Online journalists can't afford to just be reporters. They've got to be entrepreneurs, too.
Jesse Thomas, a guest panelist at the 2008 Online News Association Conference, is a perfect example. He is the chief executive and founder of Jess3, a creative agency that specializes in web design, branding, and social media PR. Thomas and his team of project managers, Web developers, and creative directors work with The Wall Street Journal, AARP, and the Heritage Foundation among others.

"I'm a designer first and a Web developer second," Thomas said at a panel discussion. On his first freelance assignment, Thomas helped a local restaurant come up with its name, designed the logo, mural, and created the Web site.

Besides Web design, there are plenty of options for professionals to bring in cash:
-Freelance (page design, graphics, writing or photography) for online publications
-Sell your photos on photography sites
-Start your own blog network or website for profit
-Create and maintain social network sites
-Sell your video footage to media organizations

Paul Harris, vice president of corporate marketing and communications for Saxotech, a company that provides content management and Web publishing platforms for media groups, said a competitor for the Yellow Pages is necessary. Someone needs to create an "interactive directory," he said.

"If you ask people what they look for online - it's information," said Harris, whose company held an information booth at ONA. "News? Yeah, okay, but what's hot right now is building a dynamic directory."

Harris suggests that someone create a site where they would enhance listings with restaurant reviews, photos, advertising and accurate information about companies.
With so many paths to take and skills to transfer to the web, Thomas said in order to start earning money online, you need to do everything that's priceless now.

"Start reaching out to people by blogging for free," Thomas said. "Target people online and just start networking."

--Jaedda Armstrong