Freelancing for Journalists

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 stories. 

Guests 

Charlotte Godart

Twitter: @hicharl0tte

Eric Reidy

Twitter: @Eric_Reidy

Website https://ericreidy.com/

Resources

ProPublica crowdsourcing example (maternal harm)  https://www.propublica.org/article/how-we-collected-nearly-5-000-stories-of-maternal-harm

Guide to crowdsourcing from the Tow Centre for Digital Journalism

https://www.cjr.org/tow_center_reports/guide_to_crowdsourcing.php

Bellingcat https://www.bellingcat.com/

Examples of Bellingcat crowdsourcing stories https://www.bellingcat.com/category/resources/case-studies/

Bellingcat crowdsourcing police violence in US https://blmprotests.forensic-architecture.org/

The Ghost Boat Story crowdsourcing background https://deeply.thenewhumanitarian.org/refugees/community/2016/03/15/following-the-ghost-boat

Bellingcat’s open training workshops https://www.bellingcat.com/workshops/

Bellingcat’s digital toolkit https://credibilitycoalition.org/credcatalog/project/bellingcats-digital-toolkit/

Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) resource centre for safety and security resources https://helpdesk.gijn.org/support/solutions/articles/14000036509-safety-and-security

Reporting grants https://gijn.org/grants-and-fellowships-2/#reporting

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 gangs - where his online security is as important as his general safety.

Guests

Sarah Giaziri

Twitter: @Sarah_Giaziri

Michael Bird

Twitter: @MichaelBirdUK

Website: https://michaelbirdjournalist.wordpress.com

Resources

Frontline Freelance Register https://www.frontlinefreelance.org/

FFR Freelance Journalist Safety principles https://www.frontlinefreelance.org/freelance-journalist-safety-principles/

A Culture of Safety Alliance (ACOS alliance) Safety Principles  https://www.acosalliance.org/the-principles

ACOS resources and digital toolbox https://www.acosalliance.org/resources-1

UNESCO report safety issues https://en.unesco.org/themes/safety-journalists/dgreport/2018

Organisations which help support freelance journalists who are at risk:

Reporters sans Frontieres https://rsf.org/en

European Center for Press and Media Freedom in Leipzig, Germany https://www.ecpmf.eu/

Rory Peck Trust in the UK https://rorypecktrust.org/

Media Defence in UK https://www.mediadefence.org/

Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma in the US https://dartcenter.org

Safety training for freelance journalists:

Freelance Journalism Assembly safety clinics: https://journalismassembly.com/conference/safety-clinics

Rory Peck Trusts bursary for training https://rorypecktrust.org/freelance-assistance/training-fund/

Silk Road Training https://silkroadtraining.international

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

Resources 

Freelance Journalism Assembly https://journalismassembly.com/  

Freelance Journalism Assembly free summer conference https://journalismassembly.com/conference/ 

Lily’s freedom of information story with Ethan Davies https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-postcode-lottery-of-business-support-grants-084924816.html 

Suchit’s digital tools list https://ijnet.org/en/story/10-google-tools-investigative-reporters-can-use-find-information 

Hostwriter https://hostwriter.org 

Unbias The News https://unbiasthenews.org 

International Center for Journalists https://www.icfj.org 

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists https://www.icij.org 

Connectas https://www.connectas.org 

The Arena Housing Project https://journalismarena.eu/the-networks/the-arena-housing-project/ 

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 help you tell more accurate gender based stories. 

The Guests

Rachael Davies https://rachdaviesetc.com/

Twitter @rachdaviesetc

Instagram @rachdaviesetc

Imara Jones https://imarajones.com/

Twitter: @imarajones

Insta: @imara_jones_

Resources

Freelance Journalism Assembly - A freelancer's guide on gender and identity https://journalismassembly.com/resources/a-freelancers-guide-on-gender-and-identity

Independent Newsletter Awards Twitter: @IndieNLAwards

TransLash Media https://translash.org/

TransLash newsletter https://translash.org/connect/

Imara in Time magazine https://time.com/5880964/imara-jones-black-trans-women/

TransLash podcast https://translash.org/podcast/

Disclosure documentary https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81284247

Trans in Trumpland https://www.transintrumpland.com/

Condé Naste LGBTQ reporting https://www.condenast.com/brands/them

Trans Journalist Association https://transjournalists.org

Guides to reporting on gender and identity

Reporting on LGBTQ stories from Journalism.co.uk https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/a-guide-to-reporting-on-lgbtq-stories/s2/a740869/

Trans Journalist Association https://transjournalists.org/style-guide

LGBTQI+ communities, a reporters’ guide from the European Journalism Centre https://ejc.net/uploads/downloads/EJC_LGBTQI_communities_a_reporters_guide.pdf

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 Chandler http://www.caitlinlchandler.com

Twitter @CaitLChandler

Georg Gassauer 

Twitter @GGassauer

LinkedIn @georggassauer 

Resources

Freelance Journalism Assembly https://journalismassembly.com/  

Freelance Journalism Assembly free summer conference https://journalismassembly.com/conference/ 

UN World Migration Report 2020 https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/wmr_2020.pdf

International Organisation for Migration https://www.iom.int 

Global Journalism Investigative Network migration reporting guides https://gijn.org/migration-reporting-sources-guidelines-contests/

Ethical Journalism Network migration reporting guide 

https://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/ethical-guidelines-on-migration-reporting

Examples of Caitlin’s reporting on migration

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/refugees-to-europe-do-better-than-this/

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/6-years-8-countries-an-eritrean-couples-harrowing-search-for-safety/

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/special-report/2018/01/30/inside-eu-s-flawed-200-million-migration-deal-sudan 

https://www.cjr.org/special_report/heiko-jessen-germany-me-too.php 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/sci-fi-surveillance-europes-secretive-push-into-biometric-technology

https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/01/28/rome-where-migrants-face-eviction-while-fascists-find-a-home/

Georg’s reporting on migration

https://www.potemkinharmattan.com/post/the-financial-dilemma-of-ingos-in-syria

Train of Hope https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.trainofhope.at/_www_/&prev=search&pto=aue

Hostile Environment Training and safety courses 

https://dartcenter.org/events/2016/10/reporting-safely-crisis-zones-course

https://rorypecktrust.org/freelance-resources/safety-and-risk-assessment/taking-safety-training/

Grants and funding for journalists reporting on migration 

https://www.newamerica.org/international-reporting-project/

https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net 

https://www.iwmf.org/programs/fund-for-women-journalists/ 

Sources of info and data for reporting on migration   

https://dtm.iom.int

https://mirekoc.ku.edu.tr/about-us/about/ 

https://www.msf.org 

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 journalism can be incorporated into everyday reporting.

The Guests

Julia Hotz https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/who-we-are/team

Twitter @hotzthoughts

Laura Oliver  https://lauraoliverfreelance.com/

Twitter @LauraOliver

Resources:

Freelance Journalism Assembly https://journalismassembly.com/

Freelance Journalism Assembly free summer conference https://journalismassembly.com/conference/

The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/232324/the-elements-of-journalism-revised-and-updated-3rd-edition-by-bill-kovach-and-tom-rosenstiel/

Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/

Training and webinars from SJN https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/hub/get-trained

SJN Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/solutionsjournalismhub/

Laura’s Reuters report on media and journalism trends in the global south

https://lauraoliverfreelance.com/2021/01/01/reporter-reuters-institute-for-the-study-of-journalism/

Examples of Jules’s reporting on loneliness and solutions journalism

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/well/mind/feeling-lonely-perhaps-youd-like-to-talk-to-some-strangers.html

https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/dirt/2019/02/25/the-new-art-of-making-friends-and-finding-community

https://muckrack.com/julia-hotz/articles

Reuters report (2019) showing high news avoidance in the UK due to perceived negativity https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2019-06/DNR_2019_FINAL_0.pdf

Laura reporting on solutions journalism outside the global north for Reuters https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/risj-review/what-solutions-journalism-can-bring-news-media-global-south

Inkline, an international media platform focused on solutions journalism https://the-inkline.com/

European Journalism Centre https://www.ejc.net/

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.com/

HMRC self-assessment guidance

https://www.gov.uk/self-assessment-tax-returns

Creative Money newsletter

https://creativemoney.substack.com/

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 of things to post as a journalist. 

The Guests

Neve Gordon-Farleigh

Twitter @Neve_GF

Instagram  @neve.gf

Podcast https://anchor.fm/uncanventional

TikTok @nevethejournalist   

Gavin Allen 

Twitter @Gavinallen

Website https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/1422775-allen-gavin

Resources

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/

JournoResources TikTok channel @journoresources   

‘Should journalism schools teach TikTok?’ by Gavin Allen

https://medium.com/the-scrum/should-journalism-schools-teach-tiktok-despite-newsroom-indifference-7b168e156914 

Gavin’s student, Ffion Clarke using TikTok to bag a job

https://twitter.com/ffion_clarke/status/1301843144129077249

Journalists mentioned using TikTok:   

@abbiedewhurst Weather presenter for the BBC

@Marcella Whittingale BBC Brighton newsreader/ journalist 

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by The ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service which connects you, the journalist, with PRs and organisations to secure expert comment, case studies and information for independent editorial, free of charge. ResponseSource puts you in touch with experts and PR contacts across all sectors, saving you hours of research and helping you meet your deadlines.

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_Morris jessmorrisportfolio.com 

Asyia Iftikhar @asyiaiftikhar

Resources

Freelancing for Journalists Journalism Work Experience Initiative

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/freelancingforjournalists/476449/

Young Journalist Community Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/330881737884535/

Young Journalist Community mentor scheme 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/330881737884535/mentorship_application

NCTJ diversity fund JDF 

https://www.nctj.com/Journalism-Diversity-Fund

The Freelance Parent newsletter

http://cathufton.com/the-freelance-parent/

And Jess’s guest newsletter for The Freelance Parent

https://cathufton.substack.com/p/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-student-parent

Women in Journalism mentor scheme for women who have been in the industry for 2-5yrs https://womeninjournalism.co.uk/mentoring/

John Schofield mentoring for early career journalists 

https://johnschofieldtrust.org.uk/face-to-face-mentoring-for-early-career-journalists/

Journo Resources information about a range of mentoring schemes

https://www.journoresources.org.uk/journalism-mentoring-journalist-mentor/

The Second Source mentorship scheme 

http://www.thesecondsource.co.uk/the-second-source-mentorship-scheme/

The University of Sheffield mentor scheme

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/new/student/explore/mentor

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by The ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service which connects you, the journalist, with PRs and organisations to secure expert comment, case studies and information for independent editorial, free of charge. ResponseSource puts you in touch with experts and PR contacts across all sectors, saving you hours of research and helping you meet your deadlines.

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 journalist? Instagram account, discusses how her university course gave her confidence to start out in journalism. 

The Guests

Chandni Sembhi

Instagram: @soyouwanttobeajournalist

Twitter: @chandnisembhi

Anna Turns 

Twitter: @AnnaTurns

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

Resources

Mark Grist podcast http://www.markgrist.com/markcantrap

Lily Canter research examining the value of accredited journalism courses:

https://journalism-education.org/2015/08/chasing-the-accreditation-dream/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ulXwfU58Hk

https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2015/news/new-study-raises-questions-about-value-of-accredited-journalism-courses/

https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2015/news/regional-press-no-longer-established-pathway-into-journalism-says-academic/

National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) accredited courses 

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

NCTJ qualifications (incl. diploma and national qualification in journalism)

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

Masters in print journalism

https://www.findamasters.com/masters-degrees/united-kingdom/print-media/?70MhoIM400

The Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BTJC) accredited courses

https://bjtc.org.uk/students

Professional Publishers Association (PPA) https://www.ppa.co.uk/

News associates course https://newsassociates.co.uk/

Freelancing for Journalists training course 

https://www.journalism.co.uk/vocational-skills-study/how-to-become-a-successful-freelance-journalist/s43/a750959/

National Union of Journalists (NUJ)  training courses 

https://www.nuj.org.uk/learn/nuj-training.html

Guild of food writers http://www.gfw.co.uk/

Women in Journalism training 

https://womeninjournalism.co.uk/events/upcoming-events/

International Women’s Day Webinar with Terri White and Jane Garvey

https://ajeuk.org/aje-celebrates-international-womens-day-2021/

Freelancing for Journalists is sponsored by The ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service which connects you, the journalist, with PRs and organisations to secure expert comment, case studies and information for independent editorial, free of charge. ResponseSource puts you in touch with experts and PR contacts across all sectors, saving you hours of research and helping you meet your deadlines.

https://www.responsesource.com/