Episodes
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This week we speak to the winner of the Best Broadcast Journalist category at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Bhavani Vadde tells us about her work on local television and how she juggles working across multiple platforms.
Guest
Bhavani Vadde https://x.com/BhavaniVadde
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bhavanivadde/?hl=en
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5TwMpw5afyQKSvRIE09jEw
Brilliant Resilent podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/7o48RIkaFh9tFWrMx8QVzc
Resources
This award was sponsored by Women in Journalism a network to support and inspire women in the industry https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/
Women in Journalism mentoring scheme https://www.womeninjournalism.co.uk/mentoring
How to appraise yourself podcast episode https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself
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This week we speak to another double award winner at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2024. Liz Cookman won the best print journalist and best specialist journalist awards for her incredible reporting on the Ukraine war. She talks to us about the difficulty of generating interest in an ongoing conflict and how to ensure your safety as a freelance journalist.
Guest
Liz Cookman https://x.com/liz_cookman
https://linktr.ee/Lizcookman
Resources
One of Liz's award-winning print stories https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/24/inside-occupied-ukraine-best-way-survive-stay-silent/
One of Liz's award-winning specialist stories https://www.economist.com/1843/2023/08/31/he-was-tortured-for-standing-up-for-ukraine-now-he-lives-alone-in-a-forest
Rory Peck Safety and Security Training https://rorypecktrust.org/how-we-help/freelance-resources/safety-and-risk-assessment/taking-safety-training/
Both awards were sponsored by the National Union of Journalists Freelance Branch https://www.londonfreelance.org/lfb/index.html
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This week in our special award series we chat to Melissa Parker winner of the Best Opinion Writer category at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards.
Melissa speaks about her shift to opinion writing during the pandemic and her passion for disability rights.
Guest
Melissa Parker https://x.com/MelissaKParker1
Resources
One of Melissa's award winning pieces https://www.stylist.co.uk/health/mental-health/disabled-woman-mental-health-impact/827567
Recording and transcription tool Otter https://otter.ai/
This award was sponsored by workspace tool xTiles https://xtiles.app/en?fp_ref=xtiles25
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In today's episode we speak to double award winner Nicola Kelly who scooped up two prizes at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Nicola won the best news story and best feature categories for her work on Turkish border forces, and Deliveroo drivers. We found out how her previous career as a diplomat set her on the path to freelance journalism.
Guest
Nicola Kelly https://x.com/NicolaKelly
https://www.nicolakelly.com/
Resources
Turkish border force story https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/07/uk-provided-3m-to-turkish-border-forces-to-stop-migrants-foi-reveals
Deliveroo feature https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/sep/14/dodging-death-and-immigration-officers-12-hours-as-a-london-fast-food-rider-and-all-for-40
The best news story category was sponsored by Birmingham City University media and journalism department https://www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/schools-and-colleges/subject-specific/media-and-journalism
The best feature category was sponsored by the National Union of Journalists Freelance Branch https://www.londonfreelance.org/lfb/index.html
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This week we sit down and chat to Liz Perkins, winner of the best campaigning journalist category at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Liz led the End This Injustice campaign which called for an overhaul of the family court system. She talks about working on the campaign and the challenges of changing the law.
Guest
Liz Perkins https://x.com/lizperkinsmedia
LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-perkins-7b667b75/?trk=public_profile_browsemap&originalSubdomain=uk
Resources
End This Injustice Campaign https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1819475/jade-ward-law-russell-marsh-parent-rights
This award was sponsored by global journalism network Paydesk https://paydesk.co/
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In this week's episode we speak to the winner of the Best Investigation category at the 2024 Freelance Journalism Awards. Sahar Zand won the award for her investigation into interpol's misuse of power which was released as a podcast series for Sky News. She discusses fleeing Iran as a child and her drive to uncover abuses of power, often in hostile environments.
Guest
Sahar Zand https://x.com/SaharZand
Resources
Dirty Work podcast https://www.saharzand.com/podcast/skynews/dirtywork
Sahar's TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/sahar_zand_why_iranians_are_cutting_their_hair_for_women_life_freedom?subtitle=en
Talking Travel Writing newsletter https://travelwriting.substack.com/
This award was sponsored by market research company Savanta https://savanta.com/
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In the latest series of the podcast we speak to the winners of the 2024 Freelance Journalist Awards. We start with Hatty Willmoth who won the Best Early Career Journalist category. She wrote a stunning observational feature for The Independent about why some Gen-Z Christians are making the decision to give up all their money and possessions to join a radical group.
Guest
Hatty Willmoth https://x.com/hattywillmoth
Resources
Hatty's award-winning article https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/gen-z-commune-bruderhof-darvell-sussex-celibacy-b2518811.html
The award was sponsored by journalism training provider News Associates https://newsassociates.co.uk/
Freelancing for Journalists full resource list https://www.freelancingforjournalists.com/
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In the final episode of this series we speak to two freelance journalists who have carved out a side income as public speakers. Award-winning podcaster Hannah Ajala and BBC freelancer Dhruti Shah discuss how they find work as inspirational speakers and take us behind the scenes of the planning process.
The guests
Hannah Ajala thisishannahajala.com
Twitter hannah_ajala
Dhruti Shah www.dhrutishah.com/
Newsletter: https://haveyouthoughtabout.substack.com/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/have-you-thought-about/id1678099334
Resources
Druhti's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Markets-Beyond-bestiary-business/dp/1911622463
Hannah's Tedx talk https://www.ted.com/talks/hannah_ajala_how_to_be_positively_delusional
Hannah's award-winning podcast Love Janessa podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtvq7
https://creativeaccess.org.uk/
We Are Black Journos https://twitter.com/weblackjournos
Recommendations
Revolutionary Acts by Jason Okundaye https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571372218-revolutionary-acts/
The F-Rated Podcast https://f-rated.org/f-rated-podcast/
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In this week's episode we chat to two freelance journalists / authors who also make a living via self-publishing on Substack and Patreon. Adharanand Finn, award-winning author of Running with the Kenyans, and former Telegraph Women editor Claire Cohen, author of BFF: The Truth About Female Friendship, discuss the appeal of writing direct to an audience and why they decided to set up their own newsletters.
Guests
Adharanand Finn https://twitter.com/adharanand
https://www.instagram.com/thewayoftherunner/
https://thewayoftherunner.com/
Claire Cohen https://twitter.com/clairecohen
https://www.instagram.com/clairecohen1/
Resources
BFF: The Truth About Female Friendship https://www.amazon.co.uk/BFF-truth-about-female-friendship/dp/1787635635
Adharanand Finn's books https://www.adharanandfinn.com/books
Monday Musings newsletter https://adharanand.substack.com/
Adharanand Finn Patreon https://www.patreon.com/adharanandfinn
Tell Me About It newsletter https://clairecohen.substack.com/
FFJ newsletter https://freelancingforjournalists.substack.com/
Setting up a newsletter FFJ podcast episode https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/setting-up-a-newsletter
Recommendations
Francesca Specter The Shoulds newsletter https://francescaspecter.substack.com/
Devin Kelly Children in the Garden https://longreads.com/2022/01/06/children-in-the-garden-devin-kelly/
Rosamund Dean Well Well Well newsletter https://rosamunddean.substack.com/
Midlife Mess with Annie Scott https://anniescott.substack.com/
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Ever wondered what social media management actually is? On the podcast this week we talk to two freelance journalists who also work in social media marketing and SEO writing. Nicole Letts is a lifestyle journalist based in Atlanta who works with clients on Instagram and Britt Jones is a UK freelancer who provides bespoke social media services.
Guests
Nicole Letts https://www.instagram.com/nicolemelv/?hl=en
https://muckrack.com/nicole-letts
Britt Jones https://twitter.com/the_brittjones
https://linktr.ee/Thebrittjones
Resources
Social media managers https://www.loomly.com/ https://www.hootsuite.com/
Portfolio service https://linktr.ee/
Time tracker app https://toggl.com/
Recommendations
Emma Rosen The Radical Sabbatical https://www.amazon.co.uk/Radical-Sabbatical-Millennial-Handbook-Quarter/dp/191138273X
Amy Beth Wright Texas wine https://muckrack.com/amybethwright
Rebecca Deurlein Sandwich King of Chicago https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240303-a-food-network-chefs-favourite-sandwiches-in-his-hometown-of-chicago
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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.
Guests
Priya 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-joi
Judith Zerdin https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithzerdin
Resources
Time Management podcast https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/time-management
Institute of Translation and Interpreting https://www.iti.org.uk/membership/individual-membership-categories/associate-membership.html
Recommendations
Linda 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-frites
Ariane Sherine, Why I legally changed my name five times https://arianesherine.substack.com/p/why-i-legally-changed-my-name-five
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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.
Guests
https://www.peter-ranscombe.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-ranscombe/
https://twitter.com/ellaluciewrites
https://linktr.ee/ellalucie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-delancey-jones-a305514b/
Resources
https://www.airtasker.com/uk/
https://www.sianmeadeswilliams.com/freelance-writing-jobs
https://writeathome.beehiiv.com/
https://www.journalism.co.uk/vocational-skills-study/copywriting-a-course-for-freelance-journalists/s43/a554233/
Recommendations
https://twitter.com/marisajbate
https://daily.sevenfifty.com/the-10-best-non-alcoholic-drinks-according-to-retailers/
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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 guests
Jamie Body https://www.jamiebody.com/
https://twitter.com/bodyjamie
Beth Neil https://muckrack.com/beth-neil
https://twitter.com/bethneil
Resources
FFJ Video tutorial on breaking into lecturing https://payhip.com/b/7ESqC
Recommendations
Holly Geraghty: https://www.huckmag.com/article/the-gaza-breakdancing-crew-helping-children-escape-the-trauma-of-war
Eimear O'Hagan https://muckrack.com/eimear-ohagan
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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 guest
https://www.preciousadesina.com/
https://twitter.com/precadesina
Resources
You're the Business by Anna Codrea-Rado https://www.amazon.co.uk/Youre-Business-Successful-Career-Strike/dp/0753558653
https://www.google.co.uk/alerts
Recommendation
Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff friendship column https://www.stylist.co.uk/relationships/family-friends/friendship-political-beliefs/799772
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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 guest
https://twitter.com/charlottevowden
https://www.instagram.com/charlottevowden/
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-woman-wholl-make-us-all-fall-in-love-with-classic-cars-mjgq00clb
https://uktvplay.co.uk/shows/repair-lot/watch-online
Recommendation
New mums miss out for being in touch with work https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scottish-mail-on-sunday/20231022/282754886379011
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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 guest
https://chrisbaraniuk.com/
https://twitter.com/chrisbaraniuk
Fishing 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.p2695
Young naturalist article https://knowablemagazine.org/article/mind/2021/health-benefits-nature
Recommendation
Diary of a Young Naturalist https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-Young-Naturalist-Dara-McAnulty/dp/1908213795
Confessions of a drone warrior https://www.gq.com/story/drone-uav-pilot-assassination
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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 guest
https://www.arusaqureshi.com/
https://twitter.com/arusaqureshi
Resources
https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/should-you-work-for-free
Recommendation
https://ukf.com/words/rave-scenes-edinburgh/35582
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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 guest
https://www.shafikmeghji.com/
https://twitter.com/ShafikMeghji
Crossed Off the Map: Travels in Bolivia https://www.shafikmeghji.com/#/crossedoffthemap/
Resources
https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/
https://theguardianfoundation.org/programmes/scott-trust-bursary
https://www.roughguides.com/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/
Recommendation
The Scottish isle where native ponies roam https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20211129-the-scottish-isle-where-native-ponies-roam
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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 guest
https://www.charliemoloney.com/
https://twitter.com/CharlieMoloney
https://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-2hn36q0mh
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11042849/Queens-Olympic-skydiving-stunt-double-faces-jail-sentence-attacking-girlfriend.html
Recommendation
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/judge-wrong-to-block-reporting-of-highly-contentious-family-case/5117456.article
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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 guests
https://www.instagram.com/anna.the.runner
https://twitter.com/anna_harding
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bailey-and-harding-ultra-sound-system/id1691373673
https://twitter.com/WanderingSal
https://twitter.com/indiastoryagent
Resources
https://calendly.com/
https://trello.com/
https://clockify.me/
https://flown.com/
https://othership.com/
https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself
Recommendations
https://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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