writing - 10,000 Words

Send Your Multimedia Story Ideas to Audubon

Mona Zhang — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:04:56 +0000

Journos covering all things green can land a byline at the website of Audubon, one of the nation’s oldest continuously published magazines. The advocacy magazine promotes the mission of saving birds, wildlife and habitat and serves as the flagship publication of the National Audubon Society, one of the oldest environmental groups in the country.

The mag’s website covers the same nature-friendly topics as the print mag, and editors are open to hearing from freelancers who want to write Web content and establish a relationship with the pub. In particular, they would love to receive more multimedia pitches, like videos, slideshows and audio pieces.

For more info, read How To Pitch: Audubon.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Cover Startups for Inc.com

Mona Zhang — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:26 +0000

Just like its print counterpart, the Web incarnation of Inc hopes to provide the startup world with useful advice. “It’s a resource for business owners, fast-growing companies, entrepreneurs and people with an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Nicole Richardson, the site’s executive editor of special projects. Despite their similar missions, however, Inc.com ‘s content is decidedly more Web-friendly with short, service pieces. Plus, those with startup expertise can land a gig as a regular columnist.

For more details, read How To Pitch: Inc.com.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Teaser Tweets: Treat Them Like the Lede

Karen Fratti — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:30:08 +0000

As if researching, writing, and publishing a story isn’t enough work, we have to promote them, too. It’s easy enough with social media, especially if you have a social media guru in your newsroom. But it’s also easy to get caught click baiting on Twitter. Noam Cohen of The New York Times wrote about the Twitter account @HuffPoSpoilers this week, which tweets summaries of Huffington Post stories, which are usually tweeted with vigor — and lots of buzzwords. Often, the story isn’t as interesting as the tweet.

Don’t fall into your publications tweeting traps. Let them tweet what they will, but take matters into your own hand, too.

Whatever your platform, I think what comes before the link should be treated with as much care as your lede and 140 characters should suffice.

Remember the 5 W’s and the H. It’s hard not to bait your followers, but don’t make me wonder where, say, that earthquake hit. If it’s so far away from your target reader that they may not click on the link, you’ll have to live with that.

Unless you work for TMZ, lose the crazy adjectives. Did the congressperson really ‘explode’? Is Marissa Mayer really leading a ‘revolution’? Check yourself.

About retweeting. I often fall into the trap of tweeting story links with a vague, one word response. But I’m making a pledge to all my social media friends to start being more useful. If you tweet a story that’s not yours, tell me why I need to read it. ‘Right on,’ or ‘This is naive,’ are click-bait cliches. The short links give you so many characters to describe the story to me — use them wisely! Give me a reason to bookmark the link and read it later. Be your brand, and venture to have an opinion of your own now and again.

So, be honest: how much time does it take you to craft the perfect teaser tweet?

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Yankee Editor: ‘There is nothing that gives me more pleasure than finding new writers’

editern — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:24:05 +0000

Put out by one of the few independent publishing companies left in the country, Yankee aims to provide fresh and heartfelt accounts of life in the six New England states. ”Our mission has always been New England. Is it about place? Is it about people interacting with place? That’s the first thing we ask and it’s the filter for everything — does it say something about New England?” said editor Mel Allen.

Allen says the bi-monthly publication is more than open to pitches from freelancers. ”There is nothing that gives me more pleasure than finding new writers,” Allen said. “It’s the most fun part of the editor’s job.” He also stressed that his staff appreciates material that strays from the conventional. “Come in with a topic that will surprise us.”

Get all the details and editors’ contact info in How To Pitch: Yankee.

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Archaeology Wants Writers with ‘Excellent Reporting,’ ‘Terrific Storytelling’

editern — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:35:50 +0000

After 65 years of circulation, Archaeology continues to provide the world with coverage of the latest developments in the field. Editor-in-chief Claudia Valentino told Mediabistro that the bimonthly publication takes pride in featuring content that combines thorough research with a writing style that stirs the imagination. ”We really, really try to focus both on excellent reporting, but terrific storytelling. Those two have to be present in every piece,” she explained.

“[Freelancers] won’t just be judged on the idea; they’ll be judged on the quality of the pitch,” said Valentino. “It’s possible that we might say, ‘Well, you know, that piece isn’t such a great idea for us, for various reasons that this person can’t know, but look at the quality of the pitch. Maybe we should think of them for something else.’”

With a kill rate of only 25 percent and pay rate of $1/word, Archaeology could reap lots of healthy bylines for writers. Get all the details in How To Pitch: Archaeology.

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

6 Tips for Finding Sources Worth Their Salt

editern — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:44:04 +0000

When it comes to journalism, the credentials of your sources can make or break your article. Fortunately, there are a number of tools that can help you weed out the nobodies from the knowledgeables online.

By now, you’ve surely heard of HARO (Help a Reporter Out), but founder Peter Shankman, said writers can also look to trade organizations for leads. “Each trade or industry has an organization behind it that serves as spokespeople for the industry,” he explained. “They’ll always take your call.”

Get more tips in 6 Surefire Ways to Find Sources in the Digital Age.

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Land Up to $2 Per Word at Bicycling

editern — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:42:53 +0000

Bicycling, the world’s largest cycling magazine, is looking for writers who can cover the hobby from new and fresh perspectives. “There has to be a bigger story besides the fact that you rode someplace cool,” said senior editor Emily Furia.

Bicycling tries to appeal to the biking community as whole, as opposed to other cycling publications that focus on specific subcultures. And, with half of the content in the mag provided by freelancers, these editors are more than willing to take on new scribes who lack experience or whose ideas need polishing. “In the case of freelance pitches, we will typically work with the writer to refine the story angle and format,” said Furia.

Get all the details and editors’ contact info in How To Pitch: Bicycling.

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Journos With Strong Researching Skills Wanted at Cure

editern — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:17:22 +0000

With almost half of its content provided by freelancers, Cure is accepting all pitches related to the research and treatment of cancer. The magazine is published quarterly and distributed freely to cancer patients and healthcare professionals.

So, what makes a successful pitch for Cure? Editors say they look for ideas based on emerging research, commentary on current practices, or personal experience. Featured freelancers have also written about topics that are relevant to readers throughout the country, such as coping with the treatment process or advice on finding the appropriate doctor.

For more, read How to Pitch: Cure [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

How to Make Your Writing Clips Stand Out

editern — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:32:39 +0000

Nothing says more about your ability as a journalist than the content of your clips. The published articles you submit to prospective employers can make or break your chances, and simply deciding which material to include can be a daunting challenge in itself. Fortunately, there are certain techniques that will help your writing portfolio stand out from the crowd.

Christy Karras, a veteran freelancer who has written for Time, Forbes Asia, and The New York Times told Mediabistro that she tends to choose stories she believes show off her writing and editing skills.

“That could be a deeply analytic magazine feature on the finances of a major city-state that shows my ability to digest complex information and write about it in an engaging way, it could be a news story on a crackdown in the Gulf that shows an editor how well sourced I am in an environment that might not be very friendly to journalists, or it could be a feature profile that I think displays some narrative chops,” she said. “It just depends on the message I’d like to get to the individual editor.”

For more, read 6 Tips for Submitting Freelance Writing Clips [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Will Write for Food: The Digital Freelance Journalist Dilemma

Karen Fratti — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:27:41 +0000

I am exhausted from following the explosion of opinion about how much freelance journalists should be paid after writer Nate Thayer took on The Atlantic for offering to publish his work, for free.

It used to be that freelance meant you were a free-agent. Now, it just means you work for free, or scraps.

I understand Thayer’s anger, and I’m glad he started the conversation. And as much as I respect (want to be?!) Matt Yglesias or Alexis Madrigal and hear them on the fact that there is no easy solution to pay smart writers and writers have to write and gosh, darn, they never did really make any money anyway– hearing them talk about why I should write for free makes me envision doing very mean things to them. Because they’re in. And they’re not even trying to tell us — digital natives who aren’t entirely shocked by the fact that we can’t make a decent living, yet still hopeful — that it gets better. What they’re saying is “write for free and maybe you’ll be able to make your own brand someday, but we sure as hell can’t pay you for it. We definitely can not even hire you for menial writing labor.”

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Smart Pitches Lead to Assignments in Portland

Mona Zhang — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:16:43 +0000

“With a bold design, eye-catching photography and an editorial voice that’s at once witty and in-the-know, Portland Monthly is our city’s indispensable news, culture and lifestyle magazine,” said managing editor Rachel Ritchie. Every month, the pub delivers a mix of in-depth news stories, provocative essays and essential guides to the best of Portland.

Ritchie said she is always accepting pitches and looking to work with freelancers on intriguing stories in various departments. What’s the secret for getting in with this pub? Ideas that are relevant, well-researched, articulated well and that demonstrate a familiarity with the magazine’s voice and mission. Once a newbie has proven himself, however, editors are more than happy to farm out stories to freelancers whom they’ve developed a strong relationship with.

For more, read How To Pitch: Portland Monthly. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

MIT Technology Review Wants Your Ideas

Mona Zhang — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:15:42 +0000

Unlike most pubs that are cutting down on long-form stories and giving less resources to in-depth reporting, MIT Technology Review remains deeply invested in giving journos the time and space to investigate a bold idea. Editors at the mag are looking to add to their stable of freelancers who generate 75-80 percent of the content in the feature well and reviews sections.

“I would hate to think of a freelancer assuming, ‘Oh, they wouldn’t want that because it’s going to be such a major project to go report,’” said deputy editor Brian Bergstein. Au contraire: With a bimonthly publishing schedule and a budget for deeply reported pieces, that’s exactly what editors want to hear, even if it’ll take four months to investigate. “We want to have the kind of things readers are only going to get here,” he said.

For more info, read How To Pitch: MIT Technology Review. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Land a Byline at the ‘Mile-high’ Mag

Mona Zhang — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:02:50 +0000

Though the regional pub 5280 counts other Denver-based mags as its competition, the book distinguishes itself with artful longform journalism in addition to its service content. Its commitment to editorial excellence has not gone unnoticed: In the past year, the magazine was named a finalist twice by the American Society of Magazine Editors. Editorial director Geoff Van Dyke attributes this to the pub’s editor and publisher Daniel Brogan, saying he has “invested in a solid staff and is willing to invest the time, money and space to deliver quality journalism.”

Writers looking to break in should be aware that the magazine reflects the young, transplant-heavy city it covers. The FOB is a great place for freelancers to start, though editors are open to a smart feature pitch. “There’s a lot more opportunity to pitch online now as we’ve ramped up our Web offerings over the past 18 months,” said Van Dyke.

For more info, read How To Pitch: 5280. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Pitch Your Multimedia Ideas to SI.com

Mona Zhang — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:05:17 +0000

Sports savvy freelancers who have a knack for multimedia are welcome to pitch their ideas to SI.com, where all sections are open to freelance pitches. Photos, videos and podcasts are all game, and can be pitched separately from the rest of a story.

Executive editor B.J. Schecter advises freelancers to pitch specific angles that “go beyond the action on the field” or explore new or untapped issues. Still, if a writer comes to SI.com with a scoop on a player in a major sport that the site has yet to uncover, Schecter will listen. “Anything that’s a really good story,” he said of the perfect pitch. “If it’s a mainstream thing we haven’t touched on or you have special access. I’m always looking for a good story.”

Get all the details in How To Pitch: SI.com. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

writing - 10,000 Words

Send Your Multimedia Story Ideas to Audubon

Cover Startups for Inc.com

Teaser Tweets: Treat Them Like the Lede

Yankee Editor: ‘There is nothing that gives me more pleasure than finding new writers’

Archaeology Wants Writers with ‘Excellent Reporting,’ ‘Terrific Storytelling’

6 Tips for Finding Sources Worth Their Salt

Land Up to $2 Per Word at Bicycling

Journos With Strong Researching Skills Wanted at Cure

How to Make Your Writing Clips Stand Out

Will Write for Food: The Digital Freelance Journalist Dilemma

Sponsored Content: How Much is Too Much?

Smart Pitches Lead to Assignments in Portland

MIT Technology Review Wants Your Ideas

Land a Byline at the ‘Mile-high’ Mag

Pitch Your Multimedia Ideas to SI.com