Freelancing for Journalists

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 Maton

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-maton-23372010/

Hannah Smith 

Twitter: @hannah_fran_

Website: https://www.hannahsmithjournalist.co.uk/

Resources

Money helper https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en

Government basic pension https://www.gov.uk/state-pension

An example of a pension provider https://www.hl.co.uk/pensions

Fidelity https://www.fidelity.co.uk/retirement/

Hargreaves and Lansdown pension calculator 

https://www.hl.co.uk/pensions/pension-calculator

Pension Bee https://www.pensionbee.com/

Pensions tracking service- old lost pension pots

https://www.gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details

Money and pension service gov

https://moneyandpensionsservice.org.uk/

NEST pension https://www.nestpensions.org.uk/

SIPP 

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/pensions-basics/self-invested-personal-pensions

Wealthify ethical SIPP https://www.wealthify.com/

Nutmeg ethical investing 

https://www.nutmeg.com/socially-responsible-investing

Pension bee fossil fuel-free pension

https://www.pensionbee.com/fossil-fuel-free-pension

National insurance credit https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits

Check your state pension https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Child benefit 

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/benefits/benefits-if-you-have-children/protecting-your-state-pension-when-you-have-a-baby

Freelance journalist recommendations

Hugh Wheelan

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-wheelan-8449663/?originalSubdomain=uk

Felicity Hannah 

http://felicityhannah.co.uk/

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 others.

Craig Stennett 

Twitter: @craig_stennett

Instagram: @craigstennett1965

Website: https://www.craigstennett.com/

Nori Jemil

Twitter: @AndeanImaging 

Instagram: @nori.jemil.travel

Website: http://farm8.clik.com/Noriphotography/

Resources

Getty Images https://www.gettyimages.ae/

The Travel Photographer’s Way

https://www.bradtguides.com/product/the-travel-photographers-way-1/

Wanderlust Travel Magazine https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/

Lily’s feature in Trail Running Magazine featuring her own photos

https://www.lilycanter.co.uk/lifestyle/trail-running-magazine-outer-hebrides-adventure/

Freelance journalist recommendations

Jörg Luyken 

https://www.thegermanreview.de/about?utm_source=menu-dropdown

Zoey Goto

https://www.zoeygoto.com/

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 Laura Oliver, Society of Freelance Journalists: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oy5YhMO1pBxIyXj6phUr_ApEorqT1OIPi7tIm45aMb4/edit?usp=sharing

Adapted appraisal form used by Lily and Emma in their first appraisal episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gZd2JfSEjjLPdluCOS7ogRMgLX5q5g8vMSdBhW7q9vw/edit?usp=sharing

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 writer. 

The Guests

Rachel Steinberg

Twitter: @rae_steinberg

Clippings: https://www.clippings.me/rachelsteinberg 

Rachel Murray 

Twitter: @gotacommonname

Resources and recommendations

Pivot newsletter for career changers by Rachel Murray

https://pivotnewsletter.co.uk/

JournoResources 

https://www.journoresources.org.uk/

NCTJ diploma

https://www.nctj.com/journalism-qualifications/diploma-in-journalism

Freelancing for Journalists Facebook community

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2526455974236281

Marisa Ingemi, Seattle Times

https://www.seattletimes.com/author/marisa-ingemi/

Marisa’s freelance article about companion horses

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/companion-ponies-horses-racetrack-15915104.php

Lizzy Denning, freelance journalist

https://muckrack.com/lizzydening

Lizzy’s Out of Office newsletter

https://outoffice.substack.com/p/welcome-to-out-of-office

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by Cision

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.alicedraper.com/

Twitter: @alicemdraper 

Instagram: @alicedraper

Resources and recommendations

Vice photo scandal https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/12/cambodia-vice-edited-photos-khmer-rouge-victims-smiling-tuol-sleng-prison-genocide

Alice’s personal essays

https://www.alicedraper.com/portfolio/

Tayla Blaire

https://taylablaire.contently.com/

Tanya Gold

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/t/ta-te/tanya-gold/

https://muckrack.com/tanyagold1/articles

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by Cision.

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/careergirlcollective/

Isabel Sachs

https://ilikenetworking.uk/the-team

Twitter @networking_i

Resources and recommendations

Stephanie Sword - Williams https://www.instagram.com/stefaniesw/?hl=en

Banseka Kayeme https://www.instagram.com/banseka/?hl=en-gb

Hannah Van-de-Peer @hgvandepeer

F*ck Being Humble https://www.instagram.com/fbeinghumbleldn/

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 Stern

Twitter: @melvstern

Website:https://melstern.wordpress.com/ 

Tufayel Ahmed 

Twitter:@tufayel

Instagram: @tufayelahmed

Website: https://www.tufayel.co/

Resources and recommendations

Opportunities for journalists to work in the charity sector:  

World Vision charity  https://www.worldvision.org.uk/about/jobs/

Amnesty International https://www.amnesty.org.uk/get-involved

Work experience scheme at the BBC, including Newsnight: https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/trainee-schemes-and-apprenticeships/work-experience

Big Issue The Breakthrough Programme https://www.bigissue.com/press-release/the-big-issue-launches-breakthrough-talent-and-training-programme-for-young-people/

Example of Tufayel’s work on pro-wrestling for CNN 

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/wrestling-art-photography-orange-crush/index.html

June Bellebon and her articles at Gal-Dem

https://gal-dem.com/author/jon-bellebono/

Aniefiok Ekpoudom, freelance journalist

https://aniefiokekpoudom.com/

Jason Okundaye, freelance writer 

https://twitter.com/jasebyjason

https://www.instagram.com/blackandgaybackintheday/

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by Cision.

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 freelance journalist specialising in stories told through the female lens.

The Guests

Andy Webb

Blog: https://becleverwithyourcash.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyclevercash?lang=en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyclevercash/

Marisa Bate

Blog and newsletter: https://www.writingaboutwomen.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisajbate

Resources and recommendations

Playing Big by Tara Mohr

https://www.taramohr.com/the-playing-big-book/ 

Freelance Writing Awards 

https://www.freelancewritingawards.com/

Andy’s column in Metro

https://metro.co.uk/author/andy-webb/

Andy’s column in Reader’s Digest 

https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/author/andy-webb

‘Cash Chats’ podcast

https://becleverwithyourcash.com/podcast/

Andy’s Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2661970707423383/

Andy’s YouTube channel 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_T7G3RjQe7ghD0ikr4reuw

Louise Tickle, freelance journalist specialising in the family courts. 

https://louisetickle.co.uk/

Hidden Homicides

https://www.tortoisemedia.com/file/hidden-homicides/

Jenni Hill, Can’t Swing a Cat blog 

https://cantswingacat.co.uk/

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by Cision.

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 Guests

Solape Alatise

Twitter: @solapealatise 

Instagram: @solapealatise

Website: https://www.solapealatise.com/ 

Joel Snape

Twitter: @JoelSnape

Website: http://www.livehard.co.uk/about/

Resources and recommendations

Lily’s long read in Runners World 

https://www.lilycanter.co.uk/lifestyle/runners-world-where-do-my-fees-go/

Amelia Tait, freelance journalist

https://ameliatait.com/ 

https://www.vice.com/en/article/3kxkd3/am-i-the-asshole-reddit

https://www.vice.com/en/article/epn8ge/millennial-buy-home-how-article

Lateefah Jean-Baptiste

https://www.lateefahjb.com/ 

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by Cision.

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/edit?usp=sharing

Adapted appraisal form used by Lily and Emma in this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gZd2JfSEjjLPdluCOS7ogRMgLX5q5g8vMSdBhW7q9vw/edit?usp=sharing