Last Updated on July 4, 2018 by Kelly L. This post may contain affiliate links. Regardless, I only recommend sites I've researched and/or used and trust.
Power Up Your Freelance Writing Career With MediaBistro.com
Are you tired of spending hours combing the same sites for writing jobs? If you’ve been using Upwork or Freelancer for months and just need a change of pace, you might be interested in expanding your work load with the help of Media Bistro.
MediaBistro has been around since 1997. It was started by Laurel Touby, a freelance writer and editor who saw the need for a website that focused on media jobs. You will find plenty of work opportunities on Media Bistro, ranging from writing tasks to graphic design or journalism jobs. Media Bistro serves as a network to connect you with other media professionals. Beyond the great job opportunities, you will also find some excellent resources to help you grow professionally.
A First Look At MediaBistro
When you first check out MediaBistro.com, you will see that it is a media junkie’s dream. The website is visually appealing and really simple to navigate. You will see lots of blog posts with business-related tips for media-gurus and there are also job listings just waiting for you to jump in and start applying.
The only downside at first glance is the massive amount of opportunities. It’s a lot to sort through and you will need to have a pretty clear picture of what you are looking for when you start combing through the jobs. If you are focused on Freelance writing from home, there are certainly plenty of opportunities on Media Bistro.
What Does Media Bistro Cost?
You can browse MediaBistro for free, but to get the full benefits, you have to join as an AvantGuild member. This will set you back $55 per year or $89 for two years. Now, before you rule it out, consider a couple of things.
AvantGuild members get some amazing benefits. First, you get access to full-length articles that are really great advice for a newbie freelance writer. If you want to move past the sites that pay $5-10 per article and break into the print industry where you get $1/word, experts show you the process on Media Bistro. For the struggling writer who wants to finally achieve that dream, it is well worth the annual membership to learn how to make an effective pitch and format content properly.
Even experienced writers can benefit from the AvantGuild membership. When you pay for the membership, you get discounts on a lot of the professional courses. You can take courses online or at locations scattered across the country. Some of these classes cost upwards of $600, but they offer really valuable training for new writers. AvantGuild members receive discounts on these courses, which can add up over a year’s time if you are determined to really learn everything you can about freelance writing from the professionals.
The membership also gives you the option to create a personalized home page. This allows employers to find you based on your profile, location, experience, and interests. Even if you don’t plan to apply for jobs listed at Media Bistro, it’s nice to have the profile to link to with email pitches to print publishers.
Creating a Media Bistro Profile
The Media Bistro portfolio profiles are super nice… way more professional than the free ones at sites like FreelanceWriting.com. Honestly, I think the AvantGuild membership fee is worth it just for the nice online portfolio if you are serious about starting a writing career.
To set up your profile, you just fill in the template with relevant information. Start with a high energy introduction and then fill in your writing experience. It might help to browse some other profiles to get ideas, but just be aware that many writers you see have decades of professional experience. Don’t let this discourage you or overwhelm you… instead, use it as inspiration to get moving!
More Perks For Joining Media Bistro
Beyond the access to tons of helpful information and profile templates, Media Bistro’s AvantGuild members enjoy some other perks too. You’ll get discounts on a lot of helpful professional services, a free e-mail account, and an editorial calendar guide.
What If I Don’t Want to Pay for Premium Membership?
Media Bistro is helpful even if you just use the free version! There are hundreds of MediaBistro jobs listed every single day and it’s free to view them.
Can I Find Internet Jobs on Media Bistro?
Yes. There are tons of jobs listed on Media Bistro, but only a portion of them is going to be Internet-based positions. These jobs are going to scattered in among other jobs that require you to be on location, so just be prepared to look through a ton of listings.
Other Media Jobs Available Too!
If your ultimate dream is to move up from your freelancing lifestyle to a major position working as an editor with a magazine or newspaper, you’re going to love Media Bistro. This site is full of job listings with huge publications and you just might get your foot in the door if you work hard!
Pros of Media Bistro
• Tons of Job Listings
• Highly Valuable Professional Tips
• Amazing Profile Templates
• Listings beyond the typical writing jobs
• Courses to Propel You Forward In Your Writing Career
Cons of Media Bistro
• Only a portion of jobs are Internet-based
• Annual membership fee required for full benefits
• A lot of competition from experienced media professionals
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, Media Bistro is going to be a great choice for the writers, editors, and media-junkies who dream of moving up in the career world. The expert content, professional courses, and high profile job listings will get you dreaming about what life is like when you finally make it in the publishing world! For those who are content to write content mill articles at $5-10 a pop, this website might not have enough jobs to interest you. Either way, take some time to browse Media Bistro and see if you think it might be a good fit for you.
You can check out MediaBistro here.