The Freelance Journalism Podcast

Global nonprofit newsroom Mongabay covers environmental change and its consequences for communities. Editor Latoya Abulu leads the Indigenous news desk, and focuses on how Indigenous communities navigate climate change and other threats. She relies heavily on a robust network of freelancers around the world, and hopes to find more contributors based in Canada and the United States, particularly in California. Latoya spoke with IIJ leader Erika Hayasaki about how to avoid common pitfalls in pitching stories about Indigenous communities. Mongabay pays between $0.40 and $1 per word for stories that are full of complexity and show a connection to Indigenous communities, and may also cover travel expenses. Latoya says that pitches incorporating nuance and pre-reporting stand out.Erika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She writes a newsletter called The Reported Essay. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon specializes in happiness. As the founder of the Kortni Alston Lemon Media (KALM) Institute for Workplace Wellbeing, she has made it her mission to improve the mental health of newsrooms, by offering mental health first aid training to journalists and news leaders alike. Dr. Alston Lemon joined IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis to discuss her unique path in journalism, from becoming a widow at 25, centering humanity in an industry that’s often unfeeling, and embracing an entrepreneurial mindset to create her own career opportunities. As an experienced news leader herself, Dr. Alston Lemon shares what it looks like for journalists to prioritize their well-being.Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists and special projects editor for the Greater Good Science Center. A science journalist and author who writes about relationships, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, entrepreneurship, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Tyler Huckabee, managing editor for the religion-focused digital magazine Sojo.net, says a powerful story about religion needs to be specific and spark an emotion. Creative freelancers can find the faith angle almost anywhere – particularly in the current political climate. “Stories of courage are something that are appealing to everybody right now,” he says. He sat down with IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis to share insights and advice for prospective contributors. Sojo.net looks for stories at the intersection of faith and social justice, with about half their published work coming from freelancers. Rates for reported stories start between $300 and $400, more if they land in the Sojourners print magazine.Tyler Huckabee, managing editor of Sojo.net, has written for the Washington Post, the Week, Religion News Service, and Sojourners, largely about the intersection of faith, justice, and pop culture.Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists and special projects editor for the Greater Good Science Center. A science journalist and author who writes about relationships, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, entrepreneurship, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Betsy Ladyzhets and Miles W. Griffis and the co-founders and lead editors of the Sick Times, a website devoted to chronicling Long COVID from all angles. Based on opposite coasts, Ladyzhets and Griffis founded the Sick Times in 2023 to continue providing critical coverage of the ongoing pandemic after many publications seemed to move on. While the Sick Times is only a couple of years old, they are open for freelance pitches! Ladyzhets and Griffis sat down with IIJ leader Erika Hayasaki to share everything you need to know before sending that pitch.Erika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She writes a newsletter called The Reported Essay. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.comThanks to Lisa Adducci for helping to produce this episode.

Covering Indigenous communities west requires care and relationship building. Sunnie Clahchischiligi, Indigenous Affairs Editor for High Country News, joins IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis to discuss how to pitch freelance stories to HCN that truly serve those communities.Dr. Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi is the Indigenous Affairs Editor at High Country News. Sunnie is an award-winning journalist who has reported for outlets like Navajo Times, the Osage News, The Guardian, USA Today, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. In 2023, she received her PhD in rhetoric, composition, and writing studies from The University of New Mexico. She serves on the board of directors for the Indigenous Journalists Association and teaches at Arizona State UniversityKatherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists and special projects editor for the Greater Good Science Center. A science journalist and author who writes about relationships, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, entrepreneurship, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Adriana Lacy is a multi-talented journalist and consultant, and founder of Adriana Lacy Consulting, Journalism Mentors, and most recently, Influencer Journalism. In this wide-ranging conversation with IIJ leader Shernay Williams, Lacy lays out how to build a freelance business around content strategy, engagement, and social media – and how she generates enough consulting work for her whole team.Shernay Williams is a freelance video journalist based in Baltimore, MD focused on health and entrepreneurship. She's the founder of a national directory called The Black Mompreneur as well as The StorySuite, a content agency.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com.

Isabelle Kohn is a senior editor for Slate’s Life section, specializing in stories about sex, gender, relationships, and work. Kohn talked with Erika Hayasaki about how to pitch a story on any of those beats. Kohn shares several examples of successful (and sexy) pitches, along with guidance on how to make yours stand out.Erika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She writes a newsletter called The Reported Essay. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program.You can pitch Isabelle at isabelle.kohn@slate.com. Under the Slate contract, contributors license their copyright exclusively to Slate for three months, after which time they retain non-exclusive rights. Contributors irrevocably and unconditionally waive, in perpetuity, their moral rights, meaning they cannot insist on being identified as the author of the work or object to derogatory treatment of the work. In a positive note for freelancers, there is no indemnity clause. Contributors retain derivative rights, and agree to notify Slate before taking steps to create a derivative work, such as a movie or book, and if requested, to work with Slate on mutually agreeable terms for such a production.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com.

Don’t pigeonhole yourself. Host Katherine Reynolds Lewis interviews journalism entrepreneur Wudan Yan about developing different “identities” as a freelancer to expand your business, effectively reaching new clients, and the importance of fact checking. Wudan Yan is an award-winning narrative journalist, fact checker, and entrepreneur. She’s been a freelance reporter for 10-plus years, with bylines in publications like the Atlantic, the New York Times, and the Guardian. Wudan founded and ran the business podcast the Writers’ Co-op until its closure late last year, and runs the fact-checking agency Factual.Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists. An award-winning science journalist and author who writes about equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, entrepreneurship, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Cybersecurity pitches wanted! Alan Henry, managing editor for PCMag, talks with IIJ leader Shernay Williams about the stories he needs from freelancers right now.They also discuss Henry's career journey, and the inspiration behind his 2022 book "Seen, Heard and Paid: New Work Rules for the Marginalized."Shernay Williams is a freelance video journalist based in Baltimore, MD focused on health and entrepreneurship. She's the founder of a national directory called the Black Mompreneur as well as the StorySuite, a content agency.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, an organization devoted to the financial and emotional well-being of BIPOC freelancers.Learn more about our work at theiij.com

In his years as a freelance journalist and writer, Gil Asakawa has carved out a few niches for himself, including music journalism, pop culture, and Japanese-American and Asian-American cultures and communities. He's written two books: Being Japanese-American and Tabemoshi! Let's Eat! A Tasty History of Japanese Food. He joins IIJ leader Erika Hayasaki to discuss his career journey and the advice he gives to new journalists.Erika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of The Institute for Independent Journalists, an organization devoted to the financial and emotional well-being of BIPOC freelancers. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Have you ever wanted to start your own newsletter but weren’t sure how? The key is probably the one thing freelance journalists hate the most: self promotion. Host Katherine Reynolds Lewis talks strategy with Lex Roman, an expert on growth marketing. This discussion gets detailed – Lex digs into the numbers, and shares strategies for finding and growing an audience of paid subscribers.Lex Roman is a growth marketing consultant with 10+ years of experience in helping tech companies grow. For the last few years, she’s been helping creatives grow their businesses, and more recently she’s turned her attention to journalists. Last year she launched her own newsletter, Journalists Pay Themselves: a guide for those going it alone.Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists. A science journalist and author who writes about education, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of The Institute for Independent Journalists, an organization devoted to the financial and emotional well-being of BIPOC freelancers. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

It might be a freelancer's worst nightmare: getting sued over your reporting. After Lisa Kwon reported a story for nonprofit newsroom Knock L.A on Airbnb operators, one of them took Kwon to court. In this episode, she shares her side of the story with IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis, along with important advice for freelance journalists on how to protect yourselfLisa Kwon is a freelance reporter and writer covering pop culture and Los Angeles happenings. You can find her work on Vulture, Vice, Dirt, LA Taco, Los Angeles Public Press, and more.Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists. A science journalist and author who writes about education, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of The Institute for Independent Journalists, an organization devoted to the financial and emotional well-being of BIPOC freelancers. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Want to land your hot take in the New York Times? Opinion Editor Katie Kingsbury and host Katherine Reynolds Lewis discuss how you can pitch The Times your opinion piece. Highlights include: what Katie’s ideal pitch looks like, and what to expect from the editing process. Katie also peels back the curtain on a few of her favorite op-eds, revealing what it takes to get a piece from a pitch to the printed page.Katie Kingsbury has been at the Times since 2017. Before she was running the desk, she was a deputy editor working on pieces surrounding guns, domestic violence, race, and culture. Prior to that, she worked at The Boston Globe as Managing Editor of Digital. She won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for her series on poor working conditions and pay in the restaurant industry.John Lewis's posthumous guest essay on standing up for your beliefshttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/opinion/john-lewis-civil-rights-america.htmlEmi Nightfeld on working for Googlehttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/opinion/google-job-harassment.htmlConnie Wang's multimedia piece on the generation of Asian American women named after Connie Chunghttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/11/opinion/connie-chung-named-after.htmlDebra Kamin's path from freelancing about real estate to a stafferhttps://www.nytimes.com/by/debra-kaminKatherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists. A science journalist and author who writes about education, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of The Institute for Independent Journalists, an organization devoted to the financial and emotional well-being of BIPOC freelancers. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Versatility is not only a strength, it's an adventure. Just ask self-proclaimed "Swiss Army knife" Fin Leary, program manager at We Need Diverse Books. Fin has built his career freelance writing journalism as well as fiction, and advancing representation for queer and disabled people in both realms.Fin Leary is a Boston-based fiction author, freelance writer and book reviewer who serves as the program manager for We Need Diverse Books. Fin is a 2024 Lambda Literary Emerging LGBTQ+ Voices Fellow for Young Adult Fiction, and also teaches publishing and writing at Emerson College.Shernay Williams is a freelance video journalist based in Baltimore, MD focused on health and entrepreneurship. She's the founder of a national directory called The Black Mompreneur as well as The StorySuite, a content agency.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of The Institute for Independent Journalists, an organization devoted to the financial and emotional well-being of BIPOC freelancers. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

Print gigs are elusive these days and the competition is fierce. Journalist and professor Erika Hayasaki interviews Chris Gayomali, freelance journalist and former articles editor for GQ. They discuss how to navigate the choppy waters of today’s print landscape. Highlights include: the pay disparity between print and online work, playing both sides of the editor/contributor relationship, and starting your own newsletter.Chris Gayomali is a freelance writer and editor, mostly recently working as the articles editor for GQ. He also writes a newsletter about modern health and wellness called HEAVIES. Here's the story that made Chris "the leg lengthening guy:" https://www.gq.com/story/leg-lengtheningErika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program. She writes the newsletter The Reported Essay.The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of The Institute for Independent Journalists, an organization devoted to the financial and emotional well-being of BIPOC freelancers. Learn more about our work at theiij.com

The Freelance Journalism Podcast: about the art and business of freelance journalism. Hear from assigning editors about what they look for in a story pitch, and listen in to conversations between freelancers about how they are making it work. New episodes every month starting Nov. 26.   The FJP is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, an organization devoted to the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more at theiij.com