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