A house organ can serve as a highly productive and
profitable project for a freelance or full-time writer, particularly at the
start of his or her professional career.
That’s where I started building my portfolio, fresh out of
journalism school, and I’m certainly not alone in that. My first post-masters
job had me reporting, editing, designing, and publishing multiple house organs
for a Fortune 100 company.
What is a house
organ?
Many companies and even charitable organizations produce a
variety of publications for internal audiences. These efforts, commonly called
house organs, may be circulated to employees, management, shareholders, or
other target audiences.
For example, an employee newspaper might contain company
news, explanations of benefits, and announcements of upcoming activities. A
shareholder or contributor periodical would likely highlight major projects and
corporate accomplishments.
As a full-time corporate employee and then a freelancer, I
have done house organs for many different outfits, from major multinational corporations
to athletic organizations, and from local churches to human-interest groups.
The pay, of course, has ranged from mere peanuts to
respectable fees. Occasionally, I’ve produced a house organ for free, but only
for causes about which I was passionate and during seasons when time allowed.
How have house organs
changed lately?
Increasingly, organizations are going paperless, as much as
possible. Many house organs have been replaced by online newsletters, blogs,
and web pages.
Their content still focuses on issues pertaining to their
intended audiences.
Wise writers have adapted to the new technologies, producing
content for these publications. Although freelancers may provide materials pro
bono, particularly for causes they support or to pump up their portfolios, many
continue to draw real income from these endeavors as well.
Today’s house organs may be found in cyberspace, but they may
still be considered in-house publications with specific readerships.
Related Items:
- Establishing Your Pay Scale as a Freelancer
- How to Leave Online Comments that Count
- Newsletter Editors: Publishing Pointers
- Newsletter Know-How
Image:
Keyboarding by Dave
MorgueFile
2012 A to Z Blogging
Challenge logo
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On line makes so much sense for this. Less paper, and you can always go find past entries that might be useful. I'm trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month.
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