The value of work experience
The value of work experience
And details of how to take part in our remote scheme
Our remote work experience and mentorship scheme is currently open offering a year’s access to opportunities to learn about journalism from our freelance community. This week Freya Taylor has written about her remote work experience and what it taught her. Link to more details about how to take part at the end.
What work experience with a freelancer meant for me
As a second-year journalism student, I find myself constantly on the lookout for chances to better my skills but work experience can be a tricky thing to come across, and it often feels like a battle to be seen.
With this in mind, I felt very fortunate to be offered a remote placement with Kerri L Watt, the editor and founder of New Forest Business News. It gave me the opportunity to write about some incredible stories from individuals and businesses which were then published on the platform.
Before I did the placement I had always imagined journalism being all about a busy newsroom with stories ‘flying’ and printers pressing. But working with Kerri showed me that every organisation has something different to offer. It also allowed me to explore the digital part of journalism.
As a girl from Suffolk, starting to work remotely as a journalist in the New Forest area was a bit daunting, but Kerri was there to guide me throughout and link me to some initial contacts.
During the placement, I helped out with stories about Paralympians and organisations supporting civilians as they live through the current crisis in Ukraine. It really helped me to understand what angles business to business (B2B) sites like New Forest Business News require.
I was initially given a list of places to reach out to – cafes, business parks, you name it. But equally, I was given some creative freedom to contact other organisations who may have a story they’d be willing to share.
One of the most rewarding pieces I worked on in my time with Kerri was on the Ukraine support centre, New Forest for Ukraine. To develop articles about a current war crisis was an experience I will never forget, and it’s one that I know, without a doubt, will stay with me.
What’s more, the story from Ukraine has led me to many incredible contacts in the North of England on my return to university. Just last week, I was able to have a call with a man in Ukraine about the war and hear his lived experiences.
Working on stories about businesses showed me the passion people had for their work and what impacts these have on others, but also how to structure stories and choose the best quotes.
I’ve learnt more about LinkedIn than ever, too. If you can, get yourself on it and share your experiences, it can be a fantastic platform to build your network and connect with people that you’d never get to engage with in the ‘real world’.
What the work experience at New Forest Business News offered was a ‘foot in the door’ to industry as well as valuable experience. It all came at an opportune time during my academic journalism studies and really improved my skillset.
I wasn’t just an observer. Kerri’s support, advice and trust in me to be part of her team has enhanced my abilities as a trainee journalist, while giving me the chance to try out my story-finding skills in an unfamiliar geographic, but also subject area.
The lengthy summers offer lots of time to relax, but also time to practice. Writing articles for Kerri kept me ‘in-the-loop' and left me in the best position to return to university.
This experience has also left me with a wonderful connection in the New Forest with Kerri and with contacts, as well as offering the chance to work in the industry for a few months to see what journalism is really like.
As I continue my studies, this opportunity to grow with Kerri has been invaluable. The thing that has stayed with me the most is the concept of ‘sonder’ - the idea that strangers in the street are all living lives very different to your own, but equally complex - and how to bring this into journalism.
Freelance work experience scheme now open
As alluded to above our 2024 remote work experience and mentoring scheme is now open for registration. We have opportunities working with journalists in the UK, India, Nigeria, Kenya and Spain. You can find out more about how it works via the link below.
If you can't make the induction briefing in March then don't worry as everyone who is registered is sent a recording. If you are a freelance journo who would like to offer work experience or mentoring then please email us freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com. You can be based anywhere in the world.
Triumph of the week
Getting a series of interviews in place just ahead of deadline
That feeling when
You really want to shut up shop for the day but you’re waiting for a final comment
We love to hear your feedback on everything we do, so feel free to drop us an email anytime at freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com
Bye for now!
