Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Freelance writing, online tech and lifestyle magazine, pays $15 per short post

Reply to: job-cdbr2-2190514056@craigslist.org

Do your friends come to you for advice on their next big tech purchases? Do you make tech blogs a regular part of your daily news consumption? Can you explain what a smartphone is… in terms your grandmother would understand?

If so, you might have the chops to work as a staff writer at our consumer technology website. We’re an online tech and lifestyle magazine covering everything electronic – from the latest Apple iPad developments to innovations in the world of hybrid-electric vehicles. Our content spans from news, expert analysis and guides to in-depth reviews.

Right now, we’re looking to expand our news bureau with a staff writer who can work a weekend shift to fill a gap in coverage that begins when our normal work week comes to an end. Because the weekend news cycle is slower and less predictable than during the week, this is a perfect opportunity for someone who would like to work at their own pace, with very flexible hours.

Writers will typically work from press releases and other news sources to strip out the PR fluff and drill down to the facts, injecting commentary, context, and references to other relevant news. You’ll be writing multiple short, to-the-point news briefs, typically about 300 words in length. Compensation will be $15 per short post, which typically allows experienced writers to make about $30 an hour after getting up to speed.

QUALIFICATIONS: Writers will need a basic familiarity with consumer electronics and tech. You don’t need a working understanding of TKIP encryption and Perl, but if you don’t know who Steve Jobs is, this job is not for you. Besides allowing you to write informed articles, a familiarity with tech will help you weed out boring and irrelevant news from the vital content that tech readers crave.

Keeping a conversational, informed and engaging tone is essential. Many competing tech sites have access to the same sources you will have – like press releases – so we’re counting on your voice to make our news exceptional.

Because the world of tech moves quickly, many of your stories will hit the Web prior to making it through an editor. You’ll need a proficiency in AP Style and an eye for detail and mistakes to produce publishable content without anyone holding your hand.

A sense of autonomy and responsibility are essential. After we show you the ropes, you’ll be expected to smoothly produce content with minimal direction, and accountability for a certain number of posts daily.

HOW TO APPLY: Please send us a resume, cover letter and three published clips of your choosing.

Location: Telecommute

Compensation: $15 per short post

Telecommuting is ok.

More information here.