Add Newspaper Writing to Your Resume

Edie here and I'm so excited to introduce our newest columnist - Julie Lavender. Julie and I met when we both won the Guideposts, "Write for Us" contest in 2014. I love her writing, her wisdom, and her willingness to help other writers. She's definitely a perfect fit for The Write Conversation. Be sure to give her a warm TWC welcome!

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it: 

Newspaper articles are a great way to earn writing credits for beginning, as well as, experienced writers!!!

Have you ever considered writing for your hometown newspaper? Newspaper writing is a market that is often overlooked by writers, but it can be an easy way to earn bylines and build a resume with those elusive credits that every writer needs and covets. 

More than 1300 daily newspapers fly off the presses and into neighborhoods in the wee hours of the morning across the United States. And that number only accounts for the seven-day-a-week newspapers. The number stretches when newspapers published once a week or a couple of times each week, or even six days a week like my hometown newspaper are added in. 

Newspapers are not dead – that’s “fake news” – though the rumors are true that some are sick and ailing. The launching of the Internet years back caused many faithful readers to cancel their newspaper subscriptions, and a steady decline of local newspaper readership has taken place. 

A handful of newspapers in large cities are flourishing; many are just barely getting by financially, and most editions fall between the two. But all continue to need regular, fresh content, over and over again with each printing. 

That’s where the freelance writer stands to benefit. 

Financially-strapped newspapers have tightened fulltime staff, letting many reporters and staff go, and regularly use more freelance stringers, sometimes called “news correspondents.” 

My newspaper, The Statesboro Herald, only has two fulltime reporters, with freelance sports and business editors adding content according to the season or happenings. 

And with a county that is home to just over 70,000 people, that’s a lot of stories that go uncovered. 

Sadly, the stories that often get overlooked are the “good news” ones, the inspirational ones, the celebratory ones, and most definitely the faith-based ones. 

Yet, those are the very stories that readers crave. The ones that change lives and encourage and have a lasting impact. The ones that appeal to the heart and the ones that let us know that good still prevails. The stories that remind us of what’s right about the world. 

Freelance writers fit the bill to tell those needed stories! 

An unpublished or less-experienced writer can break into newsprint often quicker than any other form of media. Newspaper editors, though busy as bees most days, are more accessible than magazine or book editors and will typically reply to emails or phone calls personally. Most are willing to meet face-to-face, too, with advanced notice. 

Granted, the pay for a newspaper stringer is nothing to write home about, but the other rewards outweigh the slim paycheck.

The personal satisfaction of sharing a local headline or fascinating story in one’s hometown is often reward enough. To give someone his or her “fifteen minutes of fame” is a real treasure, especially when the story is a heart-warming one or noted accomplishment. 

If you’re blessed to live in a town that publishes faith-based articles and stories in the newspaper, your writing becomes a ministry, sharing God-stories and church happenings and Jesus moments. No one can put a price on that! 

A byline for an author generally brings a smile, and writing locally often garners comments from friends and family about a recently published, enlightening and fun article. 

And if those aren’t enough intrinsic rewards, a writer can often recycle a story by writing a slightly different version for submission to a regional newspaper or magazine, or even a national media outlet, if the story contains a broad readership appeal.  

Are you intrigued yet? Have I talked you into pursing newspaper writing? Tune in next time and we’ll discover how to get started. Until then, read newspapers from cover to cover. Check out stories online to see what appeals to readers. Keep your ears open for the events and happenings in your community that might be of interest to others. Get to know those in the community that have unique stories to share. 

Most importantly, pray, asking God if He wants you to use newspaper writing as a ministry to further His kingdom right in your own backyard, or shall we say, in your neighbor’s newspaper box!    

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Of all the hats Julie’s worn over the years – Navy wife, public schoolteacher, homeschooling mommy to four, church volunteer in a variety of ages and stages, writer, book and magazine author, journalist, conference instructor, and crochet gal – her most favorite hat of the past will always be homeschooling mommy. Overtaking rapidly, though, is the GrammaJulie hat of the last four months.

Julie writes for her hometown newspaper, Guideposts publications, magazines, various compilations, and several parenting blogs. She is the author of 365 Days of Celebration and Praise: Devotions and Activities for Homeschooling Families, Creative Sleepovers for Kids, and three teacher resource books for the religious division of Carson-Dellosa Publishers. Connect with Julie on Facebook, Twitter at @JLavenderwrites, Instagram at JulieLavenderwrites, and follow her nature blog, On My Walk With God, at julielavender.blogspot.com.