
Freelancing for Journalists
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/
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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.
Latest episodes

Apr 3, 2024 • 40min
Report writing and translation
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.GuestsPriya 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-joiJudith Zerdin https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithzerdinResourcesTime Management podcast https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/time-managementInstitute of Translation and Interpreting https://www.iti.org.uk/membership/individual-membership-categories/associate-membership.htmlRecommendationsLinda 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-fritesAriane Sherine, Why I legally changed my name five times https://arianesherine.substack.com/p/why-i-legally-changed-my-name-five

Mar 27, 2024 • 47min
Copywriting
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.Guestshttps://www.peter-ranscombe.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-ranscombe/https://twitter.com/ellaluciewriteshttps://linktr.ee/ellaluciehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-delancey-jones-a305514b/Resourceshttps://www.airtasker.com/uk/https://www.sianmeadeswilliams.com/freelance-writing-jobshttps://writeathome.beehiiv.com/https://www.journalism.co.uk/vocational-skills-study/copywriting-a-course-for-freelance-journalists/s43/a554233/Recommendationshttps://twitter.com/marisajbatehttps://daily.sevenfifty.com/the-10-best-non-alcoholic-drinks-according-to-retailers/

Mar 20, 2024 • 48min
Breaking into lecturing
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 guestsJamie Body https://www.jamiebody.com/https://twitter.com/bodyjamieBeth Neil https://muckrack.com/beth-neilhttps://twitter.com/bethneilResourcesFFJ Video tutorial on breaking into lecturing https://payhip.com/b/7ESqCRecommendationsHolly Geraghty: https://www.huckmag.com/article/the-gaza-breakdancing-crew-helping-children-escape-the-trauma-of-warEimear O'Hagan https://muckrack.com/eimear-ohagan

Jan 24, 2024 • 34min
Arts and Culture Journalism
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 guesthttps://www.preciousadesina.com/https://twitter.com/precadesinaResourcesYou're the Business by Anna Codrea-Rado https://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-Business-Successful-Career-Strike/dp/0753558653https://www.google.co.uk/alertsRecommendationCharlie Brinkhurst-Cuff friendship column https://www.stylist.co.uk/relationships/family-friends/friendship-political-beliefs/799772

Jan 17, 2024 • 45min
Motoring Journalism
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 guesthttps://twitter.com/charlottevowdenhttps://www.instagram.com/charlottevowden/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-woman-wholl-make-us-all-fall-in-love-with-classic-cars-mjgq00clbhttps://uktvplay.co.uk/shows/repair-lot/watch-onlineRecommendationNew mums miss out for being in touch with work https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scottish-mail-on-sunday/20231022/282754886379011

Jan 10, 2024 • 36min
Science and Technology Journalism
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 guesthttps://chrisbaraniuk.com/https://twitter.com/chrisbaraniukFishing 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.p2695Young naturalist article https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2021/health-benefits-natureRecommendationDiary of a Young Naturalist https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-Young-Naturalist-Dara-McAnulty/dp/1908213795Confessions of a drone warrior https://www.gq.com/story/drone-uav-pilot-assassination

Jan 3, 2024 • 35min
Music Journalism
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 guesthttps://www.arusaqureshi.com/https://twitter.com/arusaqureshiResourceshttps://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/should-you-work-for-freeRecommendationhttps://ukf.com/words/rave-scenes-edinburgh/35582

Dec 27, 2023 • 34min
Travel Journalism
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 guesthttps://www.shafikmeghji.com/https://twitter.com/ShafikMeghjiCrossed Off the Map: Travels in Bolivia https://www.shafikmeghji.com/#/crossedoffthemap/Resourceshttps://www.wanderlust.co.uk/https://theguardianfoundation.org/programmes/scott-trust-bursaryhttps://www.roughguides.com/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/RecommendationThe Scottish isle where native ponies roam https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211129-the-scottish-isle-where-native-ponies-roam

Dec 20, 2023 • 40min
Court Reporting
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 guesthttps://www.charliemoloney.com/https://twitter.com/CharlieMoloneyhttps://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-2hn36q0mhhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11042849/Queens-Olympic-skydiving-stunt-double-faces-jail-sentence-attacking-girlfriend.htmlRecommendationhttps://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/judge-wrong-to-block-reporting-of-highly-contentious-family-case/5117456.article

Nov 15, 2023 • 44min
Time Management
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 guestshttps://www.instagram.com/anna.the.runnerhttps://twitter.com/anna_hardinghttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bailey-and-harding-ultra-sound-system/id1691373673https://twitter.com/WanderingSalhttps://twitter.com/indiastoryagentResourceshttps://calendly.com/https://trello.com/https://clockify.me/https://flown.com/https://othership.com/https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourselfRecommendationshttps://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
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