Freelancing for Journalists

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...

In this episode we talk to about safety and security and what it means for freelance journalists. We speak to Sarah Giaziri, Director of Frontline Freelance Register (FFR), which supports the physical and mental well-being of international freelance journalists around the world. And Michael Bird, a freelance investigative journalist who specialises in reporting on drugs, slave trade and criminal g...

In this episode we speak to two journalists about collaborative journalism.   Tina Lee, head of the ambassador network at Hostwriter, and Suchit Chavez, an investigative reporter based in El Salvador, discuss the pros, cons and practicalities of working in collaborative with other freelance journalists. The guests Tina Lee Twitter @tinaleeinberlin Suchit Chavez Twitter @suchitchavez Reso...

In this episode we look into reporting on gender and identity. Rachael Davies, a freelance journalist who has written extensively on these issues, talks about how everyone should be learning to write without gender or identity based assumptions. And Imara Jones, creator of TransLash Media, a story-telling platform highlighting trans voices across the US, discusses how curiosity and learning can he...

In this episode, we speak to two experts about reporting migration, a topic that raises a number of ethical issues for journalists to confront.  Caitlin Chandler, a journalist covering migration, security and human rights and Georg Gassauer, a migration researcher and journalist based in Austria, discuss how we can do better when telling the stories of migration.  The Guests Caitlin Chan...

In the first episode of series five, we speak to two freelance journalists about solutions journalism, the part of journalism which seeks to offer responses to challenges in society rather than simply reporting the problem.   Julia Hotz, community manager at the Solutions Journalism Network, and Laura Oliver who recently reported on the rise of solutions journalism, discuss how solutions...

We finished off the series with a dualcast special with Northern Natter. We were quizzed by Katie Baggott and Katie Williams about getting your finances sorted when starting your freelance journey. The FFJ intro was edited by Anthony Coote and the main episode was edited by Northern Natter. Resources Northern Natter @NorthernNatter https://anchor.fm/northernnatter https://northernnatter.substack.c...

In this episode we speak to two experts about how best to use TikTok and why journalists need to know about it.  Dr Gavin Allen, digital journalism lecturer at the University of Cardiff, talks about why being an early adopter of new apps can be valuable for employability. And Neve Gordon-Farleigh, TikTok producer for JournoResources, discusses how to get the most out of the app and what kind...

In this episode we speak to two young freelance journalists about the value of finding a mentor. Jessica Morris, who is studying for her NCTJ Diploma and MA in Journalism, talks about how having a great mentor has advanced her career. Asyia Iftikhar, founder of the Young Journalist Community, discusses how to build a great relationship with your mentor.   The Guests Jessica Morris @_Jess...

In this episode we speak to two freelance journalists, one who has no formal journalism training and the other who studied on an NCTJ accredited degree. Anna Turns, a freelance environmental journalist, talks to us about her self-taught route into journalism and how each turn of her career informed her storytelling.  Chandni Sembhi, a freelance digital journalist, who runs So you want to be a...

We speak to two freelance journalists about how to handle and navigate negative feedback, criticism and online abuse.  Jess Evans, fashion journalist, lecturer and founder of the Freelance Sessions talks about how to deal with negativity whilst JR Moores discusses how a band review sparked a Twitter spat with unexpected consequences. Please note this was recorded on March 2nd 2021. The guests...

In the second episode of series 4 we speak to a consumer culture scholar from the Victoria University of Wellington, and the founder and editor of The Indiependent about whether you should ever work for free.  Dr Kathleen Kuehn, senior lecturer in media studies, talks us through the prevalence of  ‘hope-labour’ and Beth Kirkbride, a freelance journalist, and editor at The Indiependent, d...

In the first episode of series 4 we speak to two experts about how to track down the perfect case study and how to source the best experts.  Tom Bettison, account manager at ResponseSource talks us through the journalist enquiry service whilst freelance documentary maker Kate Dooley discusses how she works to develop relationships in order to get that little bit extra during her interviews. T...

In the last episode of series 3 we speak to two newsletter writers / freelance journalists about how they started. Lottie Gross, travel writer and co-author of Talking Travel Writing, discusses how she set up her newsletter during the heart of the pandemic whilst Alistair Lane, author of Write at Home, talks us through the challenges of launching his jobs newsletter. The Guests Lottie Gross @lotti...

In this episode we quiz two specialist writers about how they carved out their niche. Freelance music journalist Matt Parker discusses how he broke into magazines whilst technology journalist Sooraj Shah tells us how to approach editors when you cover a specialist beat. The Guests Matt Parker https://mattparkerfreelance.com/ @emptyparker Sooraj Shah https://soorajshah.com/ @Sooraj_Shah Resources W...

In this episode we pick the brains of two commissioning editors to find out exactly what they want from freelance journalists. We discuss pitching techniques, reliability and writing skills with The Observer deputy news editor Lisa Bachelor and Pulse magazine editor Jaimie Kaffash. The Guests Lisa Bachelor @lisabachelor Jaimie Kaffash @jkaffash Resources Pitching guidelines https://www.journoresou...

In this episode we unpick issues around the lack of diversity in the media and how it impacts freelance journalists. We discuss how to tackle this growing concern with travel writer Travis Levius and freelance journalist and author Saima Mir. The Guests Travis Levius @misterlevius https://www.instagram.com/misterlevius Saima Mir @SaimaMir https://saimamir.com/ Resources Journalism Diversity Fund h...

In this episode we speak to broadcast journalist Sam Ashoo and former professional netball player Sarah Leach about breaking into a freelance career in sports journalism. We also discuss the impact of Covid-19, the obstacles faced by women reporters in sports and how to negotiate pay rates as a freelance journalist. The Guests Sam Ashoo @samashoo_tv https://www.samashoo.com/ Sarah Leach @sarleach...

Can you have a successful freelance journalism career outside of London? This week we spoke to two freelancers living outside the capital about how they make it work and the benefits of being based elsewhere in the country. Broadcast journalist Danielle Hayden currently lives in Manchester and is determined to work away from London, whilst print journalist Nicola Slawson wishes she had moved to Sh...

We joined forces with journalism graduates George Goldberg, Bryony Smith and Oli Hammett, the hosts of podcast Jobs Bored, for this special bonus episode. We talk about the freelance journey, scrutinising CVs and what our alternative jobs might be. Lily and Emma also answer dilemmas from Jobs Bored listeners.