What commissioning editors want #2

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 guestsHannah Ajala thisishannahajala.comTwitter hannah_ajalaDhruti Shah www.dhrutishah.com/Newsletter: https://haveyouthoughtabout.substack.com/Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/have-you-thought-about/id1678099334ResourcesDruhti's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Markets-Beyond-bestiary-business/dp/1911622463Hannah's Tedx talk https://www.ted.com/talks/hannah_ajala_how_to_be_positively_delusionalHannah's award-winning podcast Love Janessa podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtvq7https://creativeaccess.org.uk/We Are Black Journos https://twitter.com/weblackjournosRecommendationsRevolutionary Acts by Jason Okundaye https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571372218-revolutionary-acts/The F-Rated Podcast https://f-rated.org/f-rated-podcast/

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. GuestsAdharanand Finn https://twitter.com/adharanandhttps://www.instagram.com/thewayoftherunner/https://thewayoftherunner.com/Claire Cohen https://twitter.com/clairecohenhttps://www.instagram.com/clairecohen1/ResourcesBFF: The Truth About Female Friendship https://www.amazon.co.uk/BFF-truth-about-female-friendship/dp/1787635635Adharanand Finn's books https://www.adharanandfinn.com/booksMonday Musings newsletter https://adharanand.substack.com/Adharanand Finn Patreon https://www.patreon.com/adharanandfinnTell 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-newsletterRecommendationsFrancesca 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/

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=enhttps://muckrack.com/nicole-lettsBritt Jones https://twitter.com/the_brittjoneshttps://linktr.ee/ThebrittjonesResources Social media managers https://www.loomly.com/ https://www.hootsuite.com/Portfolio service https://linktr.ee/Time tracker app https://toggl.com/RecommendationsEmma Rosen The Radical Sabbatical https://www.amazon.co.uk/Radical-Sabbatical-Millennial-Handbook-Quarter/dp/191138273XAmy Beth Wright Texas wine https://muckrack.com/amybethwrightRebecca Deurlein Sandwich King of Chicago https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240303-a-food-network-chefs-favourite-sandwiches-in-his-hometown-of-chicago

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

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/

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

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

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

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

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