When done right, freelance writing can be highly rewarding both emotionally and financially. When done wrong, it can be stressful and frustrating.

Changes in the news media, that we have explored in previous blog posts, are forcing more and more journalists to become independent. So this is a good time to explore some of the challenges and benefits of working as a freelancer, as well as tips.

Over the years, freelance journalists have had to challenge the status quo of traditional media in order to secure their press credentials, build their portfolios, manage the uncertainty of freelance work, pay taxes and create relationships with news directors and editors.

Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind when thinking of how to become a freelance journalist:

Creating relationships with News Directors and Editors at local publications


Whether a journalist is just starting out, or has decades of experience, it boils down to the same thing: creating fruitful relationships with media outlets. 

With the right combination of creativity, research, and enthusiasm, freelance journalists can create meaningful relationships with news directors and editors. 


Making Contact

Emails:

One of the ways that aspiring freelance journalists can try to find work is by making contact with news directors and editors. Finding freelance journalism jobs can seem hard but a strong email to your local newspaper or future employers can kick off a working relationship. Hopefully, you'll be able to get a warm introduction via a friend already working in that same newsroom, but if not, then through cold emails.


Email tips...

It's important that you write a targeted message for the particular publication or digital media platform you want to work with and not make it generic. These emails should be well-crafted and extremely clear in their purpose - to introduce yourself and make a persuasive case why they should consider publishing your story or article. Make sure to include a little information on who you are, including for example your years of experience in the industry or if you're just starting, details about your journalism degree.

It's important to also send along your web portfolio, including some published articles from multiple publications so they get idea of your writing style or for broadcast TV, a demo reel.

If you're just starting out in the industry then some examples of your school newspaper that really shows off your writing skills. Ask them to add you to a list of potential 'freelance journalism professionals' or 'freelance jobs' that they might reach out to whenever they are looking to cover a particular story. Then, follow up with a story idea or a pitch.

Writing cold emails can be intimidating, but a freelance writer must act in order to be successful. Through the right combination of research and skill, journalists can establish strong relationships with news directors and editors that fuel their journalistic career.


Industry Events

Freelancers must leverage industry conferences, mixers, networking events and speaking engagements in order to make contact with prospective clients: news directors and editors.

These meetings can not only provide great personal and professional development opportunities, but for a freelance journalist, it is the perfect place to make the connections they need to develop a relationship with a publication and begin getting regular assignments.

Although it takes some time and effort to find these events, you will find that face-to-face meetings will help lend credibility to you and therefore, your story pitches. It is through these events that many freelance journalists have been able to build lasting relationships with news directors and editors from various publications.


It's about consistency and resiliency

By showing your willingness to go the extra mile through cold emails and meeting editors in person, you can build a reputation for yourself as a reliable and ambitious freelance journalist.  

Whenever possible, try attending industry events, getting to know other journalists, and keeping up to date on the industry’s latest developments and opportunities. By considering these tips, you can become a freelance journalist in no time, and can create relationships with media outlets to further advance your journalism career.

Freelance journalism is an ever-evolving field, and as more outlets become available for freelance writing, reporting and producing, relationships and trust become a vital part of building that job network, pitching ideas and getting those freelance pitches approved.

Freelance journalists face extra challenges


Technology and specifically social media is changing the journalism profession. Over the past few years, some journalists have decided to move away from a full time job and instead try their hand at a freelance career. From Substacks, to podcasts, and social media news start-ups, online blog publishing and complete contract work, there are a lot of new ways for freelance writers and reporters to venture on their own, build a name for themselves and become independent. Freelance journalism has also become an increasingly popular career path for professionals with at-home responsibilities, who are trying to balance their journalistic career with their parenting or care-taking.


The reality behind freelance writing and reporting:

Downside of being a freelance journalist

With the rise in popularity, it’s becoming more important for freelance journalists to stay on top of their game when it comes to their profession. Being a freelance journalist isn’t easy, after all, the pay is uncertain, the schedule is erratic, and many benefits that full time writers or journalists get are left up to you, like getting health insurance or a 401K.

Freelancers are often times expected to have all of their own equipment, they compete against full-time workers and other freelancers for a chance to do a news story. They must constantly be pitching ideas to different publications or producing content if they are self-employed, there are is little to no paid sick or vacation days and very little safety-net for these workers.


Up-side for freelance journalists

However, some of these 'downsides' to media independence can also be seen in a more positive light. No set pay or salary means you don't have a cap, you aren't limited to whatever one boss or publication contracted you for, you are free to make $30,000 or $300,000 in one year depending on how much work you decide to do.

In addition, while some people might find the lack of a consistent schedule stressful, for some, it is liberating. It means they get to mold and shape their schedule as they want, taking long vacations or having the time to do other important things (like parenting or taking care of a loved one).


Freelance journalism and efficiency

When you become a freelance journalist you no longer have the support and help of a large newsroom, instead, a lot of that work now becomes yours. This means planning, researching and consistently producing content in a timely manner. Therefore, self-motivation, organization are important, but efficiency really becomes key so you can have a successful and productive career.


Resources

Freelance journalists can find support, comfort, resources and help from fellow freelancers through online Facebook groups, Reddit, Twitter and local freelancer press groups. These circles of support can help journalists get a better read on the market and which publishers or broadcasters are friendly to freelancers.

In addition, for a freelance journalist, resources like HARO, Help a Reporter Out, (AKA help a journalist out, help a writer out), and Rolli, can help them find subject matter experts (SME) to interview. According to the Society of Professional Journalists, journalists can spend as much as 50% of their work hours finding sources to speak with.

For a freelance journalist these hours may not be paid (if the research is being done prior to an approved pitch, or if the publication is paying the journalist a flat rate), the longer the freelancer spends finding sources to speak with, the less money they make per hour. That's why as a freelance journalist, taking advantage of resources like HARO and Rolli can make you more efficient and help in your success.

Rolli is a searchable database of vetted diverse experts that journalists can call upon to serve as credible sources in their news stories, segments, or articles. Unlike most other services which have been built with journalists as the product, allowing PR to buy journalists contact info, Rolli was built by journalists, for journalists. There is no pitching on Rolli, no selling of data, no booking fees, and no agents. On Rolli, most experts' contact info is listed directly, so journalists can quickly find the expert they need and contact them or their media person.

Journalists can access the platform for free (for a limited time) and they can search the online database for vetted sources by expertise, location, and even language. The platform also has a NewsDesk which aggregates news articles from the top publications so its easy to browse many sources at once and the preloaded News Planning Calendar, allows journalists to discover events, conferences and press conferences happening in their community or around the country that are related to their beats.

We have previously written other blogs on how Rolli works and helps all types of media reporters, including freelance journalists significantly cut down the amount of time it takes them to cut down on their search for subject-matter experts. We also explore what is haro and how it works. We encourage you to check them out.
 

Self-promotion for freelance journalists

It's yucky for many of us to think about or engage in self promotion, but the reality is, that in order to become a freelance journalist, and a successful one at that, it could be beneficial to get comfortable with sharing your stories and work on social media.


Willpower

Being a freelance journalist is hard, so when it comes to being successful, self-motivation is also very important. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when juggling multiple content pieces and it takes willpower to keep pushing. A freelance journalist should set achievable and realistic goals so they can stay on track and focused. Moreover, it’s crucial for freelance journalists to be proactive, send story ideas to news editors, and take initiative, like reaching out to other industry professionals to build connections and possible collaborations.

Show Me the Money! The financials of being a freelance journalist


I've been around many freelance journalists in my life, I've worked with them and hired them and I've seen all the ups and downs associated with a freelance career.

As I mentioned before, you have all the freedom and independence to develop your writing or reporting passions, but you also have to take care of the logistics and handle all the paperwork, which can be tedious. If you don't stay on top of the work you do, your hours, and your taxes, you may have bigger problems than the latest article you had to write.

Most freelance journalists work as independent contractors. That means that these industry professionals need to ensure they keep track of all their writing projects, the hours they've worked, the materials they used, and anything they have earned. These will be crucial to making sure you know what to tell Uncle Sam the moment tax season rolls around. It will also help you to deduct some of the costs associated with your work, like your desk at home, the laptop you work on, or the camera you take video with.

The financial aspect is one of the most significant parts of the job and one that many journalists struggle with, as they are journalism professionals and tend to be disinterested in managing what is essentially, a small business. That's why it's important to ensure proper bookkeeping when it comes to tracking your earnings and expenses. How well freelance journalists keep track of their hours and earnings can determine the longevity of their freelance career.

Here are some handy tips to help track the time and resources spent on freelance projects:
  • Digital calendar to note how many hours you worked on a project
  • Excel to keep track of how much you spent on materials
  • Send emails to yourself with the information, if you're out in the field

Good bookkeeping is essential when it comes to filing taxes as an independent contractor. Making sure you are always well-informed and current with the latest regulations and tax requirements in your area can help make the filing process much smoother.

For example, a law that has been in limbo for some time in California called AB5 impacts freelancers as it limits the number of stories or articles a company can give a journalist before they have to hire them as full time staff.

Laws like these can have an impact in how you file taxes and so it is important to talk to an accountant to get the best practices for managing your freelance finances and organizing your tax records.

The financial aspect of a freelance career is just as important, if not more important, than the actual writing.

Conclusion


Being a freelance journalist can be very hard, but if can also be extremely rewarding and liberating. It's not for everyone, being a self employed writer or reporter requires a lot of discipline, you really have to have strong writing skills and the courage to reach out to prospective publications. But if you can find a way to do full time freelancing, it can give you freedoms and opportunities that a regular full time job could never do.


About the Author
 
Nick Toso is a former CNN television producer and journalist. He worked in the Washington DC Bureau for nearly a decade, during his time, he helped produce interviews with dozens of presidents and world leaders, including President Obama, Clinton, and more. Nick is also the founder of Rolliapp.com.