Freelance writers should pay attention to three main terms:

• Indemnity: Most contracts state that you will indemnify the publication. However, it should be the other way around. The publication should agree to indemnify you, especially if your reporting can ruffle some feathers.
• Graduated payment: Don't settle for only being paid when your writing is published. It could take up to a year before it is published.
• Copyright and intellectual copyright: Ensure the agreement hand over the copyright to the contributor instead of a publication keeping it for themselves.

Freelance writers should be aware of the following red flags when reviewing agreements:

• "Work for hire": It means that the copyright and publishing rights belong to the publication, not to the author. It means the author may miss out on the opportunity to option their ...