“Writing in News” is a job title that can mean different things to different people. For some, it might be a foot in the door to a billet on a major newsroom editing team. For others, it might just mean getting a byline on a prestigious website. No matter what your aspirations are, though, writing for Complex News can open a world of doors—literally.
We decided to dive into the world of “Writing in News” and see what it takes to break in.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Complex News is the most popular website in the world, with 500 million monthly active users and 70 million registered users. Just think about that for a second. That’s a lot of people who are constantly engaging with the news and content that the site publishes on a daily basis. If you’re looking to get your foot in the door to a career in journalism, this is the website to do it on. Better yet, if you’re a creative writer, you can get a job as a content creator on the platform and work your way up from there.
The website was founded in 2006 by Aaron Sorkin and Jay Z, and the business has since grown to include a flagship magazine, a podcast, and a book publishing arm. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is Complex News’ weekly newsletter, which focuses on the business side of things—including recruiting, hiring, and management strategies—as well as the creative process of writing for the platform. In fact, you can even get a behind-the-scenes peek into the making of one of their award-winning docuseries, The Set-Up, and hear from some of the show’s biggest names—including its star, Hugh Laurie.
The Importance of Being Social
It’s crucial to note here that while Complex News is a pretty famous website, it still operates largely as a traditional news organization, relying heavily on its editorial staff and freelance writers for content. In other words, if you want to get a job at Complex News, you’re going to need to have a social media presence. That means creating content that audiences can share on platforms like Twitter and Instagram, keeping up with the ever-changing algorithms that drive web traffic, and engaging with commenters.
If you want to break in to the world of journalism as a creative writing professional, getting a social media presence is just as important for your success as it is for any other type of job you might apply for. Being active on social media helps you establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry, builds credibility, and allows you to connect with others working or interested in working in journalism. It also helps you gain experience, establish your expertise, and boost your resume—all of which you can then put to good use once you’ve landed your job.
Know Your Audience
While it’s important to know what kind of content performs well on social media, it’s even more important to know whom you’re actually trying to attract with that content. People come to Complex News for very specific reasons, and you should always remember that before you start engaging with your audience on social media. Knowing what motivates your target audience is the key to creating content that they’ll value, remember, and hopefully, engage with.
If you’re writing for a largely millennial audience, you’re going to want to make sure that your content is relatable and that you’re speaking to them directly. After all, millennials are the most connected and active group of people on social media—they love to share their opinions and engage with others around topics that are meaningful to them.
As a content creator for Complex News, you’ll be expected to come up with engaging, shareable ideas on a regular basis. To that end, it’s essential that you tailor your content to match the tastes, interests, and needs of your target audience. If you can gain their trust by showing that you understand exactly what they want and need, you’ll be able to create content that they’ll value, remember, and hopefully, engage with.
Quality Matters
There are many reasons why a freelance writer might choose to pursue a career in journalism, but quality is likely going to be a significant one. While it’s important to have a social media presence and to target your content toward a specific audience, the final step in the editorial process is where the rubber meets the road. Quality content can only be produced by well-trained, experienced journalists who have the talent to properly narrate stories and engage with their audience. And that, my friend, is a pretty tall order for a freelance writer.
To get a job at Complex News, you’ll have to go through an application process that will include a series of written tests, face-to-face interviews, and reference checks. As part of this process, you’ll have to show that you can produce high-quality content on a regular basis. This is going to be your bread and butter as a freelancer or content creator for Complex News—producing engaging, top-notch content that will encourage readers to come back for more.
The above is a short breakdown of what it takes to get a job writing for Complex News. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than what’s been covered here, but this should give you a good idea of the basic principles and strategy behind getting a job as a freelance writer or content creator at a major news website.
While the above information is crucial for your success as a journalist, it’s also important to keep in mind that there’s a lot of competition out there, and you’re going to have to work hard to prove yourself. Make sure you’re ready for the challenge and that you have the talent to back up what you say you can do—after all, they might just ask you to prove it.