The Logistics of starting a newspaper/becomning a good managing editor/copywriter Etc

[Thou]

I don't know where this belongs, though I think here's a fine juncture to place it. Second Opinion was my next guess.


Does anyone have any experience writing, editing, possibly owning a press oriented operation (newspaper, magazine, blog, anything.)

I've been thinking of a few ways to do this but I'm researching so much shit at once I've only gone so far and the really good personal experience based data is hard to find without firmly asking the specific questions, as it were.


I'm going to add to this quite soon but anyone who has experience please provide so graciously what little you can for this query please do.


Also I'm currently freelance editing an autobiography at the moment, only due for a small number of copies, but I believe I can turn it into a book that SELLS.



I will return.

Thanks

Thou

 

[Jimmy_Pop]

This is an excellent topic.

There has been a real shift in the publishing industry lately toward smaller, "self published" entities. And no, I'm not just talking about the decline in newspapers and the rise of blogs. I'm talking about the shift from local papers to smaller local 'zines, from TV to web video, etc. The whole trend in publishing is moving away from the large organization, toward the individual.

I have some experience writing for newspapers, and I can tell you that while the industry is on the decline, it's not "dead" in the way many people seem to think it is.

Warren Buffett recently made a multi-billion dollar investment in community papers, which is a term for smaller papers covering a local area rather than a large region or country. This fits in with the trend I myself have been observing: publishing continuing to thrive if and only if it fits a small niche.

So, operating on this "small niche is the future" logic, there are plenty of ways to get into the writing business that do not mean a lifetime of career instability. Some possibilities inlcude:

1. Starting a blog that caters to a very specific niche topic.

2. Working for a community paper in a very established but small town.

3. Establishing a free "zine" in some city, covering local arts or politics.

4. Freelancing for a wide variety of clients, including those I suggested above.

It's still very possible to earn a living writing. One of the BEST ways to do so is to write marketing copy for businesses (i.e. advertisements, sales letters, etc). This isn't really what most people when they picture the romantic life of a "writer," but it's a way to get cash flow going and keep yourself afloat while you're looking for those more-creative gigs.

Here is a website I found that has some tips on writing sales and marketing oriented copy:

http://constantcopywriting.com/

And some more resources on writing, starting 'zines, etc:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Guide-To-Zine-Making/

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com...great-content-should-you-start-your-own-blog/

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2010/11/creating-your-own-freelance-writing-gigs/

Also, if you wanted to check it out, here's a story on Buffett's community newspaper investment:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Buffett+betting+newspapers/6934258/story.html

On the whole, writing as a profession is alive and well, but it's definitely more competitive than ever, and you've really got to know your subject matter to succeed.

 

[Thou]

Thank you so much for the information!

It's been a while since I started this thread and you were the first to bite.

I hate the idea of suffering a lifetime of journalism if it's going to be about arbitrary nonsense and full of lies. Freelance I figured would be the way to go, but I'm wrapped up in fiction write now.

Thanks for the links and the response!

We're having a writer's workshop over in the 'words' section you should check it out maybe submit some stuff.