Rabu, 03 Agustus 2011

How to Write News Articles for Your Local Newspaper - Four Things Freelancers Must Know




>

Knowing how to write a news post is one thing. How to benefit financially from that knowledge is a different.


For editors, a freelance journalist can be an irritant and a savior all at once. They can be bothersome when repeatedly proposing story tips at busy deadline times but they can also rescue a news desk that may be short of staff on any specific day.


The key to freelance journalism is to preserve plugging away with excellent work so that the editor will often have time for you.


To get a foot in the door of your local newspaper, a freelancer will need to know 4 factors - the news, the editors, the newsmakers and the follow-ups.


Invest some time thinking about these 4 critical facets and how you may write your articles prior to you even start off to submit work to any publication.


1. Know the news - it could possibly sound obvious, but you'd be amazed at the number of freelancers who have no understanding of nearby problems but believe the excellent of their writing provides them very first suitable to premium column space. It doesn't matter how nicely you write, if your write-up is irrelevant to the publication's agenda, it has little opportunity of finding utilized. Take time to read the paper. Go via the issues and acquire an understanding of its editorial stance and what it cares about, not what you think is valuable.


two. The editors - these people today are the gatekeepers of your articles and they could drop your stories at a whim. You really should know them, their names, positions in the corporation, demeanor and how they really feel about particular problems, which can give you an thought on how to slant your articles for a superior opportunity of acquiring published.


3. The newsmakers - it is essential that you know who makes the news and who doesn't. Go by means of newspapers in your region and identify which people today are the ones who are quoted and to what problems they are quite often sought out for. When you know that, go by way of the telephone directory and get their get in touch with numbers. Your ultimate aim is to get to know these individuals voice-to-voice, face-to-face on a professional, and even private, level.


4. The follow-ups - this is quite possibly the most essential information you can have since this is what will brand you as a journalist. And, considerably, this is not something you can read up on but it is what you create from your own head. If an problem crops up, arm your self with the knowledge required from the very first three points and then work on a possible follow-up story. Don't forget, the in-home reporters will quite possibly be doing the similar thing, so you should attempt to feel of a various angle. This will avoid you from stepping on toes and also raise your standing in the eyes of editors.


As soon as you have all this in your head, call or email the editor and tell him or her your story thought. If it is topical, fresh and relevant to what the paper had in its most recent issue, and it takes the story further, there is a superior chance it will be used.


If so, you have your foot in the door. This does not only apply to newspapers. There are magazines and internet news outlets that can also be targeted. Follow these four rules and kick-begin your freelance journalism career.

Tidak ada komentar: