Freelancing for Journalists
Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson
Lifting the lid on freelance life. Experienced freelance journalists Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson guide you through everything you need to know about working for yourself. From where to get work, to how to get paid and everything in between.
Each episode features two guests who have made freelancing a success. From film reviewers, to travel writers to bitcoin experts and current affairs broadcasters.
Packed with trade secrets, top tips and amusing anecdotes this is an unmissable How To guide for anyone interested in freelance journalism life.
Contact us via email freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter @freelancingfor @lilycanter @emmajourno.
You can find out more about FFJ at our dedicated website here: https://freelancingforjournalists.com/
Love the podcast? Then why not buy us a virtual cuppa here: https://ko-fi.com/freelancingforjournalists
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to get all the latest podcast news plus additional resources: https://tinyurl.com/y6j7kx7d
For the full Freelancing for Journalists experience you can purchase our book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freelancing-Journalists-Media-Skills-Canter/dp/0367135558
You can also sign up to our freelancing course here: https://www.journalism.co.uk/vocational-skills-study/freelance-journalism-online-course/s43/a750959/
And check out our webinar training series here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/freelancingforjournalists
We also offer a range of bespoke training packages under the Freelancing for Journalists brand. Email us for details.
Each episode features two guests who have made freelancing a success. From film reviewers, to travel writers to bitcoin experts and current affairs broadcasters.
Packed with trade secrets, top tips and amusing anecdotes this is an unmissable How To guide for anyone interested in freelance journalism life.
Contact us via email freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter @freelancingfor @lilycanter @emmajourno.
You can find out more about FFJ at our dedicated website here: https://freelancingforjournalists.com/
Love the podcast? Then why not buy us a virtual cuppa here: https://ko-fi.com/freelancingforjournalists
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to get all the latest podcast news plus additional resources: https://tinyurl.com/y6j7kx7d
For the full Freelancing for Journalists experience you can purchase our book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Freelancing-Journalists-Media-Skills-Canter/dp/0367135558
You can also sign up to our freelancing course here: https://www.journalism.co.uk/vocational-skills-study/freelance-journalism-online-course/s43/a750959/
And check out our webinar training series here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/freelancingforjournalists
We also offer a range of bespoke training packages under the Freelancing for Journalists brand. Email us for details.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 7, 2026 • 31min
Best Feature Harriet Grant
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!GuestHarriet Grant https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-grant-5a797b25/ResourcesHarriet’s deep dive into the impact of porn algorithms on young people was praised for its research and persistenceSafer Lives https://www.saferlives.com/
Dec 31, 2025 • 37min
Best Specialist Journalist Rebecca Pitcairn
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!GuestRebecca Pitcairn https://www.instagram.com/theenglishwinediaries/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-pitcairn-a0546127/ResourcesRebecca impressed judges with her passion and quality reporting on the UK’s wine industry. She also hosts “The English Wine Diaries” podcast.
Dec 24, 2025 • 32min
Best Early Career Journalist Yvette Cook
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!GuestYvette Cook https://www.instagram.com/yvette.travels/https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvette-cook-09929b2a7/ResourcesYvette’s evocative piece on tourism and women in Saudi Arabia inspired her own career changeAdventure Travel Networking https://www.adventuretravelnetworking.com/
Dec 17, 2025 • 35min
Best News & Opinion Journalist Hannah Fearn
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!GuestHannah Fearn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahfearn/Bluesky @hannahfearn.bsky.socialResourcesHannah’s powerful story on lockdown in child prisons stood out for its impact and writingHannah’s columns on social affairs were called “well-researched and passionately argued”Freelance rights guide https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/guidelines/oldo7g1jr7say9zn95edt9agt3kviwInside Housing https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/Health Service Journal https://www.hsj.co.uk/
Oct 29, 2025 • 34min
Interview with a book publisher
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.ResourcesCanbury Press Tik Took Boom! by Chris Stokel-WalkerUltra Women by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson
Oct 22, 2025 • 53min
Using AI
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!GuestsHarriet 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/ResourcesChatGPTOtter.aiPerplexityClaudeNotebook LMGoogle GeminiFathomAI for Media course with Harriet Meyer https://www.harrietmeyer.com/ai-courses/Recommendationshttps://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/digital-journalism/virtual-reality-the-widely-quoted-media-experts-who-are-not-what-they-seem/Adele Waters award-winning freelance journalist
Oct 15, 2025 • 39min
Transcription apps
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!GuestsSage Lazzaro https://www.linkedin.com/in/sage-lazzaro/Jack Dearlove, Journo Resources https://www.journoresources.org.uk/ResourcesJR Transcribe https://www.journoresources.org.uk/membership/jr-transcribe/Otter.ai https://otter.ai/homeTrint https://trint.com/Whisper https://www.whispertranscribe.com/downloadDescript https://www.descript.com/RecommendationsFrancis Cade https://www.youtube.com/c/FrancisCadeTekendra Parmar https://www.motherjones.com/criminal-justice/2025/08/axon-police-ai-draft-one-foia/
Oct 8, 2025 • 48min
Freelance Rights Guide
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 Guestshttps://muckrack.com/donna-ferguson/biohttps://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/https://www.jemcollins.co.uk/https://www.journoresources.org.uk/ResourcesThe guidelines: https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/guidelines/oldo7g1jr7say9zn95edt9agt3kviwLate Payments government consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/late-payments-tackling-poor-payment-practices/late-payments-consultation-tackling-poor-payment-practicesWomen in Journalism contact details: https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/contactusRecommendationshttps://blackballad.co.uk/politics-activism/what-happened-to-all-the-black-tories?listIds=590867cea8c0bab2039c3ac5https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/events-diary/how-journalists-are-using-ai-with-harriet-meyer
Oct 1, 2025 • 37min
Financial support for freelance journalists
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!Guestshttps://journalistscharity.org.uk/https://rorypecktrust.org/Resourceshttps://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/best-print-journalist-gabriella-jozwiakRecommendationshttps://www.nytimes.com/by/nanna-heitmannhttps://www.vogue.com/article/on-writing-while-mothering
Sep 24, 2025 • 41min
Accessing paywall and membership-only content
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!GuestsEllie Broughton https://www.elliebroughton.net/https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliebroughton/https://bsky.app/profile/elliebroughton.bsky.socialDavid Clarke https://x.com/shuclarkehttps://bsky.app/profile/davidwclarke.bsky.socialResourcesLibrary app https://www.borrowbox.com/Library app https://libbyapp.com/interview/welcome#doYouHaveACardPress release portal https://www.eurekalert.org/British Library https://www.bl.uk/Magazine app https://gb.readly.com/Recommendationshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Well-All-Murdered-Our-Beds/dp/1783961333https://www.wearequeeraf.com/conversion-therapy-groups-spend-2m-on-lobbying-and-promoting-practice-in-soaring-costs-since-promise-to-ban-the-abusive-practice/https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/sex-workers-prostitutes-cautions/
