Job Discussion Forums

[N_Ashdown]

Does anyone know how easy it would be, and where, to find any sort of journalism or writing job or internship in South America, and specifically in Colombia? Any information would be useful.

[naturegirl321]

DO you speak Spanish? Have connections? Have you written before? If you answer yes to all of the questions, it'll probably be easy. If not, it might be difficult.

[Guy Courchesne]

If in English, then check around on the net for English language papers. I've seen some in Mexico, and links to others in Argentina. Colombia likely has at least one English daily. You could always start by freelancing feature articles.

If this is a career move, the check with Reuters, Knight Ridder, or AP to see if they'll need a correspondent in Colombia. You never know...

[nineisone]

There were three or four English newspapers/web news outlets functioning in Costa Rica when I was last there. The Tico Times and AM Costa Rica are probably the best of the bunch. I know they accept submissions but not sure if they have regular employment ops or how much they pay.

Many other Latin American nations don't have an English daily or weekly but many have newer Entertainment magazines geared at tourists. As mentioned, do a search as almost all have an Internet presence.

[naturegirl321]

YOu might also consider writing for a travel guide or website.

Viva Travel Guides http://www.vivatravelguides.com
Adonde http://www.adonde.com
My World South America http://www.myworldsouthamerica.com/
Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com
Footprints http://www.footprintbooks.com
Frommers http://www.frommers.com
Rough Guides http://www.roughguides.com
Let's Go http://www.letsgo.com
Andean Travel Web http://www.andeantravelweb.com
Amerispan Travel Links http://www.amerispan.com/travel

[Guy Courchesne]

In coming to Mexico, I'd made sure to pack my Canadian Writer's Market guide, which is a yearly publication that provides contact info and guidelines for freelance submissions to various magazines and newspapers in Canada. There's an American Writer's Market as well. It was my initial plan to teach here and freelance write on the side.

[Sgt Killjoy]

A guy I know makes a living doing free lance journalism in South America, but he does it a non-traditional way. He maintains his own blog and earns advertising revenue off of it. This serves as a vehicle to show off his writing style and skills.

He submits to online publications(zero to low pay) and he writes up feature articles from time to time to submit to newspapers back home. He's got good Spanish skills so he can sniff out the stories that most monolingual people can't get at.

[lozwich]

Colombia has no English language media, except the stuff that is imported from the US. You might be able to get some kind of correspondent job for a newspaper with an international section, but I'd say that would be about it.

[J Sevigny]

If you're an experienced journalist, you should try to track down the offices of the Associated Press, Reuters, and AFP in the country where you want to work. They may be able to offer you some stringing work. I did just that in Mexico for a while and earned far more than I do teaching English.

If you don't have writing experience, you need to get some. Write for anyone you can -- community newspapers, local magazines, Web sites. Use the clips you generate as if they were currency to "buy" assignments and jobs.

Freelance writing is a huge pain in the aXX as far as jobs are concerned. But if you really love it, and do it well, there are people who are willing to pay you for your work.