Tag: journalist

Introducing LifeEntertainmentNews.com!

Brownie Marie3 Comments

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I have been writing for major news outlets for years– enjoying the perks of exclusive event coverage, celebrity interviews, and connections made across industries. However, I’m at a point where I need the freedom to cover topics of my choice, edit as needed, self-publish, write on my own schedule, etc. Additionally, news outlets having been shuttering on the regular for years now, leaving their staff high and dry. Tired of the constraints and tired of being laid off, I recently made the decision to launch my own entertainment and lifestyle site: LifeEntertainmentNews.com!

Born out of necessity, I was able to get the site up just as my previous outlet stopped publishing user-generated content and deleted many of my articles. I won’t have to worry about that again. I also no longer worry about when posts will go up, edits not being published, or any of the other headaches that come with being a freelancer. However, I also don’t have the large platform, following, and exposure that comes with working for one of the larger publications. Hopefully, that will come with time. In the meantime, I’m blessed to still have a network of publicists and brands that I’ve worked with for years. The relationships that I’ve cultivated during my career have already provided an early stream of content and support for my burgeoning site. In addition, I’ve always embraced indie artists and small businesses, and there will never be a shortage of rising brands looking for coverage.

I’m proud of the work that I’ve accomplished thus far, but the journey has just begun. If you feel so inclined, please check out the new site and let me know what you think! There are options to leave comments on articles, contact me directly, or subscribe to the weekly newsletter. It’s also @lifeentnews across social media platforms if you would like to follow the brand online.

I plan to keep this blog site as well, as Life Entertainment will not be a space for my rants or inner thoughts! Also, if there are product reviews or content in categories that I’m not covering on Life Entertainment, then I will publish them here. Admittedly, I have not been publishing consistently, but I still want to maintain and use this domain. In addition, there are a couple other projects that I have lined up, and this site will definitely come in handy as an assist 😉

All that being said, if you or someone you know is a high-quality, entertainment and/or lifestyle writer looking for an outlet, please consider LifeEntertainmentNews.com! You can reach me by completing this contact form.

Goodbye, Examiner.com

Brownie MarieLeave a comment

I can’t remember how I heard that they were hiring. Maybe it was on Craigslist? I started writing for them in December 2010 as a Cleveland nightlife journalist, and I really didn’t know what I was doing. I treated my articles more like blog posts than professional content, but Examiner.com gave me the freedom to figure out my writing style. I also had (nearly) complete latitude when it came to choosing what people, places, and events I wanted to cover. This autonomy is rare, and it was amazing.

When people ask me why I moved to NYC, I say, “Career.” The long answer is that Examiner.com gave me the inspiration, confidence, and contacts to become an entertainment journalist. Less than a year after I began writing for them, a publicist at Sony contacted me. They wanted me to come backstage at the Cleveland leg of the Scream Tour, and interview their artist, Jacob Latimore. I thought it was a joke at first. How would Sony know who I am? At the time, Examiner.com was getting tens of millions of hits per month, and was a top 100 site. That kind of traffic is extremely valuable, and opened up countless doors for me in New York.

After working with Sony, I thought I would try to make a career out of my passion for entertainment journalism. Examiner.com gave me the platform I needed to gain access to top celebrities and events, and I knew I had a knack for interviewing. Before Examiner.com, I co-founded an urban lifestyle blog called Media-n-DaHood, and created DoloHustle.com as an entertainment blog. One of my first interviews was with Dolla Boy (now known as Dillon Saks) of Playaz Circle. I met him and Tity Boi (now known as 2 Chainz) at a meet and greet in Cleveland, and Dolla asked if I wanted to interview him. Afterwards, he told me that they had just come from radio station Z107.9, and I conducted a better interview than the radio personality. And this was off the cuff! I remember my brother nodding approvingly as he listened to the recorded interview. I was on my way!

I informed Examiner.com that I was moving to New York, and picked up New York Nightlife and Music beats. It wasn’t long after I moved to Brooklyn that I was attending exclusive events, interviewing and partying with celebrities, and making memories that I will hold onto forever. As I started covering more celebrity charity events and product launches, I picked up a New York Celebrity beat as well.

Now, I get about 50 emails per day from publicists and business professionals who want me to cover their client or brand. I have interviewed dozens of celebrities, and some have become friends. I’m very happy and proud with what I’ve accomplished as a journalist, and I’ve had a wealth of amazing experiences in New York. I haven’t decided what my next move will be, but this is one chapter that is closing. Examiner.com emailed all of their contributors about two weeks ago, and told us that they were shutting down. Our content may or may not remain on online, and the full-time staff was laid off. I’m planning on reposting the articles that readers enjoyed the most on this blog, maybe in #tbt style. I am still writing for AXS, and am deciding what the next move will be. It has been an amazing journey, and Examiner.com was the catalyst for this adventure. I will always be grateful.

Brownie needs an assistant

Brownie MarieLeave a comment

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OMG has it been two months since I’ve posted something? Shame on me. I have been extraordinarily busy and slightly overwhelmed w/ work, and it shows. I started to fall behind when I went to Cleveland for Christmas/New Years, and have failed at playing catch-up since I came back in January.

I picked up two freelance journalism jobs that month,  and then I started doing background work in February. Those three sources of income, although much-needed, made my Examiner work fall further behind. (Actually, instead of writing this blog post, I should be working. BUT, I feel like venting.)

Then I picked up ANOTHER freelance writing job in March that has me working 40 hours a week! Needless to say I am exhausted, and falling further behind instead of catching up. So, what is the solution? Well, I’m toying with the idea of hiring a temporary writing assistant… just until I get caught up. A few things holding me back: the process of weeding through and screening applicants, having to give up control through delegation, and lack of trust that people will actually get the job done. I’ve always believed that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, and having an assistant goes completely against that.

Have you ever had an assistant? How did it work out? :/