Freelancing for Journalists

In this episode we explore what makes a winning pitch and how to improve your chances of getting a commission. Learn about the most common mistakes freelancers make when pitching as we chat with two experienced freelance journalists, Punteha van Terheyden who specialises in true-life stories and Flic Everett, a self-employed  journalist and editor.   The Guests Punteha van Terheyden...

In this week’s episode, we look at how to generate ideas for stories. Writer and lecturer Ellie Levenson and freelancer feature writer Amelia Tait talk us through how they get some of their best ideas and where they find inspiration.  The Guests Ellie Levenson Twitter: @EllieLevenson   Instagram: @ellie_levenson Amelia Tait Twitter: @ameliargh   Website: https://ameliatait.com/ Reso...

It's series 9 of the podcast and we are going back to basics. In the first episode of the new series we discuss how to go freelance. How do you take the leap into the freelance world? What is the best way to do it, and how do you overcome the freelance imposter syndrome? Our guests this week, Laura Cooke and Charlotte Scotland, are experienced journalists who have both recently gone freelance. The...

In the final episode of the series we chat to Terri White the former editor of Empire magazine and Time Out New York, about her first book, Coming Undone . The book is a brutally honest and moving memoir about her breakdown in New York and how her early life experiences shaped where she is today, both professionally and personally.  Terri is currently a freelance journalist writing for a rang...

In the latest episode we speak to photojournalists Angie Simms and Stuart Quinn about their photography work and their self-published cookbook. The Australian couple, who are currently travelling across Oz, talk about taking control of their passion project and the importance of hiring a strong team and calling in favours. The Authors Angie Simms and Stuart Quinn Instagram: @stradbrokeislandphotog...

In this episode we speak to Polly Morland, a documentary maker turned writer, about her new book which she wrote during lockdown. The book documents the life of a GP working in a rural practice. Polly chats about the benefits of long research chats and how to maintain the anonymity of contributors when needed.  Polly is a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines and also teaches part-t...

In this episode we speak to the author Lucy Waterlow about the process of ghostwriting. Lucy has ghostwritten four books including Nell McAndrew’s Guide to Running plus an additional guide to running and two running memoirs.  Lucy is also a freelance journalist and writes for a number of different outlets including the Sunday Telegraph, Daily Mail, Women’s Running and OK! Magazine. The author...

In this week's episode we speak to prolific freelance journalist Chris Stokel-Walker whose work regularly appears in WIRED, The Economist and Newsweek. Chris has written two tech-based books, and we chat with him about the importance of making your ideas relevant and timeless when switching from journalism to book writing.  The author Chris Stokel-Walker Twitter: @stokel   Instagram: @cs...

In our ‘Summer Reads’ podcast series, we chat with freelance journalists who have written successful books. Bringing the first episode of series eight back with a bang is Lisa Bradley, the author of two psychological thrillers – Paper Dolls and The Lesson.  Lisa began her writing career in local news and subsequently worked as a freelance journalist for national papers and magazines. She is n...

We have a very special bonus episode of the podcast this week. We sat down with award-winning freelance journalist and writer Saima Mir to discuss the paperback launch of her fantastic novel, The Khan , which is currently Waterstones Book of the Month. We talked about diversity in publishing, the writing process and what journalistic experience she was able to draw on. The Guest Twitter: @SaimaMir...

In this episode, we talk about how to get funding for a project with Amanda Nunn,  a freelance broadcast journalist and co-founder of the Off the Record newsletter and Warren Nettleford, an ITN television presenter and reporter and co-founder of Need to Know, the UK’s first youth news service built purely for the digital generation. Amanda Nunn Twitter: @AmandaNunnC5 Off the record newsletter...

In this episode we talk about side hustles, should you have one and how do you explore your interests alongside your freelance journalism work? We speak to Dean Sterling Jones, a chef from Northern Ireland, who works as a freelance journalist when he’s not cooking, and Waseem Mirza, a sci-tech journalist and presenter who is also a screen actor and voice artist.  Waseem Mirza Twitter: @waseem...

In this episode, we ask whether you need shorthand as a freelance journalist. We talk to Marc Shoffman, a journalist and podcaster, and Rachel Charlton-Dailey, a health and disability journalist, about the pros and cons of shorthand, when it can be useful, as well as considering alternatives tools.  Marc Shoffman Twitter: @marcshoffman   Instagram: inforapennypodcast Website: Https://cav...

Trust is an essential part of journalism. In this episode, we find out why it's important and what you can do as a freelance journalist to gain it. We talk to Steve Nowottny, an editor from FullFact, who discusses how his work exposes and counters the harm false information can cause, and Jennifer Sizeland, a UK-based freelance journalist, who talks to us about how journalists can build trust with...

In this episode, we talk about pensions and savings, and how we should all be thinking about saving for the future. We talk to Brendon Maton an experienced freelance journalist who writes about investing and savings and Hannah Smith, a freelance financial journalist specialising in investment management and personal finance, about the best options out there for freelance journalists.  Brendon...

In this episode we talk about photography, how to get into photojournalism and how it works when you are both writing and taking photos for features.  Joining us we have Craig Stennett an experienced photojournalist who specialises in political and social change and Nori Jemil, a freelance photographer, writer and videographer who has worked for Nat Geo UK, BBC Travel, and The Telegraph among...

In this bonus episode Lily and Emma return to the appraisal they conducted on each other six months ago to hold one another accountable. We find out how many of their action points were achieved and how useful the process was. Resources How to appraise yourself original podcast episode https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself Original appraisal form by Laur...

What does it take to switch to journalism later in life? In this episode, we find out how to move into freelance journalism after starting off in an alternative career. We talk about the rewards and the hurdles of changing careers with Rachel Steinberg, who worked in the theatre in Canada before moving to London to become a sports journalist and Rachel Murray who is an ex-lawyer turned freelance w...

In this episode, we speak to two freelance journalists, Miranda Levy and Alice Draper about the moral choices you can be confronted with as a freelance journalist. We discuss how to set boundaries and how to avoid conflicts of interest.  The Guests Miranda Levy Website: https://mirandalevy.co.uk/ Twitter: @mirandalevycopy   Instagram: @mirandalevyinsta Alice Draper Website: https://www.a...

In this episode we discuss the difficulty of saying no to work as a freelance. We talk to freelance journalist and Career Collective founder Lateefah Jean-Baptiste and i like networking founder Isabel Sachs about how, and when, to walk away when a commission or project is not working for you. The guests Lateefah Jean https://www.lateefahjb.com/ Twitter @_LateefahJB   https://www.instagram.com...

Securing steady work, long term contracts or building up a relationship with an editor in order to get regular work can be a great security blanket for freelancers. In this episode we talk to Mel Stern, freelance journalist, editor, producer, and charity communications consultant and Tufayel Ahmed, a freelance journalist, editor and journalism lecturer about how to do this .  The Guests Mel S...

In this episode, we talk to two freelance journalists who also blog. We ask how blogging can service freelance journalists and how you can make it work for you.  Andy Webb is a freelance journalist who runs the award winning blog ‘Be Clever with your Cash’ and Marisa Bate, who was shortlisted for the inaugural Freelance Writing Awards for her newsletter and blog ‘Writing about Women’ is a fre...

In the first episode of series 6, we speak to two freelance journalists about how to handle editor ghosting. What can you do when an editor, who was initially keen, is now ignoring your emails? We get advice from Solape Alatise, a freelance journalist with business and financial reporting experience, and Joel Snape a fitness writer and former commissioning editor at Men's Fitness .  The Guest...

In this bonus episode podcast hosts Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson conduct an appraisal on one another. They set out how to do a performance review and the importance of assessing your work and setting yourself goals as a freelancer. Resources Original appraisal form by Laura Oliver, Society of Freelance Journalists: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oy5YhMO1pBxIyXj6phUr_ApEorqT1OIPi7tIm45aMb4/e...

In this episode, we talk about crowdsourcing stories, what it means and how to go about it.  We speak to Charlotte Godart, an investigator for Bellingcat who discusses how she used crowdsourced data in a recent investigation into police violence at the Black Lives Matter protests. We also chat with Eric Reidy a freelance journalist involved in crowdsourcing information for migrant-related sto...