Eliminating "freelance" from my title...

[NickMordo]

...should I do it? I'm technically a contractor for my newspaper, although I consider the amount of work I do more than just freelance. I work four of five weekdays in most cases (and some weekends), cover multiple events a week and work in the office as well. I'm asking simply because "freelance sports reporter" kind of irks me, and I think it does the same to potential employers. I do my fair share of work for the publication -- I just don't get the title or same consistent pay rates as the other people there.

I don't want to lie to any potential employers, but I also don't want to dumb down my contributions and experience in the business. It's been bugging me so I had to ask. TIA

 

[rmanfredi]

I'd talk to the editors at the paper you work for and see if there's a middle ground there. Maybe you can use a title like "Contributing Writer" that sounds a little more permanent and reflective of the work you do. But don't add any title to what you do without getting the sign-off of the paper. Otherwise, that's just fabricating your background.

 

[JimmyHoward33]

What's your byline? If its staff writer, you're on staff, but it sounds like you're not. Correspondent sounds better than "freelance writer" and most papers use some form of that or "for the Podunk Press."

In my mind, there's no difference between "freelance" or "contributor" or "correspondent" that could get you in hot water on a resume. Its semantics...if you think one looks better to an employer, go with it.

 

[Terror82]

I prefer the term, "Media Mercenary." I'll write for the highest bidder...

 

[NickMordo]

What's your byline? If its staff writer, you're on staff, but it sounds like you're not. Correspondent sounds better than "freelance writer" and most papers use some form of that or "for the Podunk Press."

In my mind, there's no difference between "freelance" or "contributor" or "correspondent" that could get you in hot water on a resume. Its semantics...if you think one looks better to an employer, go with it.

It usually just says, "Special to the..." so the "special part kind of gives it away. It says "Freelance Sports Reporter" on my resume, although "Correspondent" works well, too. I only do sports stuff, so that was my reasoning for having "sports reporter."

 

[Ace]

If you don't work for the paper, then you don't have a title and you can call yourself whatever you want -- short of staff writer.

So on your resume, you could go with professional writer or sports reporter or sports writer and list what you have covered and for whom.

 

[Johnny Chase]

I'm basically in the same situation you are. What I do is just go into great detail about what kind of work I do. Mention how many stories you write per week.

 

[reformedhack]

Being a freelancer is not a detriment in the eyes of most people who'd be doing the hiring. If you're sending your resume to a newspaper, magazine or website, hiring editors know the score. If you're sending your resume to another industry, don't sweat it ... this is increasingly becoming a freelance-based economy.

Freelancing doesn't mean you're not good enough to get a job somewhere. It means you're doing it on your own, on your own terms, and you're running your own company -- NickMordo Inc.

I understand and appreciate your desire to have a title that reflects your belonging to an organization, but that isn't as important as it used to be. And, as the other posters have said, don't fudge your resume -- that would be a detriment.

 

[NickMordo]

Being a freelancer is not a detriment in the eyes of most people who'd be doing the hiring. If you're sending your resume to a newspaper, magazine or website, hiring editors know the score. If you're sending your resume to another industry, don't sweat it ... this is increasingly becoming a freelance-based economy.

Freelancing doesn't mean you're not good enough to get a job somewhere. It means you're doing it on your own, on your own terms, and you're running your own company -- NickMordo Inc.

I understand and appreciate your desire to have a title that reflects your belonging to an organization, but that isn't as important as it used to be. And, as the other posters have said, don't fudge your resume -- that would be a detriment.

Thanks a lot. Real helpful.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

You could list it as Part-Time Sports Writer, Podunk Press, 2008-present: Then go into your duties.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

If you don't work for the paper, then you don't have a title and you can call yourself whatever you want -- short of staff writer.

So on your resume, you could go with professional writer or sports reporter or sports writer and list what you have covered and for whom.

I think you gotta mention that you're a freelancer/contributor/stringer/whatever somewhere on the resume, though. Without that, anyone who reads that resume would assume he was a staffer. That said, you go into detail about what you do -- big difference between someone who averages five bylines a week or routinely covers college/pro sports than a once-every-so-often writer or something who does community sports.

Especially in this post-apocalyptic newspaper world, being a freelancer doesn't carry the same not-good-enough-to-be-full-time-at-the-Plain-Dealer stigma it used to. There's plenty of highly talented writers who, for one reason or another, are freelance-only.

 

[dirtybird]

Since you work office shifts it sounds like you are more of a part-timer than a freelancer. If you get any sort of hourly money (which I imagine you'd have to working in the office) it seems like you work part time. If that sounds better to you it probably works.

 

[Dan Hickling]

much ado about nothing ... as refhack said, it's not like some ME wouldn't know one made up title from another ... I have always been proud to be a stringer. I don't think anyone has ever looked down on me because I'm "not on staff". And if they did, I'd just beat them on the story ...

 

[rpmmutant]

I still like media mercenary. There is no stigma from being a freelancer. Staff writer or correspondent, you're still a sportswriter and a journalist.

 

[Stitch]

Will write for fries.

 

[Ace]

FWIW, if I were hiring someone for a newspaper writing job and had the choice of a freelancer vs. a staff writer with everything else equal, I'd hire the staff writer every time.

 

[Dan Hickling]

but, as you know, not everything is ever equal

 

[Ace]

but, as you know, not everything is ever equal

True. I'd hire you, Dan.

 

[NickMordo]

FWIW, if I were hiring someone for a newspaper writing job and had the choice of a freelancer vs. a staff writer with everything else equal, I'd hire the staff writer every time.

Everything was encouraging until this post. Thank you.

 

[reformedhack]

I would have said the same thing 10 years ago, but the old paradigm really doesn't apply anymore. The business has changed; the world of business has changed. Titles and employment status don't matter. The only thing that still does is whether you can do the job. Have good clips, have good references, and know your industry -- and your chances are the same. And, yes, I hire people.