.
The freelance market may be buoyant but direct feedback from editors shows that exploiting opportunities relies on hard work, persistence and a good work ethic. When it comes to the selection criteria for freelance journalists, top of the wish list is articles they've written before (86%) followed by recommendations (72%). Just over half of commissioning editors said titles that freelancers had worked for previously influenced their decision.
Reliability and the ability to hit deadlines were also cited by respondents as key attributes for the freelances they chose to use. As one editor wrote: "The most important thing to me in a freelance is their ability to deliver accurate, well-written copy on time. I also need them to be able to understand their brief and the readership that their article is aimed at."
But although a proven track record is a fast track to a successful freelance career, a professional qualification in journalism doesn't appear to influence commissioning editors in their choice of contributors.
Another commissioning editor commented: "Knowing the readership of the publication, and sending through targeted pitches that suggest an awareness of or interest in the magazine and its structure, is far more likely to get an untried freelancer a commission than a blanket pitch with no information on their areas of expertise or how their ideas could fit in to our existing format. Referencing a specific piece we've recently covered helps too."
DWPub founder and chairman Daryl Willcox said: "Having been both a commissioning editor and a freelance journalist in the past I always knew that the freelance journalists played an important role, but this survey reveals just how much our media relies on them."
More advice on the skills looked for in freelance journalists by commissioning editors can be found at www.dwpubjournalert.com, which also carries interviews with freelance journalists as well as media news.
The details of over 5,000 freelance journalists available for work are available to commissioning editors on www.journalistdirectory.com
[ << Back to WORKING WRITERS NEWSLETTER ]
|
Instant Article Wizard
Create high quality articles on virtually any subject in just minutes!
|
 |
Book Writing Software Use Wizards For Word to format your manuscript in APA Style, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA Style, and Writer's Market Style.
|
|
|
|
