Each Thursday, I’m highlighting a work-from-home job or business.
Job Description:A journalist researches and writes articles for newspapers, websites, magazines and other publications, both print and online.
Education: A bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field is preferred, but not always necessary.
Skills: The ability to write a variety of stories (features, news articles, op-ed pieces, blogs, etc.) using good grammar and punctuation.
Job outlook: U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) finds that “employment of reporters and correspondents is expected to decline moderately by 8 percent from 2010 to 2020. Declines are expected because of the consolidation of news organizations, [and] a decrease in readership of newspapers...” Check out the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for more details.
Possible employers:Journalists might have a tough job outlook, but there is still work available for good writers. Join LinkedIn journalism and writers groups, and check out job boards like journalismjobs.comand Craig’sList for leads.
Preparation:Check out these organizations for more information on the field, and potential job leads: National Press Club, Online Journalism Review, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors.
Get your foot in the door: Make a list of publications you want to write for and query them with story ideas. Follow up with a phone call.
Testimony: For a year, Bethany worked from home as a freelance journalist from her Sheffield , Ala. , home. She wrote for magazines and had one client who gave her regular assignments, spending between fifteen and thirty hours per week on the work. While she enjoyed setting her own hours around other activities, family trips, and holiday obligations, she eventually made the decision to go back to an office.
“I went back to an office job because of insufficient income,” she explains. “Freelance journalism was too irregular to depend on. Some months, I would have a paycheck every two weeks; other months, there would be one very small check and a huge check the following month. Of course, the less I was able to work, the less money I could make. Time was always an issue.”
Until next time,
Sarah
