If you post a story online... is it true?

Question

I've heard that if you post a story online, you're not allowed to get it published later on.

Is that true?

Why?

Answer 1

If you posted a story online you would no longer be able to sell 'First Rights' to it, which is what publishers usually buy from authors.

Answer 2

well, after my stuff goes to print it gets posted on the paper's web site the following day. though I wrote it and my name is in the byline, the newspaper owns it. The publisher has ownership, once it runs, whether it's print copy or online.