by Ben Pearce

Created on: July 31, 2009   Last Updated: August 01, 2009

The vision of being able to see your own work published in front of your eyes in a newspaper or magazine is always a goal for the freelance journalist. When the internet became popular, it brought in a whole new era of publishing. Many freelancers dedicate their time to both; what is the better alternative?

Writing articles online contains many positives. Generally, content is published quicker online. When submitting new work to a paid to write website, it is normally published within two days, if the grammar, punctuation and writing structure is correct. You can then proceed to promote your content by submitting to social bookmarking and networking websites for no cost or minimal cost. If promoted correctly, your work can be viewed by a wider audience throughout the world. The articles published are generally paid per amount of views or ad revenue alongside your content. Occasionally, payments are made upfront for writing, depending what website your work is submitted to.

Submitting articles to a newspaper or magazine can be a different story. Before writing a feature article, it is a common idea to write a query letter or e-mail displaying your ideas to the editor. Replies may take days or even weeks, which can slow the process of writing and your income. Once you receive a reply from the editor, the communication tends to speed up. You will either move on to your next project or proceed to write the article suggested. The audience from the viewing of your work will always depend on the circulation area of the newspaper or magazine. Articles are normally paid upfront or paid per word or package with photos attached.

The differences between the two is the publishing speed. Work is published a lot quicker online, meaning you can plan your next project instead of endless communication with editors. Being able to get work published a lot quicker means you can write more articles and gain more income.

Journalists mostly prefer upfront payment, a more reliable source of income. Payments from newspapers and magazines can be more greater than online writing depending on who you submit your work to. Writing online though, can be beneficial by watching your earnings grow over a longer period of time.

Making the decision of dedicating your time to one or another can be tough. Overall, it is a great feeling to view your published work on any scale. The big question is if you are prepared to be patient or get your work published quicker. Some even prefer both, its up to you at the end of the day.

Learn more about this author, Ben Pearce.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.