Blog
Tanzanian freelance writer wins top prize for uncovering witchdoctors
As a sign that freelance writers are playing an increasingly prominent role in the world of journalism—both in the West and in the developing world—the US-based International Women’s Media Foundation has decided to give its top award to a Tanzanian freelancer, who courageously reported on the murder of albino infants in her home country. Vicky Ntetema took it upon herself to expose the disturbing practice common among some Tanzanian witchdoctors to murder albinos, in order to then use their body parts in allegedly “magic” potions. As a freelancer, Ntetema did not have the full backing of a major media organization, but she still took a significant risk by infiltrating the world of witchdoctors and posing as a potential client for these potions.
Twitter at centre of British Airways strike
One of Britain’s most prominent union bosses is learning a hard lesson in Twitter etiquette, after his decision to tweet the details of his negotiations and bargaining with British Airways landed him in hot water. Derek Simpson decided that sending live tweets while negotiations were on-going was an appropriate use of Twitter as British Airways cabin crew prepared for yet another strike. While many airline workers walked off the job this morning, disrupting the travel plans of passengers at Heathrow Airport, Simpson’s Twitter faux pas has reportedly led to divisions within Unite’s leadership. Tony Woodley, another Unite chief, distanced himself from Simpson’s actions, which made any deal with BA impossible.
Prominent blogger offered millions for website
Perez Hilton, a prominent entertainment blogger based in the United States, has been offered $20 million for his website, according to a report in The Guardian. Avid Life Media decided to make an offer to Hilton, in order to buy a blog which Forbes Magazine rated as the Internet’s biggest “star.” If Hilton accepts the deal, he would be given $18 million upon handing over ownership of his blog, and then an extra $2 million a year after the transfer. The star blogger has yet to decide what to do and whether the allure of riches is enough to convince him to leave the blogosphere. The offer is currently in the hands of Hilton’s attorney and the potential buyers await a response in the coming days.
Good judgement key to SEO content writing
Seach Engine Optimized (SEO) content writing is a very different field that regular journalism, in that freelancers must strive not only to produce a piece that is rich in content and substance, but one that will be featured prominently by Google and other search engines. Veteran freelancer Angie Papple Johnston suggests that content writers always make good content a priority when writing articles or blog posts; strategically chosen keywords should enhance the article and its content, but the piece should not be written purely for the purpose of including in it as many search engine optimized keywords as possible. Good judgement is crucial when writing SEO pieces, as content writers must ensure a reasonable balance between including effective keywords, but also ensure that the final product is coherent and readable.
Twitter turns into primetime sitcom
Twitter is going primetime after CBS decided to launch a brand new sitcom which focuses on the social media tool and the prominence of tweets, as well as digital communication among American youth. The show will enter the production phase in the coming months and it has been entitled “Bleep My Dad Says.” The Twitter-inspired sitcom has also managed to attract a major Hollywood star. William Shatner, most famously of Star Trek, will reportedly play a lead role in the show. CBS will make an official announcement about the sitcom’s launch later this week. Despite the high tech, twenty-first century nature of “Bleep My Dad Says,” the show will be filmed in the traditional manner that viewers have come to expect from sitcoms.
Freelance writer remains in Iranian prison
Twenty seven year old Shane Bauer knows all too well that dictatorial regimes make no distinction between freelance writers and traditional journalists employed by major news organizations when it comes imprisoning them on trumped up charges. Bauer is an American freelancer who was covering Kurdish regional elections in Iraq and who also happened to cross the border into Iran with his girlfriend in order to go on a hiking trip. Sarah Shourd, Bauer’s girlfriend, worked as an English teacher in Damascus, Syria, while her partner focused his freelance writing career on covering politics in the Middle East. But Iranian authorities believed that Shourd, Bauer and their friend Josh Fatal were doing more than simply hiking, or working as freelance journalists; the three were charged with spying and have been held in an Iranian prison for over 285 days.
Companies use Twitter and Facebook to improve customer service
A recent survey conducted by Accenture found that 60% of consumers were unimpressed by efforts that tech companies and manufacturers of electronic products took to improve their customer service, but a market specialists point out that a relatively easy way to satisfy clients is to turn to Twitter, Facebook and other forms of social media. The Accenture survey included the participation of 2,500 consumers and company executives across 15 countries and one of the most important findings is that commercial consumers are far more satisfied with the products and services offered by tech companies than residential clients.
English teachers encouraged to blog
Teaching English abroad is a popular job among recent college graduates seeking both work experience and a little international adventure on the side. But Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) specialists are encouraging these young teachers to go an extra step and create a blog about their experiences abroad. When TEFL teachers blog they are not only keeping touch with family and friend by sharing their expat stories, but are also developing professionally and are getting their name out at a time when they must market themselves in order to obtain a full-time career. Blogs created through WordPress and Blogger are normally picked up and indexed by Google and other search engines faster than most regular websites and Google even has a separate search tool which allows for users to filter sites and only browse for blogs.
China boasts one million full-time content writers
Content writing is no longer only in demand among western companies, but a growing number institutions and firms in China have come to realize the important of using fresh content on their website in order to attract clients. The number of full-time content writers working for Chinese websites, blogs, content creation companies and other institutions has now reached one million, according to a report in the China Daily. Most of these writers earn relatively modest salaries by western standards (an average of $14,600 per year), but the rapid growth in the number of people in China who find full-time work as online freelance writers shows the growing importance on internet-based media, even in non-western societies.
Businesses turn to content writers to create corporate blogs
According to a recent survey by Burson-Marsteller, 15% of Fortune 500 companies have now decided to launch blogs as a way to draw even more attention to their businesses and keep in touch with their clients. The number of small to medium-sized companies that use blogs for these purposes is even higher and 89% of them see this as an effective way to keep channels of communication open with their clientele. But launching a blog is a commitment and requires companies to post targeted articles at regular intervals if they are to keep the fleeting attention of busy clients. This is why a growing number of firms have realized that content creation companies and their staff of content writers can play a major role in developing a popular blog that is ultimately accepted by Google News and increases traffic to the firm’s main business website.
