Byline

There are no bylines in The Economist and every issue is full of great stuff. I would say it is a style thing. I wrote for a magazine where most of the smaller stories had no bylines, but the longer stories did. However, most publications do run bylines. Don't be afraid to ask them why they don't or what you have to do to have your name appear with your work.

I would also ask about them about it. I don't know why they wouldn't give a byline, so I won't even assume. It's best to ask them about it and say you'd love to write for them, but you could use the byline. They'll probably understand.

Perhaps the magazine heavily edits some of the articles they receive. This often happens when the author has provided a good concept and solid research, but the writing is lacking in other ways. In cases like these, some magazines may prefer not to give by-lines. Another scenario might be that the magazine combines two or more articles from different authors to create a new article. Personally, I think the magazine should include a note mentioning the people who contributed, but not all do. As Arisa and gettingby mentioned, there may be other reasons as well, so it is better to ask.

Magazines aren't concerned with your need for credits. Many things go into the byline decision, and there's always a reason. There's nothing new about this. The no byline factor has been around for hundreds of years, and it is not a scam, nor does it allow anyone else to pass off an article as their own. That makes no more sense than thinking you could just remove a byline, paste in your name, and pass that article around as your own.

If you don't want to write for a magazine that doesn't give you a byline, then don't. No one is forcing you to do so. But it is not a scam, and there is reason for the no byline decision.

I agree with James. For every one magazine that doesn't give a byline, you'll find five others that do. So put on your virtual telescope, and go looking for those publications.

There are also publications (mostly newspapers) that do take freelancer work but slap on staff bylines on those pieces. It happens. You don't do that kind of work for the byline, you do it for the money. Sometimes very good money.

I think this is all changing in the world of "writers have to be brands" but there are publications that do this, and as long as they're upfront about it, I don't really see it as a problem.

Short, front-of-the-book stuff usually doesn't get a byline.
Getting that first sale is tough. But if you really can write and need to prove it, there are many outlets that'll accept your stuff, free. Then you can build a small library of published works... enough to get you in the door.