Writing Local News

Many writers just starting out in their careers want to know how to write for local news organizations. Some even succeed in getting short fiction published there. The easiest place to start is with neighborhood freebies. I'm referring to the give-aways that appear on your doorstep, in the mail and sometimes stacked at business' doorways or even in their own vending machines (sans the need for coinage). The mainstay of such publications' editorial content are releases from other businesses and organizations.

This information provides another clue to the starting point to break into writing: preparing blurbs for local groups. This is usually pro bono work, for the good of the group. But you can consider it as for the good of your career and of the publications to which you submit. Hey, it gets you those first "clips" you need when submitting to paying pubs.

On an even more local level, yesterday's dwindling "Books" section of The San Diego Union-Tribune carried no masthead nor byline of Arthur Salm, the previous editor. I would have predicted that the pages will gradually disappear, and that still might happen. A check of the paper's online books section revealed this terse note dated March 10: The UT's art critic Robert L. Pincus will be taking over the responsibility for our Books coverage. Coming soon: his blog here. I should note that Salm got his start writing, for free I think, for local broadcast outlets, parlaying that into reviewing books and finally editing the review section at the paper.