SPJ panel on freelancing
Tonight I spoke on the Society of Professional Journalist panel “Freelancing for the 21st Century” with Westways editor Elizabeth Harryman, Los Angeles magazine editor Mary Melton and fellow freelancer T.J. Sullivan. It was fun discussing how freelancing has changed over the years. Most of us spend our days in the solitary office or knee-deep in research. It’s always nice to connect with people face to face.
SPJ LA has had some of the best events I’ve attended since coming to California. The national organization is worth checking out, too.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I am glad you went–but can you provide details…I see this business (I’ve been in it 26 yrs, fulltime, sole support of my family) as changing rapidly and not for the better. The people who hopped onto Craigs seem to think five bucks is a fair fee for an article. The millenials who run magazines now often never respond to a query, even with a no thanks, or even acknowledge the submission of an assigned piece. The collegiality is sometimes lacking these days. Freelancers are a resource. They provide their own equipment and benefits. They get paid only for the work they do, not for coffee breaks or staring out the window. They have experience in a lot of industries that can benefit your company. They can be a quick, fun break in your office day. Yet, they are treated as sort of a nuisance. Those darn writers–always wanting to be paid. This is why another writer and I created The Writer’s Catablog. Come visit: http://www.writerscatablog.com.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Hi Star,
Congratulations on doing well within the industry for almost three decades. It’s tough. I imagine it gives you a long-range perspective I’ve yet to develop.
From what I understand, the journalism industry, particularly print publications, began to aggressively consolidate in the ’80s. Less owners meant less publications, and less words meant less freelancers were necessary. It does seem like a smaller pie.
The positive side is that we don’t have to fight over print space. The Internet is an infinite world. Podcasts are restricted to the size of your storage. Television, more trend-conscious than ever, needs more experts than ever. There are other mediums now.
Good luck with The Writer’s Catablog and here’s to more success!