Which publications will commission your work?
>> Monday, August 24, 2009
A common question that I hear from many freelancers who are just starting out is, 'Which publications commission new freelancers?'
Tune in to get my answer... if you can get past my goggly-eyed thumbnail on the video.
For more information about Pamela Wilson or WriteSmart, log on to http://www.writesmart.com.au/
4 comments:
Hi Pam,
If the new professional paradigm of journalism - as opposed to a trade, as it used to be - is geared into the production of media graduates (both under- and postgraduate) then as you say there is a proliferation of offers by freelancers to editors. It must be hard to compete in such a crowded field. Is it better then to wait and work on a big story that will have a large - possibly national and broad - impact, or to concentrate on 'quick wins' along with everyone else? Or, like famous people such as Hunter Thompson, to slave away for a decade developing a unique style that - suddenly - captures the popular imagination and cements your place in the spectrum of hacks for all eternity?
Hi Dean,
Thanks for commenting. I do hear from some freelancers that they are finding it tougher to compete, but I also have a lot of colleagues who are doing very well; myself included. I am not blowing my own trumpet, but I am working seven days a week at the moment (minus Saturday morning kids' soccer runs)!
The changing nature of freelancing can, in part, be explained by the global financial woes and the fact that we are in a time of great change, considering the move to online news content and the requirement of publications to re-think their main income streams.
Whether you go in hard with a major story first, or tinker at the edges of your career with smaller runs on the board, is entirely an individual choice. But, why not consider earning money by tinkering at the edges so that you can fund the big scoop you are chasing?
I think the key in this era is to diversify. As a freelancer you can alternate your time between chasing that big story you are hungry for, writing for a few niche publications (online included) on the side to build up experience, confidence, contacts and your bank balance, and dabbling in the highly-paid corporate writing arena. In effect, you can have it all.
With regards to competition in the industry, as a former commissioning editor, and having many editors as colleagues, we all agree that for every 10 freelancers, only a few are highly professional, reliable, efficient and darn good -all the time . Those are the freelancers who make a name for themselves in the industry and who are always busy. So, how you go about demonstrating that is up to all individual freelancers, but it should be their ultimate goal.
I really enjoyed your guest post at ProBlogger. I can totally relate to your story, as I am a journalist too who has committed the deadly sin of being "unprepared." Thanks for sharing such a great story. Keep up the fantastic work!!
Desiree
aka "Mommy Reporter"
http://www.mommyreporter.com
Thanks Desiree.
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