I believe journalists should set up personal websites to showcase their work. These sites, which typically use a “vanity domain name” (ie, www.yourname.com) aren’t just good for the ego — they can be useful tools for job hunts and when trying to connect with sources.
For job seekers, it’s a way for employers to see your resume, read samples from your portfolio and learn a little bit about your personality before they meet you. For sources, a reporter’s personal site gives them a glimpse into the person making the interview request.
If you make a living as a freelance writer, I think there is no excuse NOT to have a personal site.
To help those of you considering building a website, here are two of my tip sheets on the topic (both are available off the “tips” section of Sree.net).
- Journalists’ Sites: You’ll find links to some journalists’ websites so that you can see the range of uses to which writers, reporters, and editors put their sites. For some, a personal site is just a brochure; for others, it’s a way to share ideas. Some use it as a weblog of interesting links and commentary; for others, it’s an essential way to showcase their books.
- Setting up a site: Tips and thoughts setting up a personal site, in what I hope is plain English.
A quick comment on costs (adapted from tip sheet #2 above). There are three costs associated with a personal site:
- The cost of “buying a domain name” (translation: “trademarking the name” — a.k.a “booking your name”) is about $32 a year, though that can vary depending on which registration company you use.
- The cost of “hosting a site” (translation: putting it live on the Internet) can start at around $10 month and escalate sharply. My personal site, Sree.net, costs me about $14 a month — the price of a lunch (or, in Manhattan, a cup of coffee).
- There’s also the cost of producing the words and graphics that will be served on the Internet, including the production software (if you are doing something fancy). There was a time when making a webpage meant you needed to know the HTML programming language. Nowadays, my mantra is “If you can do Microsoft Word, you can make Web pages.” You can either teach yourself how to make a basic page or hire someone else to do so. These are explained in tip sheet above.
I believe the costs and energy you put in are well worth it. However, if you are really strapped for cash, there are sites that will host free pages (they’re also in the tip sheet) in exchange for ads, but I think they are unprofessional.
Got a personal website that other journalists should know about? Write to poynter@sree.net
