What is the average time it takes to write an article for a magazine or newspaper?

Depends. Is the topic completely new to me, so I have to research before talking to people? How many ramifications can you think of? How long does it take to research answers? How easy is it to find the people you need to speak to?

Am I on deadline? If so, I might ask the editor if I can write a basic article, with a more in-depth story for the next edition.

However, editors have their own set of problems, and that is not always their favorite question.

Sometimes, you do the best you can with what you have.