The Institute hosted a half-day virtual conference designed to equip freelance journalists with practical tools, insider knowledge, and expert guidance.
Participants heard from seasoned freelancers, editors, and an attorney about today’s freelance landscape and learned how to build their businesses, successfully pitch stories, and thrive as an independent journalist in an evolving industry.
The schedule
Combined session: State of the freelance market
It’s no secret the journalism industry has faced substantial upheaval over a number of years, which has most recently led to an array of layoffs, likely compelling more journalists to try freelancing either in the short run or on a permanent basis. We’ll take a look at what the current market for freelancers looks like, explore to what extent newsrooms are relying on them for coverage, and dive into what the state of the journalism industry means for journalists who are now running their own shops.
Speakers:
- Kaitlyn Arford (freelance journalist)
- Natalie Shutler (New York Magazine)
- DeArbea Walker (Forbes)
- Moderator: Allison Prang (NPCJI / freelancer)
Track 1: Getting your freelance business started
Maybe you got laid off and are looking to make some money in the interim while you hunt for your next full-time job or you’re interested in trying freelancing as your main gig going forward. We’ll delve into how to get started, the basics of running your own business, and how to begin drumming up work.
Speakers:
- Kaitlyn Arford (freelance journalist)
- Mythili Sampathkumar (freelance journalist)
- Allison Prang (NPCJI / freelancer)
Track 2: Taking your freelance business to the next level
This isn’t your first rodeo with freelancing and while you’ve had some success with it, you’d like to grow your business and expand your assignment base. We’ll look at how to capitalize on your relationships with existing clients and what new business realms independent journalists can explore that utilize their journalism skills.
Speakers:
- Ellen Lee (Wirecutter)
- Cari Shane (freelance journalist)
Track 1: The nitty gritty of freelancing
You have an idea of where you might want to pitch or publications you might want to write for. We’ll explore the range of ways freelancers tend to be paid, what a typical day in the life of a freelancer looks like, and how to balance taking on more lucrative work while also chasing the types of assignments that mean the most to you.
Speakers:
- Katie Hawkins-Gaar (freelance writer and journalism consultant)
- Allison Prang (NPCJI / freelancer)
- Cari Shane (freelance journalist)
Track 2: Doing more in-depth stories as a freelancer
You’ve netted a lot of regular freelance assignments and gotten into a good groove turning around dailies or shorter-term breaking news or feature stories. But now you want to pursue some more in-depth projects that will take more time, resources, and money. We’ll look at tips and resources for pitching and chasing those more intense assignments and how to go about getting the OK to do so when you’re not formally on staff at a specific news outlet.
Speakers:
- Lisa Armstrong (UC Berkeley)
- Danny Freedman (freelance journalist)
- Moderator: Beth Francesco (NPCJI)
Combined session: Running your freelance business as a business
Operating as a one-person shop looks a lot different on paper and in practice compared to being one reporter in a much larger newsroom with its own resources and protections. We’ll talk with a media lawyer about what all freelancers should know when it comes to setting up an LLC, filing taxes, reading through contracts for different outlets, and generally being in business for themselves.
Speaker: Lynn Oberlander (Ballard Spahr)
Combined session: Editors to give feedback on freelance pitches
Editors are regularly overwhelmed by pitches, whether they be from PR professionals looking to score coverage for their clients, staff reporters pitching their own stories, or freelancers approaching them with story angles they want to pursue. We’ll look at the qualities of solid freelance pitches and what makes a variety of editors greenlight those story proposals.
- Anjuman Ali (The Washington Post)
- Melanie Eversley (Black News & Views)
- Natalie Shutler (New York Magazine)
- Alexandra Sifferlin (The New York Times)
Where, exactly, is this conference taking place?
Maybe put the location in a line at the top
for those of us who are blind as a bat?
Hi Mindy! This is a virtual conference and will take place over Zoom. We will share the link separately for registrants.
Will attendees get recordings?
Yes, all registrants will receive links to the recordings following the program.
Hi there! I am a freelance health and science reporter based in Sydney, Australia. Due to the tricky time difference, I won’t be able to tune in live. Will the conference be recorded and shared with those who register? Thank you.
Yes, we’ll share the recording after the program to all registrants.
I can’t attend live. Will registrants get recordings after August 15?
Yes, we’ll share the recordings after the event.
What are the specific sessions hour by hour and who are the speakers for them? I will be attending part of the program, but not all 4 1/4 hours.
We’ll share recordings of all sessions with attendees following the conference. You can also find the panels listed by time on the agenda here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-freelance-life-what-to-know-and-how-to-grow-tickets-1513239051739?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Hello, can I still register? On Eventbrite tickets are sold out.
Hi! Is there a video for this available? -NPC Member