Community Columns

COMMUNITY COLUMNS.

A COMMUNITY column in a local newspaper can be an easy way for writers to make money.  These columns contain snippets of local news and inform readers of what is happening in their locales.  It can be a good idea to contact the editor and suggest one if your local paper does not publish one.  Often more copies of the paper is sold on the day that community columns are published as people want to know what is happening locally.

There may be a correspondent coving the area that you want to do.  Start poaching. Quite often these people only want to publicise the groups: ie scouts, WI etc, that they are interested in and tend to ignore everyone else.

The hard work begins once the editor has accepted you.  First you produce a flyer (see my example below).  Then you visit every school, church, pub, club, community centre and other places where people meet to introduce yourself and leave a flyer.  This is where you score over the single issue publicist.

Carry a notebook and scan every notice that you see.  Often this practice leads to more contacts.

Soon the information and stories will start flooding in.  Some village halls produce a newsletter, which they will post to you.

Follow the motto of the SAS, Who Dares Wins, and walk into museums, police stations and council offices.  This audacity pays off and you will often get put onto a mailing list.

All this takes time and energy, but the benefits will start coming in and you will begin to earn money.  It will not be a great deal to start with but at least it will pay for the rest of your writing.  Often ideals for articles or short stories will come to you through your column