Help on becoming a freelance Journalist... - Freelance UK Forums

NuBee · 01-06-2007, 02:29 PM

Hi,
I'm new to the freelance journalism world. I want to be a freelance journalist. I have read a lot of information on becoming a freelance journalist and what sticks out most to me is that you have to specialise. I have noticed that a lot of freelancers have come from a professional background, i.e, Law, Nursing. I, however, do not have a professional background and cannot think what to specialise in. So, it poses the question for me of where do I begin? Any help would be great.

SharpClause · 01-06-2007, 08:44 PM

Hi

Big subject - but good on you for going for it.

Depends what your passions are. You may not have a professional background but you do things in your life that you can talk about. Perhaps you have interests you can talk about. Perhaps you're a parent, a skydiver, a gardener, go to meetings about something - ? Anything is grist to the mill. Anything at all. Just because you don't have a professional qualification in something doesn't mean you can't write about anything.

As a starter I'd have a look at a few magazines and newspapers and see what fits your particular interests. Buy the Writers' and Artists' Handbook for markets too. Browse the internet for sites that cover your interests and ask if they'd like some material for their site - but check what payment they offer

Just a start - hope it helps.

dillen · 01-07-2007, 11:05 AM

I have no proffesional qualification or working experience and I want to become a foreign correspondent or something like that. Where do I start and how do I gain contacts in other countries? I'm studing french right now and than I will learn russian, to make it easier to get information from other countries and gain contacts abroad.

Any advice?

SharpClause · 01-07-2007, 02:40 PM

Hi Dillen

If you're still studying why not get in touch with the Beeb and pick their brains. Or Channel 4 News and speak to them about training and qualifications, courses etc. Additionally, having just done a trawl of the net I found this: Foreign Correspondent.

I reckon really it's a case of preparing yourself well and finding out as much as you can about the job so you can build on the studying you're already doing. Schools and universities don't always have the widest breadth of current material available but it's worth asking them - they may either just give you cup of coffee, a brochure and a nice chat, or they may heap tons of contacts into your hands and set up some interviews for you. Depends on the institution I reckon

One of the people I was at college with (doing an English degree) went on to become a BBC journalist and is now doing foreign correspondent work. Some have no degree but have flair and talent. Ask around. Do some research and find what suits you.

Have a great time! HTH

dillen · 01-07-2007, 06:38 PM

Great link SharpCause

I have two years left in school and it's "gymnasiet". The swedish school system is not like the English and gymnasiet is basically a continual education after the elementary school. I will move abroad for working and get experiences right after I have graduated the compulsory school. I think experiences and high skills in languages are a good way to sart in, so that's why I am going to learn several languages. I'm aiming t becoming almost fluent in french and then russian. That are two useful languages, well russian will become useful, I think.

Rich8707 · 02-15-2007, 01:21 AM

i'm in the same boat as dillen - no profesional qualifications (didn't get further than a levels), want to go into journalism and have been posting articles on my website (blog.myspace.com/quarrybankboy)

my specialist subject's football as an ardent liverpool supporter but i have written with ease about a whole range of subjects, any advice about where i go from here?

thanks

Paddy McPhee · 02-15-2007, 06:41 PM

Hi Richie,
Just had look at your website and liked your writing. I was interested in bullying issue you wrote about. My son went through the same thing in primary school. I was constantly gobsmacked at the self-congratulatory tripe that came out of the mouths of the teachers and head at the 'stringent measures' they employed to stamp it out. It took me a while, but I did some sleuthing - including watching the school playground - and I discovered it was all talk. What a bunch of liars and hypocrites. They made my skin crawl. Same thing at his first high school - only these teachers weren't just liars but seriously thick.

Sod 'em all, eh?

They have one thing in common though with the modern police and our crackpot government - they never punish the bad guy, but they jump on the good guy quicker than a cat can wink.

As for this newbie, I'm cross-eyed from looking at web-hosting sites to put some writing up on. I need more than a blog cos I want to offer copyediting and other stuff. I need one that's cheap but without someone else's porno ads dancing across readers' eyes. Any recommendations anyone?
Or should I just settle for the blog?
Pat

Rich8707 · 02-15-2007, 07:37 PM

friend of mine runs a site that deals with these mattes called audiohosting.org

at the moment it's down for repair but there's a link to the myspace profile and what they offer. i did an article on them last night and the lad who set it up, you can get his email address from the profile. he should be able to sort you out a site

MickeyFinn · 02-15-2007, 09:01 PM

A lot of the free blogging hosts are not much cop I must agree. I would look to get a Wordpress blog hosted somewhere though. Wordpress not only allows straight forward blogging but you can also add static page content like a normal site so sounds a bit more fit for purpose for you.

WordPress › Blog Tool and Weblog Platform

As for hosting just go with the usual hosts, 1 and 1, fasthosts, Easily - all are OK in my opinion. Go for a Linux package with PHP and at access to at least 1 MySQL database and that is all you need.

Installation is surprisingly straight forward if you read the docs and is a good learning experience if you have never done anything like this before.

Set up is so quick if you PM me I will happily help out

claz83 · 02-28-2007, 08:39 PM

I am in a similar boat, although I have an honours degree in journalism. I'd love to write music or theatre reviews. I have had work published in print (Time Out and First magazine, also a feature in Prediction). I also write for culture based websites, and I am volunteering for a new website which launches soon. I am conscious that I am doing all this work unpaid, but I am hoping that if I am loyal one or more websites may eventually pay me. Am I doing the right thing? I just feel that I need to keep writing because I love it sooo much!

01-06-2007, 02:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
NuBee New Poster Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1	Help on becoming a freelance Journalist... Hi, I'm new to the freelance journalism world. I want to be a freelance journalist. I have read a lot of information on becoming a freelance journalist and what sticks out most to me is that you have to specialise. I have noticed that a lot of freelancers have come from a professional background, i.e, Law, Nursing. I, however, do not have a professional background and cannot think what to specialise in. So, it poses the question for me of where do I begin? Any help would be great.

01-07-2007, 02:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
SharpClause Regular Poster Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West Highlands of Scotland Posts: 47	Hi Dillen If you're still studying why not get in touch with the Beeb and pick their brains. Or Channel 4 News and speak to them about training and qualifications, courses etc. Additionally, having just done a trawl of the net I found this: Foreign Correspondent. I reckon really it's a case of preparing yourself well and finding out as much as you can about the job so you can build on the studying you're already doing. Schools and universities don't always have the widest breadth of current material available but it's worth asking them - they may either just give you cup of coffee, a brochure and a nice chat, or they may heap tons of contacts into your hands and set up some interviews for you. Depends on the institution I reckon One of the people I was at college with (doing an English degree) went on to become a BBC journalist and is now doing foreign correspondent work. Some have no degree but have flair and talent. Ask around. Do some research and find what suits you. Have a great time! HTH Last edited by SharpClause; 01-07-2007 at 02:45 PM.

02-15-2007, 06:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paddy McPhee New Poster Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 1	another newbie Hi Richie, Just had look at your website and liked your writing. I was interested in bullying issue you wrote about. My son went through the same thing in primary school. I was constantly gobsmacked at the self-congratulatory tripe that came out of the mouths of the teachers and head at the 'stringent measures' they employed to stamp it out. It took me a while, but I did some sleuthing - including watching the school playground - and I discovered it was all talk. What a bunch of liars and hypocrites. They made my skin crawl. Same thing at his first high school - only these teachers weren't just liars but seriously thick. Sod 'em all, eh? They have one thing in common though with the modern police and our crackpot government - they never punish the bad guy, but they jump on the good guy quicker than a cat can wink. As for this newbie, I'm cross-eyed from looking at web-hosting sites to put some writing up on. I need more than a blog cos I want to offer copyediting and other stuff. I need one that's cheap but without someone else's porno ads dancing across readers' eyes. Any recommendations anyone? Or should I just settle for the blog? Pat

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01-06-2007, 08:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
SharpClause Regular Poster Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: West Highlands of Scotland Posts: 47	Hi Big subject - but good on you for going for it. Depends what your passions are. You may not have a professional background but you do things in your life that you can talk about. Perhaps you have interests you can talk about. Perhaps you're a parent, a skydiver, a gardener, go to meetings about something - ? Anything is grist to the mill. Anything at all. Just because you don't have a professional qualification in something doesn't mean you can't write about anything. As a starter I'd have a look at a few magazines and newspapers and see what fits your particular interests. Buy the Writers' and Artists' Handbook for markets too. Browse the internet for sites that cover your interests and ask if they'd like some material for their site - but check what payment they offer Just a start - hope it helps.

01-07-2007, 11:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
dillen New Poster Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3	I have no proffesional qualification or working experience and I want to become a foreign correspondent or something like that. Where do I start and how do I gain contacts in other countries? I'm studing french right now and than I will learn russian, to make it easier to get information from other countries and gain contacts abroad. Any advice?

01-07-2007, 06:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
dillen New Poster Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3	Great link SharpCause I have two years left in school and it's "gymnasiet". The swedish school system is not like the English and gymnasiet is basically a continual education after the elementary school. I will move abroad for working and get experiences right after I have graduated the compulsory school. I think experiences and high skills in languages are a good way to sart in, so that's why I am going to learn several languages. I'm aiming t becoming almost fluent in french and then russian. That are two useful languages, well russian will become useful, I think.

02-15-2007, 01:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rich8707 New Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2	i'm in the same boat as dillen - no profesional qualifications (didn't get further than a levels), want to go into journalism and have been posting articles on my website (blog.myspace.com/quarrybankboy) my specialist subject's football as an ardent liverpool supporter but i have written with ease about a whole range of subjects, any advice about where i go from here? thanks

02-15-2007, 07:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rich8707 New Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2	friend of mine runs a site that deals with these mattes called audiohosting.org at the moment it's down for repair but there's a link to the myspace profile and what they offer. i did an article on them last night and the lad who set it up, you can get his email address from the profile. he should be able to sort you out a site

02-15-2007, 09:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
MickeyFinn Administrator Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 295	A lot of the free blogging hosts are not much cop I must agree. I would look to get a Wordpress blog hosted somewhere though. Wordpress not only allows straight forward blogging but you can also add static page content like a normal site so sounds a bit more fit for purpose for you. WordPress › Blog Tool and Weblog Platform As for hosting just go with the usual hosts, 1 and 1, fasthosts, Easily - all are OK in my opinion. Go for a Linux package with PHP and at access to at least 1 MySQL database and that is all you need. Installation is surprisingly straight forward if you read the docs and is a good learning experience if you have never done anything like this before. Set up is so quick if you PM me I will happily help out

02-28-2007, 08:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
claz83 New Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Uxbridge Posts: 1	I am in a similar boat, although I have an honours degree in journalism. I'd love to write music or theatre reviews. I have had work published in print (Time Out and First magazine, also a feature in Prediction). I also write for culture based websites, and I am volunteering for a new website which launches soon. I am conscious that I am doing all this work unpaid, but I am hoping that if I am loyal one or more websites may eventually pay me. Am I doing the right thing? I just feel that I need to keep writing because I love it sooo much!