Freelance Journalism

[Seamus123]

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[Liar]

Are you prepared to do more boring stuff than game reviews? Industry mags and large companies' customer bulletins (magazines they send out to their customers, employees, stuff like that) pay pretty well for articles. Partly because they are not considered jornalistics text, but ad content, which pays more for some reason.

Dunno who makes those in the UK though. But it might be worth looking into.

 

[Seamus123]

I'm definitely prepared to do that.

Where would you start looking for those sort of things in your country? That'd be a great help, because then I can start looking for equivalent sources in the UK.

Thanks a lot.

 

[oggbashan]

So, i'm trying to find some sources of Freelancing in the UK.

I've sent off tonnes of emails to potential employers and of the few I've recieved replies too, only a couple will potentially pay. The others, not that I mind, are voluntary - they'll send me games to review (I'd love to be a gaming or technology journalist) and that provides valuable experience and something to help on the CV.

But, I want money.

So, does anyone know anywhere they think would be a good bet to email, or a message board or posting board that'd be good to check over? I must have tried loads of different places but I'm always open to new ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I presume you have tried your local papers? I'm at the other end of the UK but our local papers have several freelancers providing columns and specific input every week.

Local councils employ so-called Press Officers to liaise with the local media - a staff position that involves writing and placing stories as well as reacting fast to adverse publicity. Have you tried your local council?

Og

 

[Seamus123]

I have tried the local papers but may try again soon since it's been a few weeks since I emailed the relevant editors. I guess persistance is the key.

I've not tried the local council, however. I'll look into it, thankyou.

 

[gauchecritic]

As far as I understand free-lancing it's a bit like Buddhism. You just do it.

Have a look at the magazines you want to write for then send them a proposal for a piece that you'd like to write.

There are any number of sites that give you guides and what to do/not do. How to write a proposal etc.

Then, when you're selling 5 pieces a week one of the mags will ask if you want to string for them.

 

[Liar]

I'm definitely prepared to do that.

Where would you start looking for those sort of things in your country? That'd be a great help, because then I can start looking for equivalent sources in the UK.

Thanks a lot.

I just checked woth people I know who worked in different industrys and asked "Do you get those customer magazines from other companies where you work? Do you have your own? Can I borrow some?" Then all the info on who makes them is somewhere in the opening pages of the zines themselves. Usually not the companies themselves, but a media publishing house. I found two mag publishers that together made made some 40 different corporate rags here in Sweden. Got a shoe in at one place (I was lucky, one other freelancer had left them high and dry on an article that needed to be done pronto, so they basically said "Save our asses and you're our new favourite writer") and did the most professional job I could. They send me random work now on a regular basis.

 

[Seamus123]

As far as I understand free-lancing it's a bit like Buddhism. You just do it.

Have a look at the magazines you want to write for then send them a proposal for a piece that you'd like to write.

There are any number of sites that give you guides and what to do/not do. How to write a proposal etc.

Then, when you're selling 5 pieces a week one of the mags will ask if you want to string for them.

Yeah, i've tried all of that. Sent hundreds of emails to hundreds of people, it's all about getting a lucky break I suppose.

And Liar, thanks for the excellent advice - this sounds similar to something that Future Publishing do over here in the form over Future Plus (I think it's called that) so I'll look into it right away and see if there's any other companies like this around.

 

[sr71plt]

Journalism is one of those "circular" professions. To do it, you need credentials; to get credentials, you need to do it. The regular routes are through graduating from a formal education journalism program and/or doing it for free until you have credentials and a track record. Other routes depend on coincidence and incredible good luck.