Freelancers can now pitch to publishers using Newsmodo

Newsmodo, an online platform which launched earlier this year as a marketplace for freelance journalists to sell content, has evolved to allow freelancers to respond to publisher briefs.

The platform now allows media outlets to submit a brief, which includes the amount they are willing to pay, and freelancers can then respond by pitching to say how they would tackle the story. The news outlet then selects the freelancer with the pitch which best meets the brief.

Newsmodo, which launched in April, announced the development in a press release, explaining that briefs met and currently being pitched to by freelancers include:

• Exclusive interview with Amanda Knox
• Syrian exclusive with images from the war zone
• British government worker's seven hour Afghan attack
• Tour de France coverage
• Nelson Mandela coverage
• Egypt coverage

Both media organisations and freelancers can access Newsmodo for free. The freelancer is paid after being commissioned for an article.

When Newsmodo launched three months ago the platform relied on freelancers uploading a completed article, which news outlets could then choose to buy. Media outlets could also commission freelancers via Newsmodo, but the process has now become more streamlined.

In the release, Rakhal Ebeli, founder of Newsmodo, said the update will give "both freelancers and media organisations the opportunity to create relationships they otherwise may never have had access to".

"Initially the site was relying on the content created by freelancers to catch the eye of publishers or newsrooms. We quickly learned that time challenged media did want access to our thousands of freelancers internationally, however, they wanted to ensure their stories were 100 per cent customised. 

"Thankfully, we were able to quickly respond to the feedback, in a way that has not just helped the organisations, but also the freelancers hoping to engage with them. Rather than aimlessly pitch stories, the new site gives freelancers the opportunity to pitch to any brief they feel they can meet".

The release adds that, since launch, Newsmodo has successfully commissioned and sold content across Australia, US, UK, the Middle East, and Asia.

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