Freelancing for Journalists

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 https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/feb/25/from-lab-to-plate-six-course-menu-featuring-no-kill-dim-sum-steak-frites

Ariane Sherine, Why I legally changed my name five times https://arianesherine.substack.com/p/why-i-legally-changed-my-name-five

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/

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/pay-1k-daughters-nursery-consider-lucky-nightmare-rising-cost-childcare-2627867