A new online app for journalists has launched called Qluso. Built by Northern Irish start-up, NewsRupt it allows news editors to bid for stories submitted by freelance editors.
According to the article on Journalism.co.uk the app is in private beta but has attracted 100 journalists and staff from two national newspapers. Until it’s launch the app will be free but there are no details about how much it will cost when it launches on 4th October.
It sounds like a great idea and along very similar lines to another project I’m aware of that is in development.
However, the need for journalists to upload their stories troubles me as it puts content into someone else’s hands. When I decided to create the Journal Local platform I decided that the journalists who signed up would retain control over their site, with tools available to them to monetise their content.
They can, for example, add Addiply ads or charge a small fee for each article using Fraxion Payments. Both of these automatically place their content in a wider network which helps generate exposure and hopefully more ad revenue or sales.
It’s entirely possible that this network idea can easily be turned into a similar system that leaves the journalist in control of their valuable content. In fact, that may well be round the corner…
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Hi Philip,
Thanks for the feedback!
If you’d like a beta invitation, please let me know. Qluso is launching in private beta on 4th October; it won’t officially launch until January. I would love to hear your thoughts on how we could improve it for freelancers and editors alike; the purpose of the beta is to find out exactly what we need to do to ensure it solves your needs and that you feel comfortable using it.
Have a great day and thanks again!
Lyra,
Qluso.com