Freelance newspaper writing 101

By Feoshia Henderson
Published in the 2007 Writer’s Market
(scheduled to be reprinted in the 2008 Writer’s Market)

If you have a good story to tell, now more than ever, a newspaper can be the place to sell it.

Newspapers, like so many other businesses, have cut back on staff and other resources. But the boss still
expects a steady stream of interesting stories to fill up those column inches. And to compete with the
Internet and new media publications, many newspaper companies have started specialty magazines that
depend on engaging feature articles.

This has created more opportunities for new and established freelance writers who are looking for
welcoming, quality places to publish their work.

If you’ve never thought about writing for a newspaper, or just want some insight into what editors are
looking for, read on. We’ve talked to newspaper editors around the country who work with freelance
writers everyday to glean some key insight. Though editors and newspapers all have different needs, a few
themes emerged when they were asked what makes a proposed article — and a writer — stand out.

You don’t always have to be a pro: Pitching an article to a newspaper can be an intimidating prospect,
especially if you’re new to the market. But you might be surprised to find out that editors aren’t always
looking for highly experienced wordsmiths with extensive resumes. Of course, writers must have a grasp of
basic journalistic writing style and grammar. Still, many editors said enthusiasm or proficiency in a particular
subject is more prized in a freelance writer than a thick packet of published clips.

CityBeat, an alternative urban newsweekly in Cincinnati, Ohio, often looks for writers for their Arts and
Entertainment section, especially for music and movie reviews. Travel, Home and Garden and Lifestyle
sections are common places where you’ll frequently find freelance written articles.

“We tend to look for people who aren’t trained writers. We’d rather have someone with expertise in a
certain area and passion, and we can help with the writing part,” said John Fox, editor and co-publisher of
CityBeat.

That holds true for more traditional daily newspapers as well. John Bordsen, travel editor for The Charlotte
Observer, in North Carolina, said: “Some of the best writers I’ve used didn’t have published clippings.
When it comes to background, it’s fair game.”

Of course, experience does count for something, and it can give you an edge over other writers.

Jacqueline Palfy Klemond is senior editor for specialty publications for the South Dakota Argus Leader in
Sioux Falls. She also directs the paper’s Lifestyle feature staff. In addition to her newspaper duties, she
oversees three magazines (topics include upscale living and pets) that the paper has published for the last
three years. For her, experience is key.

“I look for someone who has been published before. Some people are very talented who haven’t been
published, but it’s the first question I ask,” Klemond said.

Sally Scherer, Lifestyles Editor for The Lexington Herald Leader, in Kentucky, said, “I would prefer to
work with someone who has something already published so they can send clips.”

So, get started!

Do your homework: Decision-makers said the most important step in taking an article from an idea to a
published clip, is also the first step. Do some research before pitching a story to make sure it’s a good fit
for a particular paper. That will save your, and a potential editor’s, time. It also will help you best decide
what type of article the publication is likely to buy. Read through several issues of a newspaper that you
want to pitch an idea to. Especially examine the feature sections where those freelance articles usually land.
Editors said they are less likely to rely on outside work for hard news stories, though there are some
exceptions.

“They should study several previous issues by looking at our Web site to see what we do, and then bring me
ideas they think I would be interested in,” said Mary Corrado, Editor of Inside, a newsweekly that covers
northside Chicago neighborhoods.

Inside has writers’ guidelines with specific instructions on its Web site, which a freelance writer should
follow carefully.

When you read a paper, pay special attention to the tone of the writing. Is it irreverent? Formal? Edgy?
Poetic? Does the newspaper print articles written in first-person or in a traditional news story style? Don’t
send in an essay or an opinion column if the newspaper doesn’t usually print those types of feature articles.
Make sure your particular writing style fits that of the publication to which you’re offering ideas.

If you’ve done your homework it will show in your pitch. Technology makes freelance writing and research
easier, more efficient and quicker to do from home, but it can have its drawbacks. Though tempting and
easy to do because of e-mail and the Internet, don’t send a speedy, generic query letter to dozens of
different editors. Tailor your query letters to each newspaper to which you send it. Find the editor of the
particular section you’d like to write for and address your letter specifically to that person. It will impress
the editor, and give the query a better shot of someone actually taking the time to read it. Mention the
publication by name and talk about other similar articles you’ve read.

“If I get a letter that is completely anonymous, one that says “Dear Sir or Madam,” and they haven’t
bothered to look my name up they are less likely to the time of day,” Scherer said. “Put some personality
into it.”

This may sound basic, but a lot of people don’t take the time to do it, editors said. If you do, you
immediately stand apart from your competitors, who are many. That doesn’t mean each query letter has to
be radically different. Once you have a basic format, you can alter it to fit a particular newspaper.

“If you do your homework and send (a query) to the right person, there’s not only a better chance of
someone reading it you’re shows paying attention,” CityBeat Editor Fox said. “It’s pretty clear to me if
somebody just goes through a list and they don't know what the paper is about.”

Make it quick, but professional: Newspaper editors are like the rest of us: pressed for time.

For many newspapers a query letter and clips sent by “snail mail” is a thing of the past, and unlike
magazines that publish 10 to 12 times a year, newspapers publish at least once or week or every day.
Generally, editors prefer you send a query by e-mail and get to the point quickly. If you’re pitching a travel
idea, don’t start the article by talking about how much fun your trip was or how great it is to travel.

“So much now is done on e-mail preferable to phone calls, or letters. If you send links to stories published
on somebody's Web site I can read the clips and it saves a bunch a paper work a little time. If (I have) links,
I can forward it to somebody else (who might be interested in your idea). An envelope doesn’t work for us
as well … as a quick forward,” said CityBeat Editor Fox.

Remember, e-mail may be a less formal means of communication than a regular letter but don’t use that as
an excuse to be too familiar, “cute,” or sloppy. In your e-mail, introduce yourself then say where you went
and what was unusual or fascinating about your trip (something that would give it newsworthiness). Use
clear language to describe your surroundings then give some background about yourself and any other
relevant writing or travel experience. Wrap it up in less than a page. If you have them, provide links to
other articles that you have written.

“With something electronic, I look at first screen or sometimes look at the subject line. That is all I have to
know to decide if I’m interested in buying,” Charlotte Observer Travel Editor Bordsen said.

Don’t give up too quickly if you believe in your idea. If you don’t get a response from an editor, sometimes
a phone call can do the trick.

“The best bet is to make a personal phone call. I’m less likely to blow you off than if I get something in e-
mail or something you’ve mailed me,” Klemond said.

Be different: Remember newspaper editors not only have access to knowledgeable news staff, but news
wire articles, like the Associated Press, for which they pay a hefty amount. So you have to sell something
they can’t get anywhere else. Something unique. And pictures can help too.

“We have finite space, limited money and a set of needs. What I need more than anything are pieces that I
feel I need cannot get from wire, most times those tend to be things that are very regional in nature,” Fox
said.

Sometimes, if you have a lot of experience in a particular area, like pet grooming or Internet shopping, you
could pitch a monthly column idea.

“We use a lot of freelance columnists. We have a gardening column and a bird watching column. People
really like them,” Klemond said.

Sell, sell, sell: Recycling isn’t just for soda cans and water bottles. If you have an article of a regional
interest, for example, a travel story, sell it to more than one publication. Usually smaller newspapers only
buy first rights, which means you don’t make as much money for your article, but you can pitch it elsewhere.


And don’t be shy about pushing your work. Send your ideas to several newspapers at the same time. But let
the editor know that you have sent your idea to others so they’re not disappointed if you sell somewhere
else before they offer to buy your work.

And once you sell to a newspaper and prove a trustworthy writer, an editor will often come back to you for
more work.

“Once (a writer) has a few freelancing jobs I go to them again because they usually have good ideas,”
Klemond said.

WriteUP!