This week I stepped out from behind my desk and went out into the real world to meet people. As a specialist in health, I always knew that the Medical Journalists’ Association annual symposium would be an excellent way to connect with those working in my field. In fact I was the main organiser and the opportunity to network was essentially why I wanted to do it.
It turned out pretty well. I caught up with multiple editors I work for regularly including one where a project had got stuck on the backburner and I was able to bring it back to the front of her mind. I also made useful connections with doctors and other organisations who might be able to help me out with stories.
But there turned out to be another unexpected benefit from the day and that is how much it made me reflect on my own journalism. I think there is a danger as experienced journalists that we become stuck in our ways, doing things the way we always have, just because. There is probably even more risk of this for freelancers working from home on our own.
The many, many tips I took away from the day included:
The importance of staying in touch with important contacts even when not working on a story
How to make the most of an overwhelming amount of data
What legal protections are available to whistleblowers and what journalists need to know about it
Getting over that hurdle in the middle of an investigation when it feels like it is never going to come together
Pros and cons of working in collaboration and how to make it run smoothly when you are in a team
Handling sensitive leaked information without putting sources at risk
That I probably should get some business cards even if I don’t often leave the house
I loved being able to peak behind the curtain and hear from staff journalists about ‘how’ they broke a story. There was lots of discussion about how you find the humanity in a story when faced with figures in a spreadsheet. As well as thoughtful debate about why people are nervous about talking to journalists and what we can do to break down those barriers.
After an Easter holiday where my frustration at a feature not really coming together (yet) and the general juggle of children and work had almost boiled over, I now feel completely reinvigorated and have some ideas for new ways to approach my job.
It has also shown me some areas where I would benefit from learning some new skills (advanced use of Excel being a key one). I may have been a journalist for 20 years but times move on and things change. It has made me realise how important it is to not only stay connected with developments in journalism but also to avoid resting on your laurels. There are always things we can do better.
I am already looking around for the next event I can attend to push me out of my comfort zone and give me new ideas. The Association of British Science Writers do some and we are planning to do more of this at the MJA. I have previously been to NewsRewired conferences and Women in Journalism and Journo Resources also do regular workshops.
So here’s to never being so jaded you stop wanting to get better at what you do.
Tell us what you think! Have you had a similar experience? We would also love to hear from you about any events or conferences you have coming up. Get in touch at freelancingforjournalists@gmail.com
Latest podcast episode
Back to our series on diversifying your income and 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. Click below to listen or find us wherever you usually hunt down your favourite podcasts.
What’s coming up
It is the final week to grab you place on our four-week online course on how to Kickstart your freelance career. Run in partnership with Journalism.co.uk it begins on the 22nd April but is fully flexible to fit around your other work and commitments. If you are new to freelance journalism or want to boost your work and get lots of feedback, support and guidance as you go, this may be just what you’re looking for. It one of the most reasonably priced courses out there and previous attendees have achieved commissions on the back of pitches they worked with us on in the Guardian, Metro, Runner’s World and EuroNews to name but a few.
To find out more and reserve your spot, click the button below.
Spring sale!
SPRING SALE! All of our freelancing guides and video tutorials have 30% off for the month of April. Pick up a guide to pitching or generating ideas for just £3.50, or a video tutorial on TikTok for Journalists for just £7. Find out more about our full range of resources by clicking below.
Triumph of the week
Two new commissions out of nowhere on a Monday morning
That feeling when
You wonder if anyone is actually on the other end of your emails? Hello??
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!