By NYU Staff

AOL is starting anew, with a spin off from Time Warner and a new platform that relies on algorithms to pinpoint top-searched news topics. Assignments based on these popular searches will be farmed out to freelancers. An expected major selling point for advertisers is that the content will be “newsworthy,” increasing the chance that their ad will be seen.

This plan has already been scrutinized by others. Some are skeptical the pieces will bring in enough readers to make the business model succeed. Some hate the idea that journalism is being reduced to a form of assembly-line, automated work. But if you’re a freelance journalist looking for work, you’re wondering if you should apply to AOL.

Your decision likely rests on where you are in your freelance career. If you’re a recent graduate looking for work, any work, by all means, apply. Who cares what old-time traditionalists are saying about the decline of the news reporting craft? You need to get paid, build your skills and your portfolio. Be practical, apply.

On the other hand, if you’re the type who already has big-name editors hanging around in your inbox, you don’t need to think too hard about applying to AOL. You’re likely not hungry for money or looking to break into the industry. If you’re curious about the business model and the editors, go ahead, give it a try.

For any freelancers in between those two stages of the career, there are pros and cons to consider in an AOL gig. For starters, the pay isn’t great on a per-word basis. Many mid-level freelancers can expect somewhere around $1-per-word. The Wall Street Journal reported that the AOL freelancers will be paid anywhere from nothing to $100 per 500-word piece, which works out to about 25 cents for each word. Still, there’s the bonus of being a oft-clicked writer and the chance that your name will become recognizable.

There’s a good chance that AOL has at least half of the equation figured out. They’re simplifying their business model, admitting that advertisers need readers and that readers don’t always follow traditional news taste. Any company that seems like it is sniffing out the right track should make a good freelance client.