Freelance Writing: Always check your sources
Recently, I started working for a technology website. At times, I shake my head at the sloppy journalism I’ve seen in my local and national news sources. It’s obvious that the journalist really didn’t do too much work to check out their sources. It’s obvious that they were just parroting what they had read from another source. Does anyone see a problem with that? When you are relying on second hand information at times that information can be dead wrong.
One thing I’ve always done was to track the original source I find that it gives me a better understanding of the topic and many times I find that the information is completely different fro the second hand information I’ve received. Naturally, I apply those same principles when I write for the news website. I have my RSS feed set up to receive news related to technology, mainly Apple. I easily receive 500 feeds daily. Scanning the titles quickly I try to pick the ones that I believe are “newsworthy” I then spend some time tracking down the original source. Guess what, there are people like me who do the same thing and if you put inaccurate information up they will pull you up on it.
Guess what you have sloppy writers period? Let’s not fool ourselves and think that term applies only to a journalist. Even when it comes to topics, I know well I always back up what I’ve said with another source. With my new website, I’m already gaining an audience of repeat visitors. Currently the number is small about 50 readers daily, but it feels great. I’ve been writing for three weeks and have already had over 15,000 page views for my articles. It definitely looks as though I’ll beat the 20,000. What that means is a flat rate per article I’ll be paid by the amount of page views I receive. That’s where the money is. I knew I would get to that point if I simply wrote a good article.
My goal at the technology website is to be viewed as someone who is very knowledgeable about Mac technology. Although I am people who are regular readers of the website don’t know that. One way of showing them is simply writing about a topic I love. Weekends I believe will be my “down time” I’ll devote those two days to tutorials about the Mac. In fact, I’ll be writing a series geared to the recent switcher.
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Wonderful example of journalistic integrity.
My feeling is that sloppy journalism is the norm rather than the exception.
Mike,
I’ve seen this also. I don’t understand it. All right yes I do its lets get the “news to press” and hope more people tune into our station or website. I imagine that deadlines plays a factor but that shouldn’t be an excuse for not following up with the original source.
Interestingly enough I’ve seen the same thing with paid reviews. I’m basing this on the bloggers I’ve seen writing them. Many that I’ve visited that write paid don’t do a decent review of the website or they ignore glaring issues with the websites. Some advertisers insist that the blogger write a positive review. At times those are the ones that could use some helpful suggestions on improving their website. I’ve done that in the past and a few have actually listened and made changes to their website.
When an Advertisers posts a review they usually give a generic description of the website. Quite a few of the bloggers, that I used to visit, simply rewrote that “press release”. They obviously didn’t review the website for an advertiser that is just looking for a linkbait that is no big deal but for the advertiser who wants a thorough review that would be a problem. I actually went to the website and wrote a thorough review at times I followed up with the owner if I had questions. I put myself in their position and thought about what I would want a reviewer to do. I want an honest review. I guess being anal paid off the last few months of writing reviews for money I was averaging over $100 per review. I also picked up a few clients.
You might have noticed that I stopped writing them on my main website. I just didn’t like seeing reviews outside of my own on my blog even if it were for things I already used.
I did stop visiting a few peoples website because their homes turned into a walking advertisement. Seeing those posts several times weekly was a major turnoff. They have every right to post what they want it doesn’t mean I have to be around for the never-ending advertisements.
Whoa, I completely got off topic there.
Off topic?
I didn’t notice.
Hi Opal - this is so true. You should always try to go back to the original source, but many people don’t.
Some of the big magazines have their own fact checkers and I suppose you can understand their reason for doing so. It would be embarrassing for them to publish the wrong facts.
Checking sources is definitely important…I learned this the hard way. I used to freelance for a mortgage/loan website. I didn’t have any experience in this field, and I had to rely on news articles and Internet research. Early on, a few of my articles included inaccurate facts. After that experience, I made every effort to double check each fact, and I made sure that my information came from credible sources.
I do agree that checking sources is indeed important as well as paraphrasing it is indeed necessary in writings. It would be a blow for you if you would give inaccurate facts and you will feel guilty because you have given your readers articles that are not worth to read at.That is what I have feel before when doing some blog articles and used heresay datas its really something that I feel ashamed of.
Wow, Opal, I think you may have drowned beneath the load of your sources!
I’m sure you’re under a huge workload. Hope things settle down soon. We miss you!
Smiles,
Michele
good post opal
great blog, very interesting information.
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Mike Goad:
“sloppy journalism is the norm rather than the exception”
I had the same idea, but couldn’t express it that laconic.
Thank you for your work Opal.
Where’d you go?
Feeds are no doubt some valuable sources for tech news search.
Finding all worthy News is a great job for a good writer.
15,000 page views in just three week prove that the write is liked by his readers.
Wow, Opal, I’m starting to get worried. Are you ill?
We miss you!