Freelancing for Journalists

In the final episode of the series broadcast journalist Andre Lombard talks about stepping into freelance life after working as a news editor for BBC Africa. He talks about the challenges of international reporting as a freelancer and his hopes for the future. Guest links LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrelombard91/ Journalist.net https://journalist.net/andre.lombard Recommendation The Wembley Point mystery: who was the woman who jumped to her death? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/27/the-wembley-point-mystery-who-was-the-woman-who-jumped-to-her-death

In today's pod Vikki White talks about taking the leap into freelance journalism and how her first year is going. She regularly writes for the Sun, Metro, Bella and Chat and moved into freelancing after 13 years in a staff role. Find out how she is making it work. Guest links Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikki-white-8276b746/ Recommendation Donkeys stolen and slaughtered to make wellness products on Amazon https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/donkeys-sold-killed-wellness-amazon-37202392

In series 17 we chat to new freelancers about how they are developing their journalism careers. In today's episode we chat to Tom Matsuda about his range of income streams, why he went freelance and the skills he is learning along the way. Guest links LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommatsuda/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_tommatsuda/ Resource links The Freelance Writing Network https://www.thefreelancewritingnetwork.com/ Study Hall https://members.studyhall.xyz/sign-up Recommendation Can I make more money working for myself? https://www.ft.com/content/02076f10-8da0-4e42-8e6c-9bf2d37fa952

In this week's show we chat to Mariam Amini who is a new freelancer writing about faith, travel and diaspora culture. She talks about starting out as a freelance, how she has built up her portfolio and the challenges of creating financial stability when starting out. Guest links LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-amini/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aminiarchives/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@aminiarchives/video/7355413066328182048 Recommendation To be transgender and religious is to live a life of tension https://hyphenonline.com/2025/03/18/muslim-transgender-religion-faith-tension-parents-reaction/

We continue our series delving into the working lives of new freelance journalists finding their way in the first couple of years. In this episode we speak to James Banyard about securing bylines with the Guardian, i and Positive News and setting up his own newsletter Pitch Fail Club to help other freelance writers. Guest Links Website https://jamesbanyardwriter.wordpress.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-banyard-446612290/ Pitch Fail Club newsletter https://pitchfailclub.substack.com/about Resource links Freelancing for Journalists webinars https://www.tickettailor.com/events/freelancingforjournalists Freelancing for Journalists workshops https://payhip.com/FreelancingforJournalists Recommendation Phones on the dance floor: where do we go from here? https://djmag.com/features/phones-dancefloor-where-do-we-go-here

In the latest series of the podcast we're digging into what life is like for newbie freelance journalists. We kick off with Emma Truscott who works permanently as a house sitter while pursuing her career as a travel journalist. She tells us about her breakthrough article and what it's like to always be on the move with no fixed abode. Guest links Substack https://wheresems.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-truscott/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wheres_ems/ Resource links Travel Writing Academy https://www.thetravelwritingacademy.com/masterclass Trusted Housesitters https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ Recommendation I travelled 2,160 miles from London to Lanzarote without flying https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/canary-islands/train-travel-london-to-lanzarote/

In this special bonus episode Lily and Emma sit down to do an annual appraisal together. They discuss what went well over the past year and what their ambitions are for 2026. They also scrub out previous goals and chat about what is important to them in the short and long term going forward. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Our previous appraisal episodes: 2021: https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself 2022: https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself-part2 2024: https://freelancingforjournalists.substack.com/p/time-for-a-self-appraisal

Today we speak to the winner of Best Investigation at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2025. Will Coldwell's investigation into the death of an offshore worker raised important questions about industry safety and was highlighted by judges as a significance piece of freelance work. Will discussed how to win the trust of sources when reporting sensitive subjects and how to craft long reads to keep the reader engaged to the very end. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guest willcoldwell.com @willcoldwell.bsky.social https://www.economist.com/1843/2021/09/22/petrol-pints-and-pasta-meet-one-of-the-lorry-drivers-plugging-britains-shortages

We are kick starting the New Year with a fascinating discussion with Harriet Grant, winner of Best Feature in the 2025 Freelance Journalism Awards. Harriet impressed judges with her deep dive into the impact of porn algorithms on men. In today's episode she explains how she tackles issues of online child abuse as a freelance journalist and the ethical and legal issues she has to grabble with. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guest Harriet Grant https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-grant-5a797b25/ Resources Harriet’s deep dive into the impact of porn algorithms on young people was praised for its research and persistence Safer Lives https://www.saferlives.com/

Just in time for New Year's Eve we speak to freelance English wine writer Rebecca Pitcairn. A regional journalist turned wine writer, Rebecca was winner of Best Specialist at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2025. She explains how to develop a niche, within a niche and the benefit of hosting your own podcast series. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guest Rebecca Pitcairn https://www.instagram.com/theenglishwinediaries/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-pitcairn-a0546127/ Resources Rebecca impressed judges with her passion and quality reporting on the UK’s wine industry. She also hosts “The English Wine Diaries” podcast.

Today we speak to Yvette Cook who was winner of Best Early Career Journalist at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2025. Yvette, a former civil servant, has made a successful shift into travel writing, and is loving her new career. She is brimming with enthusiasm and great advice, including how she secured her award-winning feature on tourism and women in Saudi Arabia. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guest Yvette Cook https://www.instagram.com/yvette.travels/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvette-cook-09929b2a7/ Resources Yvette’s evocative piece on tourism and women in Saudi Arabia inspired her own career change Adventure Travel Networking https://www.adventuretravelnetworking.com/

On the podcast today we talk to the first of our Freelance Journalism Awards winners from 2025. Hannah Fearn won Best News Story and Best Opinion Writer for her work on social affairs. In this episode she talks about how she investigated a report from inside a children's prison. She also shares her invaluable tips on how to pitch to opinion desks. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guest Hannah Fearn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahfearn/ Bluesky @hannahfearn.bsky.social Resources Hannah’s powerful story on lockdown in child prisons stood out for its impact and writing Hannah’s columns on social affairs were called “well-researched and passionately argued” Freelance rights guide https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/guidelines/oldo7g1jr7say9zn95edt9agt3kviw Inside Housing https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/ Health Service Journal https://www.hsj.co.uk/

In this special bonus episode we chat to Martin Hickman the director of Canbury Press. The independent publisher specialises in working with journalists and publishes a range of non-fiction books. Canbury Press championed Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport - the book written by podcast hosts Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson. In this episode Martin shares trade secrets on how to impress a publisher and what he is looking for from journalists. Resources Canbury Press Tik Took Boom! by Chris Stokel-Walker Ultra Women by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson

In the podcast today we dig into the hot topic of using AI as a journalist. We have expert advice from AI Media trainer Harriet Meyer and award-winning freelance health journalist Rosie Taylor. We talk about AI generated content, whether the robots are coming to take our jobs and how to use AI to your advantage. It's a meaty episode! Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guests Harriet Meyer https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-meyer-63508b40/ AI for Media newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/ai-for-media-7304783376857587712/ Rosie Taylor https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosietaylor/ Get Featured Substack https://rosietaylor.substack.com/ Resources ChatGPT Otter.ai Perplexity Claude Notebook LM Google Gemini Fathom AI for Media course with Harriet Meyer https://www.harrietmeyer.com/ai-courses/ Recommendations…

In the podcast today we talk to two experts about transcriptions apps. How, where and why to use them, and what some of the pitfalls may be. Sage Lazzaro a freelance tech journalist shares her tips on getting the best out of Otter.ai while Jack Dearlove explains why he developed a transcription tool for Journo Resources. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guests Sage Lazzaro https://www.linkedin.com/in/sage-lazzaro/ Jack Dearlove, Journo Resources https://www.journoresources.org.uk/ Resources JR Transcribe https://www.journoresources.org.uk/membership/jr-transcribe/ Otter.ai https://otter.ai/home Trint https://trint.com/ Whisper https://www.whispertranscribe.com/download Descript https://www.descript.com/ Recommendations Francis Cade https://www.youtube.com/c/FrancisCade Tekendra Parmar https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2025/08/axon-police-ai-draft-one-foia/

This week we have two returning guests to talk all about the new best practice guidelines for editors working with freelancers. These vital guidelines are a benchmark for freelance journalists to use when discussing rates of pay, contracts, briefs and more, with commissioning editors. Donna Ferguson from Women in Journalism and Jem Collins of Journo Resources discuss the best way to use the guidelines to ensure fair treatment. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! The Guests https://muckrack.com/donna-ferguson/bio https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/ https://www.jemcollins.co.uk/ https://www.journoresources.org.uk/ Resources The guidelines: https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/guidelines/oldo7g1jr7say9zn95edt9agt3kviw Late Payments government consultation:…

This week we look at the financial and practical support available for freelance journalists. We speak to Mary Kearns of the Journalists' Charity and Sophie Pacellini of the Rory Peck Trust to understand how they can help freelance journalists and the wide range of grants and workshops they offer. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guests https://journalistscharity.org.uk/ https://rorypecktrust.org/ Resources https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/best-print-journalist-gabriella-jozwiak Recommendations https://www.nytimes.com/by/nanna-heitmann https://www.vogue.com/article/on-writing-while-mothering

In today's episode we discuss how to access paywalled content and membership-only resources. We glean useful tips and tricks from Ellie Broughton, an award-winning freelance journalist - and hear about the fascinating work of David Clarke who has spent many years researching in the National Archives. Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guests Ellie Broughton https://www.elliebroughton.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliebroughton/ https://bsky.app/profile/elliebroughton.bsky.social David Clarke https://x.com/shuclarke https://bsky.app/profile/davidwclarke.bsky.social Resources Library app https://www.borrowbox.com/ Library app https://libbyapp.com/interview/welcome#doYouHaveACard Press release portal https://www.eurekalert.org/ British Library https://www.bl.uk/ Magazine app https://gb.readly.com/ Recommendations https://www.amazon.co.uk/Well-All-Murdered-Our-Beds/dp/1783961333…

We're back for series 15 and kick off with a great episode all about using trends to find stories. We get excellent advice from Fleurine Tideman, a freelancer who specialises in trend-driven stories and Malvika Padin who has bags of experience using SEO for a range of national titles. Find out how to distinguish between a fleeting fad and a rising trend, and the best places to find trending topics before anyone else! Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year! Guests Fleurine Tideman https://www.instagram.com/fleurinetideman/ https://x.com/ByFleurine Malvika Padin https://www.instagram.com/malvika_padin26/ https://x.com/malvika_padin26 Resources https://www.reddit.com/ https://trends.google.co.uk/trends/ Recommendations https://mylesbianworld.com/2025/06/26/queer-confused-crushing-on-both-the-leads-in-mulan/ https://en.edairynews.com/protein-panic-is-making-whole-milk-cool/

In this special bonus episode Lily and Emma discuss the big secret project they have been working on for the past two years. They have written a new book! It's called ULTRA WOMEN: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport and it combines their passion of endurance sport and advocacy. The book tells the hidden stories of female endurance from the first hunter-gatherers to the modern athletes pushing back boundaries in sport. It also takes a deep dive into the physiological and psychological advantages women hold in super long distances. In the pod episode, producer Maddie Drury quizzes the pair on how they worked together, how they secured a publisher and the challenges of writing a book involving more than 70 interviews. You can order the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Women-Trailblazers-Defying-Sexism/dp/1914487109 https://www.canburypress.com/collections/books/products/presale-ultra-women-by-lily-canter-and-emma-wilkinson-isbn-9781914487101

This week we speak to the winner of the Best Broadcast Journalist category at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Bhavani Vadde tells us about her work on local television and how she juggles working across multiple platforms. Guest Bhavani Vadde https://x.com/BhavaniVadde Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bhavanivadde/?hl=en YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5TwMpw5afyQKSvRIE09jEw Brilliant Resilent podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/7o48RIkaFh9tFWrMx8QVzc Resources This award was sponsored by Women in Journalism a network to support and inspire women in the industry https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/ Women in Journalism mentoring scheme https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/mentoring How to appraise yourself podcast episode https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself

This week we speak to another double award winner at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2024. Liz Cookman won the best print journalist and best specialist journalist awards for her incredible reporting on the Ukraine war. She talks to us about the difficulty of generating interest in an ongoing conflict and how to ensure your safety as a freelance journalist. Guest Liz Cookman https://x.com/liz_cookman https://linktr.ee/Lizcookman Resources One of Liz's award-winning print stories https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/24/inside-occupied-ukraine-best-way-survive-stay-silent/ One of Liz's award-winning specialist stories https://www.economist.com/1843/2023/08/31/he-was-tortured-for-standing-up-for-ukraine-now-he-lives-alone-in-a-forest Rory Peck Safety and Security Training https://rorypecktrust.org/how-we-help/freelance-resources/safety-and-risk-assessment/taking-safety-training/ Both awards were sponsored by the National Union of Journalists Freelance Branch…

This week in our special award series we chat to Melissa Parker winner of the Best Opinion Writer category at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Melissa speaks about her shift to opinion writing during the pandemic and her passion for disability rights. Guest Melissa Parker https://x.com/MelissaKParker1 Resources One of Melissa's award winning pieces https://www.stylist.co.uk/health/mental-health/disabled-woman-mental-health-impact/827567 Recording and transcription tool Otter https://otter.ai/ This award was sponsored by workspace tool xTiles https://xtiles.app/en?fp_ref=xtiles25

In today's episode we speak to double award winner Nicola Kelly who scooped up two prizes at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Nicola won the best news story and best feature categories for her work on Turkish border forces, and Deliveroo drivers. We found out how her previous career as a diplomat set her on the path to freelance journalism. Guest Nicola Kelly https://x.com/NicolaKelly https://www.nicolakelly.com/ Resources Turkish border force story https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/07/uk-provided-3m-to-turkish-border-forces-to-stop-migrants-foi-reveals Deliveroo feature https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/sep/14/dodging-death-and-immigration-officers-12-hours-as-a-london-fast-food-rider-and-all-for-40 The best news story category was sponsored by Birmingham City University media and journalism department https://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/schools-and-colleges/subject-specific/media-and-journalism The best feature category was sponsored by the National Union of Journalists…

This week we sit down and chat to Liz Perkins, winner of the best campaigning journalist category at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Liz led the End This Injustice campaign which called for an overhaul of the family court system. She talks about working on the campaign and the challenges of changing the law. Guest Liz Perkins https://x.com/lizperkinsmedia LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-perkins-7b667b75/?trk=public_profile_browsemap&originalSubdomain=uk Resources End This Injustice Campaign https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1819475/jade-ward-law-russell-marsh-parent-rights This award was sponsored by global journalism network Paydesk https://paydesk.co/

In this week's episode we speak to the winner of the Best Investigation category at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Sahar Zand won the award for her investigation into interpol's misuse of power which was released as a podcast series for Sky News. She discusses fleeing Iran as a child and her drive to uncover abuses of power, often in hostile environments. Guest Sahar Zand https://x.com/SaharZand Resources Dirty Work podcast https://www.saharzand.com/podcast/skynews/dirtywork Sahar's TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/sahar_zand_why_iranians_are_cutting_their_hair_for_women_life_freedom?subtitle=en Talking Travel Writing newsletter https://travelwriting.substack.com/ This award was sponsored by market research company Savanta https://savanta.com/

In the latest series of the podcast we speak to the winners of the 2024 Freelance Journalist Awards. We start with Hatty Willmoth who won the Best Early Career Journalist category. She wrote a stunning observational feature for The Independent about why some Gen-Z Christians are making the decision to give up all their money and possessions to join a radical group. Guest Hatty Willmoth https://x.com/hattywillmoth Resources Hatty's award-winning article https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/gen-z-commune-bruderhof-darvell-sussex-celibacy-b2518811.html The award was sponsored by journalism training provider News Associates https://newsassociates.co.uk/ Freelancing for Journalists full resource list https://www.freelancingforjournalists.com/

In the final episode of this series we speak to two freelance journalists who have carved out a side income as public speakers. Award-winning podcaster Hannah Ajala and BBC freelancer Dhruti Shah discuss how they find work as inspirational speakers and take us behind the scenes of the planning process. The guests Hannah Ajala thisishannahajala.com Twitter hannah_ajala Dhruti Shah www.dhrutishah.com/ Newsletter: https://haveyouthoughtabout.substack.com/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/have-you-thought-about/id1678099334 Resources Druhti's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Markets-Beyond-bestiary-business/dp/1911622463 Hannah's Tedx talk https://www.ted.com/talks/hannah_ajala_how_to_be_positively_delusional Hannah's award-winning podcast Love Janessa podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtvq7 https://creativeaccess.org.uk/ We Are Black Journos https://twitter.com/weblackjournos Recommendations Revolutionary Acts by Jason Okundaye…

In this week's episode we chat to two freelance journalists / authors who also make a living via self-publishing on Substack and Patreon. Adharanand Finn, award-winning author of Running with the Kenyans, and former Telegraph Women editor Claire Cohen, author of BFF: The Truth About Female Friendship, discuss the appeal of writing direct to an audience and why they decided to set up their own newsletters. Guests Adharanand Finn https://twitter.com/adharanand https://www.instagram.com/thewayoftherunner/ https://thewayoftherunner.com/ Claire Cohen https://twitter.com/clairecohen https://www.instagram.com/clairecohen1/ Resources BFF: The Truth About Female Friendship https://www.amazon.co.uk/BFF-truth-about-female-friendship/dp/1787635635 Adharanand Finn's books https://www.adharanandfinn.com/books Monday Musings newsletter https://adharanand.substack.com/ Adharanand Finn Patreon https://www.patreon.com/adharanandfinn Tell Me About It newsletter https://clairecohen.substack.com/ FFJ newsletter…

Ever wondered what social media management actually is? On the podcast this week we talk to two freelance journalists who also work in social media marketing and SEO writing. Nicole Letts is a lifestyle journalist based in Atlanta who works with clients on Instagram and Britt Jones is a UK freelancer who provides bespoke social media services. Guests Nicole Letts https://www.instagram.com/nicolemelv/?hl=en https://muckrack.com/nicole-letts Britt Jones https://twitter.com/the_brittjones https://linktr.ee/Thebrittjones Resources Social media managers https://www.loomly.com/ https://www.hootsuite.com/ Portfolio service https://linktr.ee/ Time tracker app https://toggl.com/ Recommendations Emma Rosen The Radical Sabbatical https://www.amazon.co.uk/Radical-Sabbatical-Millennial-Handbook-Quarter/dp/191138273X Amy Beth Wright Texas wine https://muckrack.com/amybethwright Rebecca Deurlein Sandwich King of Chicago…

On the podcast this week we delve into the world of report writing and translation. We speak to experienced health journalist Priya Joi who has written global reports for the World Health Organisation, United Nations and Global Vaccine Alliance, and freelance journalist Judith Zerdin who also works as a Spanish/French to English translator. We discover how to use transferable skills to get freelance work in these two fascinating fields. Guests Priya Joi https://www.instagram.com/priya.joi/ https://www.priyajoi.com/ The Art of Freelance newsletter https://priyajoi.substack.com/ Forthcoming book Motherland https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/291691/priya-joi Judith Zerdin https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithzerdin Resources Time Management podcast https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/time-management Institute of Translation and Interpreting https://www.iti.org.uk/membership/individual-membership-categories/associate-membership.html Recommendations Linda Geddes, From lab to plate…

In the podcast this week we discuss the world of copywriting and how freelance journalists can find work in this field. We chat to journalists Peter Ranscombe and Ella Delancey Jones about the difference between copywriting and content writing, and how to flit between writing for the audience and writing for a client. Guests https://www.peter-ranscombe.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-ranscombe/ https://twitter.com/ellaluciewrites https://linktr.ee/ellalucie https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-delancey-jones-a305514b/ Resources https://www.airtasker.com/uk/ https://www.sianmeadeswilliams.com/freelance-writing-jobs https://writeathome.beehiiv.com/ https://www.journalism.co.uk/vocational-skills-study/copywriting-a-course-for-freelance-journalists/s43/a554233/ Recommendations https://twitter.com/marisajbate https://daily.sevenfifty.com/the-10-best-non-alcoholic-drinks-according-to-retailers/

Welcome to series 13! This season we discuss how to diversify your income stream when working as a freelance journalist. The first episode delves into the world of lecturing and how to break into it. We share tips and experiences with entertainment journalist Jamie Body and lifestyle writer Beth Neil who both teach at a number of universities. The guests Jamie Body https://www.jamiebody.com/ https://twitter.com/bodyjamie Beth Neil https://muckrack.com/beth-neil https://twitter.com/bethneil Resources FFJ Video tutorial on breaking into lecturing https://payhip.com/b/7ESqC Recommendations Holly Geraghty: https://www.huckmag.com/article/the-gaza-breakdancing-crew-helping-children-escape-the-trauma-of-war Eimear O'Hagan https://muckrack.com/eimear-ohagan

In the final episode of this series we speak to Precious Adesina about arts and culture journalism. Curating an interest in the arts from an early age, Precious went on to work for The Telegraph before going freelance. She talks about the challenges faced by black journalists, how she champions arts writing and her passion project as a radio presenter. The guest https://www.preciousadesina.com/ https://twitter.com/precadesina Resources You're the Business by Anna Codrea-Rado https://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-Business-Successful-Career-Strike/dp/0753558653 https://www.google.co.uk/alerts Recommendation Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff friendship column https://www.stylist.co.uk/relationships/family-friends/friendship-political-beliefs/799772

In the penultimate episode of the series we speak to award-winning motoring journalist Charlotte Vowden. She tells us how inheriting a classic car dramatically changed her career and how she has built a niche in a male dominated industry. She also speaks candidly about calling out sexism and discusses her exciting new challenge of presenting a television series. The guest https://twitter.com/charlottevowden https://www.instagram.com/charlottevowden/ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-woman-wholl-make-us-all-fall-in-love-with-classic-cars-mjgq00clb https://uktvplay.co.uk/shows/repair-lot/watch-online Recommendation New mums miss out for being in touch with work https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scottish-mail-on-sunday/20231022/282754886379011

In our journalism specialism season we speak to science and technology reporter Chris Baraniuk who regularly writes for the BBC, New Scientist, BMJ, the Economist and Wired. Chris discusses how to write about complex issues when you have no scientific background and how he comes up with story ideas like farming fish on the moon. The guest https://chrisbaraniuk.com/ https://twitter.com/chrisbaraniuk Fishing on the moon article https://hakaimagazine.com/news/the-plan-to-rear-fish-on-the-moon/ Energy poverty article https://www.bmj.com/content/383/bmj.p2695 Young naturalist article https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2021/health-benefits-nature Recommendation Diary of a Young Naturalist https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-Young-Naturalist-Dara-McAnulty/dp/1908213795 Confessions of a drone warrior https://www.gq.com/story/drone-uav-pilot-assassination

In the pod this week we chat to Arusa Qureshi about carving out a career in freelance music journalism. Arusa talks about diversity in the industry, transferable skills and life as a night owl covering gigs in Edinburgh. The guest https://www.arusaqureshi.com/ https://twitter.com/arusaqureshi Resources https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/should-you-work-for-free Recommendation https://ukf.com/words/rave-scenes-edinburgh/35582

This week we speak to award-winning travel writer Shafik Meghji about press trips, country specialisms and how to write a guide book. He shares his top tips for breaking into travel journalism and tells us what he's currently working on. The guest https://www.shafikmeghji.com/ https://twitter.com/ShafikMeghji Crossed Off the Map: Travels in Bolivia https://www.shafikmeghji.com/#/crossedoffthemap/ Resources https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/ https://theguardianfoundation.org/programmes/scott-trust-bursary https://www.roughguides.com/ https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ Recommendation The Scottish isle where native ponies roam https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211129-the-scottish-isle-where-native-ponies-roam

We launch our specialism series by chatting to court reporter Charlie Moloney. We discuss how to cover Crown Court trials, how the commissioning process works and just how fast your shorthand needs to be. Charlie also talks about media law and how to challenge your right to report. The guest https://www.charliemoloney.com/ https://twitter.com/CharlieMoloney https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2021/news/reporter-wins-court-fight-to-name-victim-of-fraudster-escort/ https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chinese-businesswoman-questioned-over-85-000-cash-brought-to-bank-2hn36q0mh https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11042849/Queens-Olympic-skydiving-stunt-double-faces-jail-sentence-attacking-girlfriend.html Recommendation https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/judge-wrong-to-block-reporting-of-highly-contentious-family-case/5117456.article

In the final episode of the series we discuss the elusive art of time management. How can we get better at managing our time as freelance journalists and what are the best tricks and tools to employ. We seek advice from radio and YouTube presenter / personal trainer / ultra marathon runner Anna Harding and freelance journalist / author / agency co-founder Sally Howard. The guests https://www.instagram.com/anna.the.runner https://twitter.com/anna_harding https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bailey-and-harding-ultra-sound-system/id1691373673 https://twitter.com/WanderingSal https://twitter.com/indiastoryagent Resources https://calendly.com/ https://trello.com/ https://clockify.me/ https://flown.com/ https://othership.com/ https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself Recommendations https://www.likethewindmagazine.com/2023/08/24/like-the-wind-37-available-to-order/…

In the podcast this week we quiz two commissioning editors about what they want to see from freelance journalists. Rebecca Liu, commissioning editor at the Guardian, and Mun-Keat Looi international features editor at the British Medical Journal, discuss the winning formula for pitches plus how to make yourself indispensable as a freelancer. They also chat about pet hates, negotiating rates and top tips for regular commissions. Guests https://www.theguardian.com/profile/rebecca-liu https://twitter.com/becbecliuliu https://munkeatlooi.com/ https://twitter.com/munkeatlooi Resources Pitching guide https://payhip.com/b/dcliH 'What commissioning editors want' previous podcast episode https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/what-commissioning-editors-want Recommendations My boyfriend lives with my husband https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/sep/22/experience-my-boyfriend-lives-with-my-husband Why health experts are fighting to end daylight saving time…

In the podcast this week we talk about practical solutions to help cope with rejection as a freelance journalist. How can we become more resilient and turn rejection into positive action? Expert advice is on hand from freelance marine science writer Melissa Hobson and rural affairs and human interest reporter Kate Chapman. The guests Melissa Hobson www.melissahobson.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/mel_pud Kate Chapman www.kate-chapman.co.uk Twitter: @_KateChapman Resources FFJ podcast on Imposter Syndrome https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/imposter-syndrome Article on how to accept rejection https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/26/turn-rejection-into-success-share-hashtag Recommendations Anna Turns Remaking petrochemicals article https://www.theguardian.com/whats-possible-ask-toronto/2023/sep/29/how-researchers-remade-the-worlds-most-widely-used-petrochemical-without-using-fossil-fuels Jason Bittel Forget everything you know about pigeons article…

With Elon Musk seemingly destroying Twitter, we decided it was time to ask two experts whether we need to be rethinking social media as freelance journalists. Can we live without Twitter and what are the alternatives? Should we be more mindful about how our data is used? And how on earth does Mastodon work? We spoke to tech and internet journalists Chris Stokel-Walker and Steven Asarch to find the answers. The guests Chris Stokel-Walker stokel-walker.com Twitter https://twitter.com/stokel Steven Asarch https://muckrack.com/steven-asarch Twitter https://twitter.com/IAmAsarch Resources Mastodon https://mastodon.social/ Blue Sky https://bsky.app/ Threads https://www.threads.net/ Reddit https://www.reddit.com/ Discord https://discord.com/ Signal https://signal.org/ Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elon-Musk-Walter-Isaacson/dp/1398527491 TikTok Boom by Chris Stokel-Walker https://www.amazon.co.uk/TikTok-Boom-China-Superpower-Social/dp/1912454793 The History of the Internet by Chris…

On the podcast this week we discuss the art of Long Reads and how to pitch, research and write them. We receive excellent insights from GQ features editor Oliver Franklin-Wallis and Guardian writer Samira Shackle. The guests Oliver Franklin-Wallis Website: https://oliverfranklinwallis.com/ Book: The Wasteland https://oliverfranklinwallis.com/wasteland/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/olifranklin Samira Shackle Website: https://samirashackle.com/ Book: Karachi Vice https://samirashackle.com/books/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/samirashackle Resources Guardian The Long Read https://www.theguardian.com/news/series/the-long-read GQ Long Reads https://www.gq.com/about/long-reads Long Reads submission details https://longreads.com/submissions/ Recommendations Sophie Elmhirst Long Read https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/27/man-who-wants-to-make-condoms-sexy-durex Tom Lamont Long Read https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/the-race-to-catch-the-last-nazis

We're back for another series and in our first episode we talk about the nitty gritty of freelance rights. What can you do about late payments, poor contracts and unfair rates? We discuss the problems and the solutions with Sheron Boyle, founder of Can Pay Won't Pay Facebook group, and Natasha Hirst, president of the National Union of Journalists. The guests @hirstphotos Natasha's website https://natashahirstblog.co.uk/ @sheronboyle1 Sheron Boyle Media https://www.facebook.com/SheronBoyleMedia Resources Can Pay Won't Pay Freelance Journalists (UK outlets only) Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/614195525419319 NUJ freelance membership https://www.nuj.org.uk/join/how-much-will-it-cost.html NUJ freelance rate for the job http://www.londonfreelance.org/rates/index.php NUJ freelance fact pack https://www.nuj.org.uk/advice/freelance-resources.html Late payment fee template https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/articles/2023/04/late-payment-letter-and-outstanding-payment-letter-template/…

In the final episode of our awards season special we speak to the winner of the Best Specialist Journalist category. Hannah Summers talks about the challenges of family court reporting and how she has curved out a niche in this unreported field. Show notes https://twitter.com/hansummers https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hannah-summers Hannah's award winning work https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/mar/29/revealed-66-children-still-missing-from-just-one-uk-local-authority-after-vanishing-from-asylum-hotel President's guidance on the current rules which continue to apply to the non-pilot areas https://www.judiciary.uk/guidance-and-resources/president-of-the-family-division-guidance-as-to-reporting-in-the-family-courts/ Guidance on the new rules under the pilot https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2023-01-30/how-to-operate-in-family-court-and-what-to-think-about-before-you-arrive Hannah's first story for The Bureau for Investigative Journalism…

The winner of our Best Feature award, Amelia Tait, spoke to us about how she researches and writes her quirky features. She also gave some top advice on how to keep editors happy. Show notes https://ameliatait.com/ https://twitter.com/ameliargh Amelia's winning article https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/feb/04/its-a-control-thing-why-are-we-so-fascinated-by-super-organised-homes Amelia's comment piece on bread https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/22/sourdough-sliced-white-loaf-sandwiches-bread-mouth-fashion Freelance Journalism Award winners https://freelancingforjournalists.substack.com/p/freelance-journalism-awards-winners Award sponsor Lightbulb Press Hangout https://www.facebook.com/groups/lightbulbhangout/?locale=en_GB

In this episode we talk to journalist Lucy Osborne about her award winning investigation into sexual abuse in the fashion industry. She explains how the story unfolded in both print and broadcast media. Show notes Lucy Osborne https://twitter.com/Lucy_Osborne Lucy's Guardian profile https://www.theguardian.com/profile/lucy-osborne Lucy's Guardian report https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2022/may/28/jean-luc-brunel-abuse-six-women-epstein Lucy's Sky series https://www.sky.com/watch/title/series/b4c6aeec-ec48-4a33-a1f6-49f19ec32dee/scouting-for-girls-fashion-s-darkest-secret-b4c6aeec-ec48-4a33-a1f6-49f19ec32dee Freelance Journalism Award winners https://freelancingforjournalists.substack.com/p/freelance-journalism-awards-winners Award sponsor https://www.journalism.co.uk/

Today we speak to Lara Olszowska who won the Freelance Journalism Awards prize for best piece of work by a student or early career journalist. She talks about reporting on Ukrainian schools during the war and how her journalism training is developing. Show notes https://twitter.com/LaraOlszowska https://laraolszowska.wordpress.com/ Lara's award-winning article https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/60187/how-ukrainian-teachers-keep-schools-running-in-wartime Lara's article on Uzbek theatre icon https://www.telegraph.co.uk/art/what-to-see/uzbek-theatre-icon-who-resisted-soviet-culture-washing/ NCTJ training https://www.nctj.com/ News Associates https://newsassociates.co.uk/ Award sponsor Media Mentor https://www.themediamentor.info/

In the latest Freelance Journalism Awards series we speak to the winner of the Best Print Journalist category Gabriella Jozwiak. She tells us how she ended up in Ukraine reporting on the impact of the war on young children and the challenges she faced as a freelancer. Show notes Website http://www.gabriellajozwiak.com/ Twitter https://twitter.com/GabriellaJ Rory Peck Trust who provide safety training for freelance journalists https://rorypecktrust.org/ DART Center for Journalism & Trauma (who funded Gabriella's trip to Ukraine) https://dartcenter.org/ NUJ resources for freelancers (including press cards) https://www.nuj.org.uk/advice/freelance-resources.html