by Wendy Brock

Created on: March 03, 2008   Last Updated: April 25, 2008

Perform a search on Google for "opportunities for freelance writers" and you'll find there are over one million results. Wading through the endless sea of "looking for writers" forums and sites is time-consuming. Whether online or in your community, there are opportunities for a citizen journalist to have some part-time work.

All that time spent actually looking for work should be spent writing. So here's a short list of websites that offer citizen journalists a chance to write for money and possibly break big with a publisher:

Accentuate Writers Forum
http://www.accentuateservices.com/xmb/fourmdisp lay.php?fid=3
This website is updated daily with job offers and writing tips.

Article Insider
http://www.articleinsider.com/join.php
This company asks for an application on their join page. Reportedly, they pay five dollars an article if they accept your application. They ask for your name, phone number, address, previous publications, and a writing sample.

Associated Content
http://www.associatedcontent.com
This site has two ways of paying a freelance writer. One way is to review your work and offer an upfront payment. Another is to only give you "Performance Payments" where they give you no upfront payment, but pay based on how many views your article receives.

Get a Freelancer
http://www.getafreelancer.com
This company connects freelancers with jobs from all over the globe. Work for copy writers, proofreaders, translators, and computer savvy individuals.

Fab Articles
http://www.fabarticles.com
This is a website that I heard about through the grapevine. Their website hasn't launched yet, but they are accepting writer information at writerinfo@fabarticles.com.

Freelance Writing
http://www.freelancewriting.com
Freelance Writing offers daily job offers and writing tips.

Online Writing Jobs
http://www.online-writing-jobs.com
This is a forum for freelancers seeking work and publishers seeking writers.

There are many traditional media organizations that are blending their work with the public. Citizen journalism is a hot topic right now and big corporations are looking for ways to be a part of it. So look to your local media sources for avenues of employment.

Check with the news director at your local radio or television station. Inquire with the editor of the local newspaper. Find out what they are doing to be a part of the citizen journalist movement and ask them if you can help them get there.

Take a lead in developing your career for yourself. Present yourself professionally and show the professionals how citizen journalism is shaping the future of media. Do your research and have it all lined out for them.

Become your own manager and sell yourself as a citizen journalist who wants to bring the corporations forward into the media of tomorrow. This may be a lot of work, but if you're serious about looking for work in the writing field, you will have to work hard to get ahead.

Learn more about this author, Wendy Brock.
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