In a world where anyone can share their opinion on the internet, there’s a big need for journalists who can share accurate information.
A journalism blog can be a great way to share your thoughts on current events, offer insights into the industry, and connect with other journalists.
In this post, we will show you how to start a journalism blog and make money online doing what you love.
So, whether you’re a seasoned journalist or just getting started, read on for tips on how to start a journalism blog in 2024 that will inform and engage your readers.
So let us jump right in.
How to Start a Journalism Blog in 7 Steps
- Define Your Journalism Blogging Goals
- Choose a Journalism Niche
- Pick & Register a Blog Domain Name
- Setup WordPress
- Write & Publish Blog Posts
- Promote Your Journalism Blog
- Monetize & Make Money
1. Define Your Journalism Blogging Goals
Before you start a journalism blog, it’s important to take some time to think about your goals.
- Are you looking to build a personal brand?
- Do you want to connect with other journalists?
- Or are you hoping to make money from your blog?
Knowing your goals will help you create content that appeals to your target audience and helps you achieve your objectives.
For example, if you want to make money from your blog, you’ll need to focus on creating content that drives traffic and generates advertising revenue.
If you’re mostly interested in connecting with other journalists, on the other hand, you might want to focus on creating a personal brand and building an engaged community around your blog.
No matter what your goals are, make sure they are realistic and achievable.
And remember, it’s okay to change your goals as you go – as long as you keep them in mind when creating content for your blog.
What is a Journalism Blog?
A journalism blog is a platform where journalists can share their thoughts and insights on current events, the industry, and more. Journalism blogs can be a great way to build a personal brand and connect with other journalists.
Why Start a Journalism Blog?
There are many reasons to start a blog.
If you’re looking to build a personal brand, a journalism blog can be a great way to share your work with the world and connect with other journalists.
A journalism blog can also be a helpful tool for networking and connecting with potential employers.
And if you’re looking to make money from your blog, there are many ways to do so, including advertising and affiliate marketing.
The benefits of starting a journalism blog include:
- Improving your writing skills
- Building a personal brand
- Connecting with other journalists
- Networking with potential employers
- Making money from your blog
How much money can you make from journalism blogging?
You can make $15-$25 for every 1000 ad views on your journalism blog. An SEO optimized blog post can get anywhere between 300 to 1000 visits per month. So, a journalism blog with 100 blog posts can make as high as $2500 every month. You can make even more money if you monetize with affiliate marketing and digital products.
The recipe blog Pinch of Yum made $95,197 in a single month. Blogging is no longer an idle hobby. You can build a million-dollar business blogging.
2. Choose a Journalism Niche
One of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting a journalism blog is choosing a niche.
A niche is a specific topic or area that you focus on.
For example, some journalism blogs focus on specific beats like politics or sports, while others take a broader approach and cover multiple topics.
Why choose a niche?
Choosing a niche will help you attract readers who are interested in what you have to say.
It will also make it easier to create content that is relevant and engaging.
And if you’re looking to make money from your blog, a niche can help you focus on a specific group of people who are more likely to buy products or services that you recommend.
Finding Your Ideal Niche
The best way to find a journalism niche that’s right for you is to think about the topics you’re passionate about.
What are the issues that you care deeply about?
What are the stories that you feel need to be told?
Consider your skills and experience too.
Do you have any unique insights or perspectives that you can share?
Here are a few journalism niches to help you find yours:
- Politics
- Sports
- Technology
- Business
- Investigative Journalism
- Health and wellness
- Food
- Travel
Come up with a few niche ideas.
Examples of Journalism Blog
Sometimes looking at other journalism blogs will help inspire ideas of your own. Here are some of the more popular examples of journalism blogs:
1. David Mcclelland
This is a blog by David Mcclelland who is a technology reporter and presenter who works across print, TV, and online media. The blog focuses on online safety, digital scams, and cyber security.
2. Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report is a sports journalism blog that covers a wide range of topics, including breaking news, rumors, and analysis.
3. The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is a news and opinion website that covers politics, entertainment, business, and more.
4. Seeking Alpha
This blog focuses on financial news and analysis with a particular focus on stocks and investments.
5. TechCrunch
TechCrunch is a leading technology blog that covers startups, digital culture, and Silicon Valley.
3. Pick & Register a Blog Domain Name
Once you have chosen your niche, it is time to brainstorm a few names for your journalism blog.
We recommend you keep your journalism blog’s name to two words (Example: Tech Crunch). One of the two words should be a keyword from your niche. The other word can be something that makes your website brandable. For example, our blog teaches people how to make passive income, so we have named it Passive Book.
Here are some of the words that you can mix and match into your blog name:
- Daily
- Post
- Times
- Express
- Media
- Press
- Today
- Journal
- Wire
Use a Business Name Generator to brainstorm the name of your blog.
You can also use your own name for your blog. But if you ever plan to sell your website in the future, it is much more difficult to transfer your brand to the buyer when it is your name.
Check Domain Name Availability
After you have brainstormed a few names for your journalism blog, you should check if the .com domain name is available.
A blog’s domain name is the web address (URL) of its website. The domain name is how people will find your blog online. This is usually your blog name followed by .com.
You must check if both the .com domain name and the social media handles are available. You can use Namechk to check the availability of both your domain name and social media handles.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a domain name:
- Choose a .com domain name. 86% of the internet uses .com, so your visitors are likely to try visiting your blog by typing .com. Avoid other extensions like .net or .org.
- Don’t include hyphens and numbers.
- Do not use words with multiple spellings (for example colour vs color).
- Shorter domain names are better. Try to keep it under 12 characters.
- Spelling & Pronunciation should be easy and intuitive.
- It should be easy to remember.
- Avoid words that can be misread together. For example, therapistjohn.com can be read as Therapist John or The Rapist John.
- Make sure it’s not trademarked or copyrighted by someone else. The AI writing software Jarvis.ai had to rebrand to Jasper.ai because Marvel sued them for the Iron Man reference. Lawsuits will happen once your blog is established.
Register a Domain Name
Once you decide your domain name it is time to register it.
You should register your domain with NameCheap because you will get domain privacy for free. Other providers charge $12 per year for domain privacy. Without domain privacy, your name, home & email address will be accessible to the public.
Step 1: Go to NameCheap. Enter your domain name with the .com extension.
Step 2: Select the .com extension and click the Add to Cart button.
Step 3: After adding the domain to the cart, click on the Checkout button.
Step 4: Enable Domain Privacy that comes for free along with auto-renew. You don’t need any other paid addon.
Step 5: Click on Confirm Order. Pay to complete your purchase.
Step 6: Log in to Namecheap and click on Domain List ❶ in the left sidebar and then click Manage ❷ next to the domain you just purchased.
Step 7: Under the Nameservers section, select “Custom DNS” from the dropdown ❶. Then enter the following two nameservers ❷ ns1.bluehost.com and ns2.bluehost.com as shown in the image. Then click the green tick ❸ to save. If you use a hosting provider other than Bluehost, enter their nameserver values in this step instead.
Can I get a free domain name?
Your web hosting provider might give you a free domain name for one year but they charge $12 for domain privacy which is free in Namecheap. From the second year, you will pay for both the domain and privacy which will cost you more than $20+. So it is cheaper to just register your domain with Namecheap from the beginning. Also using different companies for web hosting and domain registration will allow you to easily switch your blog host later without transferring domains.
Can I change the name of my blog later?
You will lose your search engine rankings if you change your blog’s name once it gets links from other websites. It will take as long as a year or more for you to regain the lost traffic. It is possible to mitigate problems by having proper redirects. But you will have to renew both your old and new domains every year. So try to avoid changing your blog’s name once it is established.
4. Setup WordPress
The next step is to get your blog up and running in WordPress.
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that helps you easily create, edit, and manage your blog content.
Why Choose WordPress.org?
There are many blogging platforms but the self-hosted wordpress.org powers 70% of blogs on the internet. 42% of all websites on the internet use WordPress. Here are the reasons why we recommend WordPress for bloggers:
It’s Free – You only need to pay for hosting and a domain name.
Own Your Content – With other blogging platforms (like Medium), you don’t own your content. That means they can shut down your account or change their rules at any time and you would have no control over it. With WordPress, you own your content.
Unlimited Customization & Design Options – You can design your blog to look however you want with WordPress themes and plugins. If you don’t like how your current theme looks, you can easily change it without losing any of your content.
You can also add features and functionality to your blog with plugins. For example, you can add an email subscription popup, social media sharing buttons, or a contact form with just a few clicks.
It’s Scalable – WordPress can handle any amount of traffic. As your blog grows, you can upgrade your hosting plan to accommodate more traffic.
It’s Secure – WordPress is regularly updated with security patches so it is less likely to get hacked than other blogging platforms.
It’s Search Engine Friendly – WordPress is written in clean code which makes it easy for search engines to index your blog content. As a result, it is easier to rank higher in search results.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com
There are two versions of WordPress: wordpress.com and wordpress.org.
For this guide, we will be using the self-hosted version of WordPress which is wordpress.org. The self-hosted version of WordPress gives you more control and flexibility over your blog. For example, you can choose any WordPress theme or plugin and monetize it with ads. You however have to get your own hosting.
WordPress.com might seem like a good option because it is free. However, you need to pay a fortune to add a domain name and install plugins and themes. Also, you cannot monetize your blog.
Why Avoid Free Blogging Platforms
We do not recommend using free blogging platforms like Blogger or Tumblr because:
It’s Harder to Grow Your Traffic – Free blogging platforms make it hard to rank higher in search results because they are not as SEO friendly as self-hosted WordPress.
You Don’t Own Your Content – These platforms can shut down your account or delete your content at any time.
Limited Customization & Design Options – You are limited to the themes and plugins that these platforms offer.
It’s Harder to Monetize – Free blogging platforms usually don’t allow you to monetize your blog with ads or digital products.
How much does it cost to start a journalism blog?
It will cost you $2.95 per month to host your WordPress journalism blog in Bluehost. A domain will cost you $12/year. So that is a total of $4.2 per month, which is less than the price of Netflix for all the unlimited features that a self-hosted WordPress blog has to offer.
What to do if you already have a free blog?
It is very easy to migrate your blog from other platforms to WordPress. There are a number of free import plugins available that will do the job for you in just a few clicks.
Install WordPress in Hosting
WordPress is a free platform, but to use it, you need to have your own hosting. Hosting is the place where your website lives. It’s where all of your website files are stored. You need hosting to install WordPress.
For this guide, we will use BlueHost as our web host. It is a cheap hosting that is extremely easy for beginners to set up. If you use any other web host, the steps will be the same but the user interface may be slightly different.
1. Go to BlueHost using this link to get a special discount. Select WordPress > WordPress Hosting from the top menu.
2. Click on the button you see on this page and you will be taken to the pricing section.
3. Select the Basic Plan. You can upgrade to a different hosting plan as you grow.
4. If you already have a domain name that you purchased with Namecheap you can put that in the “Use a domain you own” ❶ section. If you don’t have a domain name yet, choose the “Create a New Domain” ❷ to purchase a new domain.
5. In the next screen, enter your information. Uncheck all package extras. If you purchase your domain through Bluehost instead of Namecheap, you may want to enable Domain Privacy. You won’t see the Domain Privacy option if you bought your domain through Namecheap. Namecheap will give you this Domain Privacy for free.
6. Once you have successfully paid, you will be prompted to set a password. Click on the “Create your Password” button.
7. Enter your password and create your account. If you lose this password, you can reset it.
8. After you set your password, log in to Bluehost.
9. Click on the Create your website button on the following screen. This will start a Bluehost Wizard, just click Skip this step wherever possible.
10. On the following page, click “No help needed” or “Skip this step”. We don’t want Bluehost to limit our customization options.
11. On the next page, you will be asked about the purpose of your website. You can choose from any of the available options.
12. On the next page, click Skip this step.
13. On the following page, enter the blog’s name and tagline. You can change this later so feel free to click “Skip this step” or enter something as a placeholder and click Continue.
14. Finally you will be asked how you want to build your website. Choose “Limitless customization” to have all the options.
15. You can see your blog by going to yourdomain.com. Go to the Bluehost dashboard and click on the My Sites tab ❶ in the left sidebar and click on the “Manage site” button ❷.
16. Your WordPress site has separate login credentials different from the ones you use to log into Bluehost. You can use this to log in to the WordPress dashboard directly without logging into Bluehost. To get this:
❶ Click on Users on top.
❷ You will be able to see your username and email that you can use to log in to WordPress.
❸ If you click on the three dots you will see the option to Reset your password. ❹
You can log into WordPress from the Bluehost dashboard by clicking the Log in to WordPress button ❺. But it is not recommended you rely on this as your primary login method because you will get locked out of your site if you ever change hosting providers.
17. You will be taken to the WordPress dashboard where you can reset your password ❶. If you don’t like the username Bluehost created for you, you can Add a New User ❷.
18. If you are adding a new user make sure you specify the user role as Administrator ❶. You can log in as the new user and safely delete the default user created by Bluehost.
Congratulations! You have successfully set up WordPress.
Configure WordPress
Now that you have the basic version of WordPress installed, it is time to customize it to make it look and feel the way you want.
Login to WordPress Dashboard
The WordPress dashboard is the control center for your blog. It is where you can add new posts, edit your pages, change your theme, and configure all of your settings. You can access the WordPress dashboard by visiting yourdomain.com/wp-admin.
Use the Email and Password you provided during installation to log in to your WordPress dashboard. If you don’t have a password, use the “Lost your password?” to generate a new password.
Install WP Themes
A WordPress theme is the design and layout of your website. It controls the fonts, colors, and how your content is displayed. There are thousands of free and paid WordPress themes available.
Your new WordPress blog will be installed with a default blog theme that doesn’t look very great.
To install a new WordPress Theme:
Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
Use the search to find a theme that you like ❶. Before you install the theme, you can see a demo of the theme and learn about its features from the preview screen ❷. If you like the theme, you can install it by clicking the install button ❸. You can also upload a theme from a file on your computer ❹.
Once installed, click the Activate button to enable the theme.
Although you can use a free theme (there are thousands of free themes available), we recommend using a premium theme.
Premium themes not only reduce your website’s load time but also help you customize your website to your heart’s desire.
Here are the premium themes we recommend:
There are also several custom-made journalism blog themes. These themes tend to be bloated with poor code which will slow down the performance of your website. We suggest getting one of our recommended themes for a fast website with unlimited customization possibilities.
Install WP Plugins
A WordPress plugin is a software that adds additional features to WordPress. There are thousands of free and paid WordPress plugins available.
Too many wordpress plugins can slow down your blog site. So before you install new plugins, it will be worth clearing out any existing plugins that your hosting provider installed by default.
Plugins first need to be deactivated before they can be deleted.
❶ Go to WP Admin > Plugins > Installed Plugins
❷ Click on the checkbox to select all plugins.
❸ Select Deactivate from the drop-down.
❹ Click Apply.
❺ Repeat the above steps but select “Delete” instead of “Deactivate” from the dropdown in ❸ to delete all the deactivated plugins.
To install new plugins go to the WP Admin > Plugins > Add New.
On the plugins page:
❶ Search for the plugin you want in the search bar
❷ Click Install Now. Once you install the plugin, you must also activate the plugin for it to be enabled.
❸ If you are installing a paid plugin you can upload the plugin instead.
There are many different journalism blog plugins that you can install, but here are the ones which we recommend:
Backup Plugin: A WordPress Backup Plugin creates backups of your website. This plugin can be used to create backups of your entire website or just your database.
Recommended Plugin: WPVivid (paid) or UpdraftPlus (free).
SEO Plugin: A WordPress SEO Plugin helps you optimize your website for search engines. This plugin can help you add title tags, meta descriptions, keywords, and other SEO settings to your website.
Recommended Plugin: RankMath (paid).
Google Analytics Plugin: A WordPress Google Analytics Plugin allows you to collect data about your website traffic and how people interact with your website using the Google Analytics platform.
Recommended Plugin: RankMath (paid) or GA Google Analytics (free).
Cache Plugin: A WordPress Cache Plugin stores a copy of your website’s static files (images, JavaScript, CSS, etc) on the server. When a user visits your website, the static files are served from the server’s cache instead of being generated again.
This can help speed up your website by reducing the amount of work the server has to do to generate each page.
Recommended Plugin: WP Rocket (paid).
Page Builder Plugin: A WordPress Page Builder Plugin allows you to create custom pages and posts with a drag-and-drop builder. This plugin can help you easily create custom layouts for your pages and posts.
Recommended Plugin: Thrive Architect (paid).
Security Plugin: A WordPress Security Plugin helps you secure your website from hackers. This plugin can help you add a password to your WordPress dashboard, create backups of your website, and scan your website for malware.
Recommended Plugin: Wordfence (free).
Social Media Plugin: WordPress Social Share plugins allow you to share your website content on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Recommended Plugin: Easy Social Share Buttons (paid).
Email List & Lead Generation Plugin: A WordPress Email Opt-in Form Plugin allows you to collect email addresses from your website visitors. This plugin can help you add a form to your website that allows visitors to enter their email addresses to subscribe to your email list.
Recommended Plugin: Thrive Leads (paid).
Customize WordPress
Once you have installed your theme and plugins, it is time to customize the wordpress blog platform:
Change Colors, Fonts & Spacing
You can set the font, colors, and spacing by going to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard. Premium themes like GeneratePress allow you to customize every aspect of your blog.
Check out our Blog Fonts & Typography guide to choose the right font and typography settings for your blog.
Add Your Logo
Get a logo designed for your blog from Fiverr. Then set the logo of your blog by going to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard. A logo is not required for a successful blog but it can definitely help appeal to your target audience.
Change Favicon
Favicon is the image that appears in the browser tab and bookmarks. Set the Favicon from the Appearance > Customize section of the WordPress dashboard.
Create Menus
The header and the footer menu can be set from the Appearance > Menus in your WordPress blog dashboard.
You can nest menu items so that it appears as a dropdown menu ❶. You can use the menu as your primary or secondary navigation menu ❷. Don’t forget to save your menu ❸.
Create Widgets
If you have a sidebar, you can add widgets to it. Go to Appearance > Widgets in your WordPress admin dashboard.
Check out the list of the most useful Blog Widgets and how to add them to your blog.
Set Title & Tag Line
The next step is to change your General Settings. Go to Settings > General in the WordPress Admin area.
You can set your Site Title, Tagline, and Time Zone from this screen.
Set Permalinks
The ideal URL structure for SEO is yourdomain.com/sample-post. Set your permalink structure by going to Settings > Permalinks in your WordPress blog dashboard.
Select the “Post name” radio button and save changes.
Enable Search Visibility
Chances are you want your blog to show up on Google so people can find you. Go to Settings > Reading in your WordPress dashboard.
To get search engine traffic, ensure the checkbox “Disable search engines from indexing this site” is Unchecked. You can find this option in Settings > Reading. Most of the time this should be unchecked by default but if it is not, then uncheck it to ensure your site gets traffic from search engines.
Adjust Comment Settings
Next, you will want to change the Discussion Setting (aka Comments). Go to Settings > Discussion in your WordPress admin area.
❶ You may want to enable or disable comments on this page. You can also disable pingbacks and enable comment moderation.
❷ You can also set comment approval settings.
If you want to design your blog further, check out our dedicated guide on blog design which has all our best blog design recommendations.
Create Static Pages
There are a few essential pages that you need to create for your journalism blog before you can start blogging.
Use pages in WordPress to add static content. Go to WP Dashboard > Pages > Add New.
- Write the headline of your content.
- Populate the body content
- Click the publish button.
You may want to create the following pages:
Home Page
A home page is the main page of your website. It is the first page that your visitors see when they visit your website. The home page typically contains a welcome message, a list of your latest blog posts, and a link to your blog archives.
You can create a professional home page for your journalism blog using a page builder like Thrive Architect.
About Page
An about page is a page that tells your visitors who you are and what your journalism blog is about. The About page should contain information about your background, experience, and why you started your blog.
Contact Page
A contact page is a page that allows your visitors to contact you. The contact page should contain your contact information, such as your email address, a contact form, and social media profiles.
Use contact form plugins like Fluent Forms to create the form on your contact page.
Privacy Policy
A privacy policy page is a page that tells your visitors how you collect, use, and store their personal information.
WordPress generates its own privacy policy for you. But you can also use a tool like Termly to generate your own privacy policy.
Terms of Service
A terms of service page is a page that tells your visitors how you expect them to use your website.
Use a terms & conditions generator like Termly to create it.
5. Write & Publish Blog Posts
Now that you have your journalism blog set up, it’s time to write and publish your first blog post. To craft the perfect blog post, check out our in-depth guide on How to Write A Blog Post. Here we will go over specific tips for a journalism blog.
1. Brainstorm Topics
You should brainstorm 100 topic ideas for your journalism blog. This will ensure that you always have content to write about in your journalism blog.
The goal is to find topics for your journalism blog that your audience is searching for on Google. The type of content you write on your journalism blog will depend on your specific niche.
There are a few ways to brainstorm specific content:
Look at Competitors
If you want to be a successful journalist, you need to be constantly publishing content on your blog. But what if you don’t know what to write about?
One way to come up with ideas for your journalism blog is to look at the articles your competitors are writing about. This can give you inspiration for the type of content you should be writing on your own blog.
To find ideas for your journalism blog, simply enter your keywords into Google and take a look at the results that come up.
Pay attention to the articles that are getting the most traction and see if you can write a similar article for your own blog.
Community & Forums
One way to find topics for your journalism blog is to look at the comments and questions that are being asked on online communities and forums. This can give you an idea of what people are interested in and what types of content they are looking for.
To find online communities and forums, simply enter your keywords into Google and take a look at the results that come up.
You can also use social media sites like Reddit and Facebook to find online communities and forums.
2. Create an Editorial Calendar
An editorial calendar is a tool that allows you to plan, organize, and schedule your content. The editorial calendar should contain information about the topics you plan to write about, the date you plan to publish your content and the promotion you plan to do for your content.
Creating an editorial calendar can help you stay organized and ensure that you are publishing content regularly. You can create an editorial calendar using Google Sheets or Trello.
Download Content Calendar Template
Steal our exclusive content calendar template. Have it delivered directly to your inbox:
3. Write a Blog Post
Once you have chosen a topic for your blog post, it’s time to start writing.
News Analysis
News analysis posts are meant to provide in-depth examination and commentary on current events or recent news stories. These posts often focus on the context and background of a story and may include an analysis of the impact of the story on various groups or the broader implications of the story.
Examples of blog post titles for this type of post could include
- “Breaking Down the Implications of the Latest Trade Agreement”
- “The Realities Behind the Headlines of the Political Crisis”
- “Exploring the Causes and Consequences of the Natural Disaster.”
When writing a news analysis post, it’s essential to be well-informed about the story and its background. Be sure to verify your information and use credible sources.
In addition, Try to put the story into context and provide a balanced perspective, and consider the potential effects of the story on different groups of people and the broader implications. Also, be prepared to update your post as new information becomes available.
Investigative Journalism
Investigative journalism posts are meant to uncover information that would not otherwise be known or reported. These posts often focus on uncovering fraud, corruption, or other illegal or unethical activities.
Examples of blog post titles for this type of post could include
- “Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Government Contracts”
- “Investigating Fraud in the Charity Sector”
- “Exposing the Truth Behind a Controversial Industry.”
When writing investigative journalism posts, it’s essential to be thorough in your research and have strong analytical and critical thinking skills. Be prepared to take the time to dig deep into the story and be willing to consider different perspectives. Keep in mind that you are trying to uncover hidden information or reveal information that is being kept from the public. Use a variety of sources, including primary sources such as documents and interviews, and maintain a high degree of accuracy and fairness.
Opinion/Editorial
Opinion/editorial posts are meant to provide commentary and analysis on current events or recent news stories from the perspective of the author. These posts often express the author’s personal viewpoint on a particular issue.
Examples of blog post titles for this type of post could include:
- “Why We Need to Address Climate Change Now”
- “The Problems with Our Current Healthcare System”
- “My Perspective on the State of Our Political System.”
When writing opinion/editorial posts, it’s important to be clear about the argument you are making and provide reasoning and evidence to support your viewpoint. Try to be as objective as possible and take into account different perspectives and counterarguments.
Keep in mind that opinion/editorial pieces are meant to be thought-provoking, but you should also be open to feedback and willing to engage in dialogue.
Interview/Profile
Interview/Profile posts provide an in-depth look at an individual or organization by featuring an interview with a subject matter expert, notable figures, or other person of interest. These posts can provide insight and context about a particular topic or give a personal perspective on an event or issue.
Examples of blog post titles for this type of post could include:
- “An Exclusive Interview with the CEO of XYZ Corporation”
- “A Day in the Life of a War Correspondent”
- “Profile of the renowned Scientist and her research on Climate change”.
When writing an interview post, it’s essential to prepare a list of thoughtful and relevant questions that will elicit interesting and informative responses. Be prepared to conduct the interview in person or over the phone or email and have a recording device to capture the conversation.
And, it is essential to fact-check and verify information provided during the interview and use direct quotes. Also, in the case of a profile post, be sure to provide background information and context about the person or organization you are profiling.
Live coverage/Event
Live coverage/Event posts provide real-time coverage of ongoing events or happenings such as elections, court cases, and natural disasters. These posts can help keep readers informed about breaking news and provide updates as the event unfolds.
Examples of blog post titles for this type of post could include:
- “Live from the Scene: Coverage of the Political Rally”
- “Real-time updates: The trial of a celebrity”
- “On the ground: Reporting from the disaster zone.”
When writing a live coverage post, it’s essential to be prepared to provide updates and information quickly and accurately. It’s a good idea to have a plan in place for how to collect and disseminate information and to have multiple sources of information to ensure accuracy.
Also, make sure to provide context and background information about the event, and include images and videos when possible.
Data Journalism
Data journalism focus on presenting data or findings from research or survey in an informative and compelling way. These posts can include data visualization, infographics, and other interactive elements that make the data more accessible and engaging.
Examples of blog post titles for this type of post could include:
- “The State of Employment in the US”
- “Crime Rates in Major Cities”
- “The Relationship between Education and Income.”
When writing a data journalism post, it’s important to find a way to present complex data in an easy-to-understand format. Be sure to properly cite sources and provide context for the data, and consider using visual aids like charts, graphs, and infographics to make the information more engaging.
It is also important to be transparent about the methodology used to collect the data and to present the data as objectively as possible.
Key Elements of Journalism Blog Post
There are four key elements to writing a blog post in a journalism blog:
1. Find Sources
To write a news article, you will need to find a source for your information. This can be done by looking at online news sources, such as Google News, or by looking for press releases on PRWeb.
2. Research
Research is an important part of writing news articles. You will need to make sure that you are getting your information from reliable sources. When writing news articles, it is important to be objective and impartial. You should present the facts without giving your opinion.
3. Four Ws
Every news article should answer the four Ws: who, what, when, and where in the first paragraph. You can cover the why and how in the rest of the article. The most important information should go on top and the rest can be covered in the remaining part of the article.
4. Quotations
When writing news articles, it is important to include quotations from people who are involved in the story. This can add more depth to your article and make it more interesting for your readers.
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Outsource Writing
If you don’t have time to write articles for your blog, you can always outsource the writing to a freelance writer.
There are many sites where you can find freelance writers, such as Upwork and Fiverr.
When hiring a freelance writer, be sure to give them clear instructions on what you want them to write about.
You should also give them a deadline so that they can deliver the article on time.
4. Add Images
It’s important to choose images that are relevant to your blog post that will also help to break up the text.
When choosing images, be sure to use royalty-free or creative commons images. This means that you can use the images without having to pay for them. There are several sites where you can find stock images:
Free Options: Pixabay, Pexels, Upsplash
Paid Options: Deposit Photos, Shutterstock, iStock, Getty Images, 123rf.
Canva is a design tool that allows you to easily create visuals for your blog post. There are many templates available on Canva that you can use to create images for your blog post.
Canva Pro offers a free library of stock images that you can use in your blog posts. You can use the stock library to create visuals for your blog posts directly in Canva and you won’t have to rely on any other stock photography website.
6. Promote Your Journalism Blog
There are many ways that you can promote your journalism blog to get blog traffic.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website for Google search. By optimizing your site for Google, you can improve your chances of appearing in the top search results.
To optimize your site for Google, you need to add keyword-rich titles and descriptions to your blog posts. You should also use keywords throughout your blog post to help Google index your content.
Many factors go into SEO, and it can be a bit confusing to figure out where to start. You can master the more advanced SEO tactics by checking out our SEO Resources.
You can ensure you get the basics of SEO right, by completing the recommendations given by the RankMath plugin.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is a great way to promote your journalism blog. You can build an email list of people who are interested in your content. You can then send them updates whenever you publish a new article.
To build an email list, you need to create a sign-up form and add it to your website. You can then connect your opt-in form to an email marketing software to manage subscribers and send emails.
You can use the Thrive Leads plugin to build opt-in forms to collect email addresses. You can then connect the opt-in form to an email marketing service like Active Campaign to send out the emails.
Check out our Email Marketing resources to learn more.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is another great way to promote your journalism blog. You can use social media to share your blog posts and reach a wider audience.
When using social media, it’s important to post interesting and engaging content that will get people to click through to your website. You should also use hashtags and images to make your posts more visible.
It’s also a good idea to create social media accounts for your journalism blog on all the major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Guest blogging
Guest blogging is a great way to promote your journalism blog. When you guest blog, you write an article for another website in your niche.
Guest blogging is a great way to reach a new audience and build relationships with other bloggers in your niche.
When looking for guest blogging opportunities, be sure to only pitch blogs that are relevant to your niche. You should also make sure that the blog you’re pitching is of high quality.
You can promote and link back to your blog from your author bio.
7. Monetize & Make Money
There are many ways that you can monetize your journalism blog.
Advertising
One way to monetize your journalism blog is through advertising. You can work with ad networks, to place ads on your website.
When someone views or clicks on your ad, you will earn money. The amount of money you earn will depend on the amount of traffic you get.
To start advertising on your blog, you can sign up for an ad network like Ezoic (they pay more than Google Adsense). When your blog starts getting more than 100,000 page views a month you can monetize with Adthrive.
| Ad Network | Earnings Per 1K Impressions (EPM) | Monthly Traffic Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Ad Thrive | $13 | 100,000 |
| Ezoic | $3 | 10,000 |
| Media.net | $1 | – |
| Google Adsense | $1 | – |
Affiliate Marketing
Another way to monetize your journalism blog is through affiliate marketing. With affiliate marketing, you promote products or services on your website.
And, if someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase, you will earn a commission. The amount of money you earn will depend on the product or service you’re promoting and how much traffic you get.
You can find affiliate programs to join by searching for “affiliate program” + your niche. For example, if you’re in the technology niche, you can search for “technology affiliate programs”.
Digital Products
Another way to monetize your journalism blog is by selling digital products. This can include eBooks, courses, and templates.
Creating and selling digital products is a great way to earn passive income. And, it’s a great way to build an email list of people who are interested in your content.
You can use Teachable if you want to sell video courses. Your students will have a dedicated course members area and a community system to ask questions and interact with each other. If you only want to sell eBooks, you can use SendOwl which lets you sell your digital products and eBooks for free.
Sell Services
Another way you can monetize your journalism blog is by selling services. You can use your blog to promote your services. This could include writing and consulting work.
This is a great option if you have experience in a particular field. And, it’s a great way to earn money from your journalism blog.
Sponsored Posts
Another way to monetize your journalism blog is through sponsored posts. With sponsored posts, you write an article that promotes a product or service.
The amount of money you earn will depend on the sponsor and how much traffic you get.
You can find sponsored post opportunities by contacting companies in your niche and pitching them your blog.
FAQ
Here are a few frequently asked questions:
Are news blogs profitable?
Yes, news blogs can be profitable. There are several ways that you can monetize your news blog, such as through advertising, affiliate marketing, and selling digital products.
How blogs can be used for journalism?
Blogs can be used for journalism in many ways. For example, blogs can be used to write about news and current events. In addition, blogs can be used to share opinions and commentary on the news.
Do I need a degree to start a journalism blog?
No, you don’t need a degree to start a journalism blog. However, it may be helpful if you have some experience in writing and reporting.
Do journalists have blogs?
Yes, many journalists have blogs. Journalists use blogs to write about news and current events. In addition, journalists use blogs to share their opinions and commentary on the news.
What is the best platform for starting a journalism blog?
The best platform for starting a journalism blog is self-hosted WordPress.org. WordPress is a popular platform that is used by many bloggers. It is easy to use and there are several themes and plugins available.
What is the best way to start a journalism blog?
The best way to start a journalism blog is by choosing a niche, registering a domain name, and setting up WordPress. Once you have your blog set up, you can start writing blog posts and promoting your blog.
What Next?
To be a successful journalist, you need to have a platform to share your work. A blog is the perfect way to start building that platform and showcase your skills.
We hope this guide showed you how to start a successful journalism blog.
If you have any questions as you set up your new blog, leave a comment below so we can help you out.
Have you started your journalism blog yet? What type of journalism blog are you going to start? Let us know in the comments.
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