I Topped Four Figures On Newsbreak — I’m Amazed
A rocky road to success
As a Brit who couldn’t get onto the Newsbreak platform for years due to not having a US phone number, I’m pleased to report that I’m doing well now.
I managed to get onto Newsbreak earlier this year, accruing some very modest earnings. Then, within months, I heard they’d stopped paying new sign ups from outside the USA for their content. My content is paid. I feel lucky — I may have been the last one in!
Local news
Newsbreak has a preference for local news. Their algorithm prioritises it. So being outside of the USA, I’m at a distinct disadvantage, but I thought I’d give it a go anyway.
In local news, anything goes. I’ve seen stories about new shops opening, homeless shelters, road accidents, and wedding fayres. That’s what it’s all about — having local people on the ground, reporting in your neighbourhood.
I can’t do local because I’m not there, so I’ve been posting global stories on health, war, and anything else that takes my fancy. Stories that interest me might get posted, rewritten in my own words, with my own opinion on the events.
You’ve probably read some of my news stories on Medium.
On Newsbreak last month I broke four figures doing that. Many of my stories don’t earn very much… but my contributions earned enough last month to make it worthwhile.
I’d almost given up on Newsbreak
The month before, I nearly gave up on Newsbreak. I kept getting strikes — and if you get three, you’re suspended. It’s a constant battle when you keep getting work removed and strikes issued.
There’s an appeal process, so I’ve always appealed and always won. But it takes a week for them to consider the appeals. By the time the strikes are lifted, the stories are old news, and they don’t circulate them after a strike anyway, so no one reads them.
I received a strike back in August for saying my story contained videos — it did. They argued it was an article, not a video. I removed the reference to videos and the strike was removed, but it only got four impressions.
I received another strike because a story about a statue violated their nudity policy.
I received a third strike for ‘fact-checking and accuracy’ on something that, to be fair, may have been a dodgy source of information. But it seemed like a good story at the time!
All strikes were removed when I either justified my position or endeavoured to rectify whatever they didn’t like.
Perseverance pays
It’s just as well that I didn’t give up on Newsbreak because last month a couple of stories did quite well and suddenly the whole thing seemed worthwhile.
I still have stories they’ve not circulated. I have some with only one view. So, my policy on Newsbreak is to publish short, frequent stories, accepting that many won’t do well… But, when occasionally they do take off, it’s gold!
And now for a quick reality check, so you don’t think this happens all the time — my earnings for November, so far, are $3.59.
Rollercoaster of online writing
I guess the rollercoaster of writing on Newsbreak is rather like writing on Medium! I’m still experimenting with Newsbreak, but it seems worthwhile at the moment.
If you’re interested in Newsbreak, one thing to consider is that they can sell a licence to reprint your content to anyone who’ll pay for it.
For that reason, you may want to hold back anything too personal, or anything that you don’t want turning up in the New York Times — or Playboy, for that matter! What you post on Newsbreak might end up anywhere — both legally and licenced.
© Susie Kearley 2023. All Rights Reserved.
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