Best Opinion Writer: Melissa Parker

In this special bonus episode Lily and Emma discuss the big secret project they have been working on for the past two years. They have written a new book! It's called ULTRA WOMEN: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport and it combines their passion of endurance sport and advocacy. The book tells the hidden stories of female endurance from the first hunter-gatherers to the modern athletes pushing back boundaries in sport. It also takes a deep dive into the physiological and psychological advantages women hold in super long distances.In the pod episode, producer Maddie Drury quizzes the pair on how they worked together, how they secured a publisher and the challenges of writing a book involving more than 70 interviews.You can order the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Women-Trailblazers-Defying-Sexism/dp/1914487109https://www.canburypress.com/collections/books/products/presale-ultra-women-by-lily-canter-and-emma-wilkinson-isbn-9781914487101

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.GuestBhavani Vadde https://x.com/BhavaniVaddeInstagram https://www.instagram.com/bhavanivadde/?hl=enYouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5TwMpw5afyQKSvRIE09jEwBrilliant Resilent podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/7o48RIkaFh9tFWrMx8QVzcResourcesThis 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/mentoringHow to appraise yourself podcast episode https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself

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.GuestLiz Cookman https://x.com/liz_cookmanhttps://linktr.ee/LizcookmanResources 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-forestRory 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

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. GuestMelissa Parker https://x.com/MelissaKParker1ResourcesOne of Melissa's award winning pieces https://www.stylist.co.uk/health/mental-health/disabled-woman-mental-health-impact/827567Recording and transcription tool Otter https://otter.ai/This award was sponsored by workspace tool xTiles https://xtiles.app/en?fp_ref=xtiles25

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.GuestNicola Kelly https://x.com/NicolaKellyhttps://www.nicolakelly.com/ResourcesTurkish border force story https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/07/uk-provided-3m-to-turkish-border-forces-to-stop-migrants-foi-revealsDeliveroo 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-40The 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-journalismThe best feature category was sponsored by the National Union of Journalists Freelance Branch https://www.londonfreelance.org/lfb/index.html

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.GuestLiz Perkins https://x.com/lizperkinsmediaLinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-perkins-7b667b75/?trk=public_profile_browsemap&originalSubdomain=ukResourcesEnd This Injustice Campaign https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1819475/jade-ward-law-russell-marsh-parent-rightsThis award was sponsored by global journalism network Paydesk https://paydesk.co/

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.GuestSahar Zand https://x.com/SaharZandResourcesDirty Work podcast https://www.saharzand.com/podcast/skynews/dirtyworkSahar's TED Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/sahar_zand_why_iranians_are_cutting_their_hair_for_women_life_freedom?subtitle=enTalking Travel Writing newsletter https://travelwriting.substack.com/This award was sponsored by market research company Savanta https://savanta.com/

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.GuestHatty Willmoth https://x.com/hattywillmothResourcesHatty's award-winning article https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/gen-z-commune-bruderhof-darvell-sussex-celibacy-b2518811.htmlThe award was sponsored by journalism training provider News Associates https://newsassociates.co.uk/Freelancing for Journalists full resource list https://www.freelancingforjournalists.com/

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/