WordCount
Freelancing in the Digital Age
  • About WordCount
  • About Michelle V. Rafter
    • Resume of Michelle V. Rafter
    • Clips
  • Greatest Hits
  • Categories
    • Blogs
    • Careers
    • Freelancing
    • Media Business
    • Newspapers
    • Online news
    • Technology
    • Web 2.0
    • Workplace Issues
    • Writing
  • The 2012 WordCount Blogathon
    • 2012 Blogathon blog roll
    • 2012 Blogathon sponsors and prizes
    • 2012 Blogathon calendar of events
    • The Blogathon FAQ
Browse: Home / Online news

Online news

AOL’s news initiative: freelance friend or foe?

AOL’s news initiative: freelance friend or foe?

By Michelle V. Rafter on November 30, 2009 | 9 Responses

Tweet

It remains to be seen whether AOL’s online news endeavor will turn out to be a legitimate market for freelance work, or give new meaning to the term bad seed.

Tweet

Posted in Editors, Freelancing, Media Business, Online news, Technology | Tagged AOL, content aggregators, Online news, Seed.com, the future of news | 9 Responses

Last chance: attend WeMaketheMedia Nov. 21

By Michelle V. Rafter on November 20, 2009 | Leave a response

Tweet

At WeMaketheMedia conference on Saturday, Nov. 21, at UO’s Turnbull Center in Portland discussion will focus on creating a nonprofit news service in Oregon.

Tweet

Posted in Media Business, Newspapers, Online news, Oregon | Tagged future of news, nonprofit news, Online news, Portland, WeMaketheMedia | Leave a response

Through the looking glass

Through the looking glass

By Michelle V. Rafter on November 11, 2009 | 7 Responses

Tweet

I’m taking my own advice to innovate during this era of unprecedented industry change, so it’s goodbye freelance writer, hello freelance editor.

Tweet

Posted in Careers, Editors, Online news | Tagged career changes, freelance business, freelance editors, Online news | 7 Responses

When good enough is good enough

By Michelle V. Rafter on October 8, 2009 | 7 Responses

Tweet

I was stuck on not having perfect. Instead of going with what I had, I stalled out, waiting for inspiration to strike, or enough time to materialize on my calendar to write the whole damn thing over again.

Tweet

Posted in Blogs, Media Business, Online news, Writing | Tagged future of news, good enough is good enough, Online news, Online News Association, writer's block | 7 Responses

2009 Online Journalism Awards and the future of news

2009 Online Journalism Awards and the future of news

By Michelle V. Rafter on September 1, 2009 | Leave a response

Tweet

But many 2009 Online Journalism Award finalists are online-only publications that aim to pick up where cash-strapped newspapers have left off, especially on investigative news.

Tweet

Posted in Online news | Tagged 2009 Online Journalism Awards, Muckety, Newspaper Industry, Online news, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, The Chauncey Bailey Project, the future of news, VoicesofSanDiego.org | Leave a response

Novice freelancers, instead of Helium, try hyperlocal

Novice freelancers, instead of Helium, try hyperlocal

By Michelle V. Rafter on May 26, 2009 | 18 Responses

Tweet

If you’re getting into freelancing these days, one option is writing for content aggregator sites like Helium, About.com, Associated Content or HubPages. These companies pay writers to create massive amounts of content to help the sites rise up to the top of Web searches and make more money on click throughs. But for freelancers, there’s [...]

Tweet

Posted in Blogs, Careers, Freelancing, Media Business, Online news | Tagged Barbara Whitlock, community microblogs, content aggregators, freelance writers, getting started as a freelance writer, Helium, Hop Town, hyperlocal news, Neighborhood Notes, Neighborsgo.com, Newzjunky, Online news, OurPDX, Tim Beyers | 18 Responses

Freelance link love for week of May 24

By Michelle V. Rafter on May 24, 2009 | Leave a response

Tweet

Here’s what I’ve been reading about freelancing, writing and the online news business I’ve been reading this week: On writing: How do you learn to write – From a literary agent, writer and book editor. 5 tips for citizen journalism from ProPublica’s new ‘crowdsorcerer’ 16 things you learn in j-school – Journalism basics You don’t [...]

Tweet

Posted in Blogs, Freelancing, Media Business, Online news, Writing | Tagged Blogging, digital media business, freelance writing, Online news, Twitter, Writing | Leave a response

SeattlePI.com's great online news experiment

SeattlePI.com's great online news experiment

By Michelle V. Rafter on March 18, 2009 | 2 Responses

Tweet

Tuesday was the last day the Seattle Post Intelligencer published a print newspaper. Starting today, the 146-year-old Seattle daily goes online only. The print edition of the paper folded after Hearst Corp. determined the company couldn’t afford to continue running the money-losing paper as is. So they pulled the plug. Rather, they plugged in. Hearst [...]

Tweet

Posted in Editors, Newspapers, Online news | Tagged future of newspapers, Michelle Nicolosi, Online news, online news business, Seattle Post Intelligencer, SeattlePI.com | 2 Responses

WordCount weekly digital news biz recap week of Feb. 20

WordCount weekly digital news biz recap week of Feb. 20

By Michelle V. Rafter on February 20, 2009 | 3 Responses

Tweet

In the news this week – the best blogs, the best newspaper websites, the best story on the mortgage crisis, content worth paying for, and a digital news conference to attend. Read all about it: Time Magazine names its top 25 blogs for 2009 including Talking Points Memo, The Huffington Post, Lifehacker, MetaFilter and The [...]

Tweet

Posted in Blogs, Media Business, Newspapers, Online news | Tagged 2008 Polk Award, Jack Shafer, Neiman Journalism Lab, newspaper Websites, NewsVision, NVision 2009, Online news, Online News Association, paid content, Politico, The Giant Pool of Money, This American Life, Time magazine best blogs of 2009 | 3 Responses

WordCount recap – weekly news from the digital media biz

By Michelle V. Rafter on November 21, 2008 | 2 Responses

Tweet

I’m starting what I hope will become a WordCount Friday feature, a recap of news and commentary on freelancing and the media business as reported by other blogs and news outlets this week. Happy reading: The case for independent news sites as profit-makers – David Westphal, a senior fellow at USC’s Annenberg’s Center on Communication [...]

Tweet

Posted in Freelancing, Media Business, Newspapers, Online news | Tagged All Freelance Writing, college newspapers, David Westphal, digital media, Jennifer Mattern, Online Journalism Review, Online news, PC Magazine goes digital, Six Apart, TypePad Journalist Bailout Program | 2 Responses

Next »

Subscribe

Click here for the RSS feed or subscribe below to receive updates by email:

2012 Blogathon Sponsors

No2Pen Sharp Blog Content
Write Better Faster with Jodi Torpey

Search

  • Recent
  • Archives
  • Links
  • Dear WordCount: How should I handle guest post offers?
  • 5 newbie mistakes I’d avoid if I started blogging today
  • 8 reasons to join the BlogHer ad network
  • Blogathon haiku day: Ring of fire
  • Guest Post: 6 Ways to Defend Your Blog Copyright
  • Blogathon week 3 recap: Bloggers share mid-life reinventions on SecondAct
  • Reading list for May 18: graduation-time inspiration for writers of all ages
  • Dear WordCount: How do I set up an RSS feed for my blog?
  • My second act: blogging my way to career reinvention
  • Q&A: How Alana Mautone blogged every day for a year (and more)
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • September 2007
Blogroll
  • All Freelance Writing
  • American Journalism Review
  • Biz/Tech Virtual Newsroom
  • Blogging Basics 101
  • Brazen Careerist
  • BusinessJournalism.org
  • Buzz Machine
  • California Authors
  • Canadian Magazines
  • CBS MoneyWatch.com
  • CIO Strategy Center
  • Columbia Journalism Review
  • Columbia University J-School New Media
  • Copyblogger
  • CyberJournalist.net
  • DailyBlogTips
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • Editor & Publisher
  • Fistful of Talent
  • Freelance Writing Jobs
  • HARO
  • IncTechnology.com
  • Informed Ideas for Writers
  • Ink Drained Kvetch
  • InkThinker
  • Insert Text Here
  • Jobs for Bloggers
  • JournalismJobs.com
  • Knight Digital Media Center
  • Knowledge Infusion
  • KnowledgeWebb
  • LinkedIn
  • Lydia Dishman
  • Mediabistro.com
  • Mediabistro.com
  • National Public Radio
  • New Comm Biz
  • New West Network
  • News University
  • Newspaper Death Watch
  • Online Journalism Review
  • Online News Association
  • Oregon Business
  • Oregon Live
  • PBS’ Mediashift
  • Portfolio.com
  • Poynter Institute
  • ProBlogger
  • ProPublica
  • Publishing 2.0
  • Reflections of a Newsosaur
  • Regret the Error
  • Romensko
  • SABEW
  • Slate
  • TechCrunch
  • Technologizer
  • Technorati
  • The Anti 9-to-5 Guide
  • The Geek Weekly
  • The HR Capitalist
  • The Human Capitalist
  • The Industry Standard
  • The Red Room
  • The Renegade Writer
  • The Social Writer
  • The Urban Muse
  • The Writing Mother
  • The Writing Show
  • Trish Lawrence
  • Twitter
  • UPOD
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Webopedia
  • Wooden Horse Publishing
  • WordCount Tool
  • WordPress.com
  • Workforce Management
  • Writers Digest
  • WSJ’s Career Journal
  • Your Security Resource
Online Writers Groups
  • Freelance Success
Professional Organizations
  • ASBPE
  • ASJA
Resources
  • Merriam-Webster Online
Writers
  • Ron S. Doyle

Welcome to WordCount, a blog about the freelance writing business. You'll see fresh material throughout the week on writing basics, blogging, tech tools for writers and more. A good place to start is my Greatest Hits page, with links to 101 of my best posts. Don't miss the Friday reading list for writers, a week's worth of writing inspiration. Tune into my #wclw Twitter chat for writers on the last Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. Pacific time. I also host the WordCount Blogathon, a blogging challenge to post every day in May. Use this form to register for this year's event. Subscribe to WordCount on your blog reader or get it delivered via email. Send email to wordcountfreelance@gmail.com.

Michelle V. Rafter

Reporter, editor, blogger, finance, business, workplace issues and media.

Featured on BlogHer.com

Top 10 Blogs for Writers

Alltop, all the top stories

Copyright © 2012 WordCount.

Design by Ron S. Doyle at Waterday Media, powered by WordPress and Hybrid.

Log in