The BBC has opened its internal journalism training website up to the public. The free journalism training site is a treasure trove for writers and includes tips from the experts and masterclasses such as ‘John Humphrys on preparing for interviews’ and ‘Mark Lawson on arts interviewing’. It also includes useful sections on ‘Ethics and values’ and ‘Law’. A made-to-measure resource for any freelance writer.
How to get a job in journalism
After spending the best part of two years emailing journalists and receiving a trickle of responses, one debt-ridden, unemployed graduate decided a more direct approach might be the best way to get himself on the journalism career ladder. Tom Gockelen-Kozlowski decided to hang out outside the offices of national newspapers and approach journalists in person with his homemade business cards containing a link to his blog.
Did it work? Well he got an article in the Guardian out of it – I think it’s fair to say that’s a result. Tom says the stunt was one of the best decisions he has ever made. He wrote: “Suddenly, after months of hunting and struggling to be heard above the rest, people have informed me of projects they are starting, opportunities they may have, and advice they generously wish to share. On top of this I have had two offers that could conceivably ‘make me,’ as well as an offer of paid work assisting a new company with some PR work.”
Freelancing: A man’s world?
Once upon a time, an anonymous female freelance writer’s career was trundling along. However, she felt her pay rate was stagnating; she was struggling to land work and she felt something was missing. She decided to work under a pen name, to disassociate herself with her business that was plodding on and to try to get more work. She picked a man’s name - James Chartrand.
‘James’ writes on Copyblogger: “Instantly, jobs became easier to get. There was no haggling. There were compliments, there was respect. Clients hired me quickly, and when they received their work, they liked it just as quickly. There were fewer requests for revisions — often none at all. Customer satisfaction shot through the roof. So did my pay rate.”
She carried on writing under both names and applying for jobs in the same way. The only thing that changed was her name – and gender, of course. She became so successful as James, she now works solely under that name and keeps her real identity under close wraps. Referring to 19th-century writers such as George Eliot who wrote under a male pseudonym to gain acceptance, ‘James’ says: “Since then, we’ve had feminism. We have the right to vote, to own property, to be members of Parliament and Congress, to get a job, and to be the main breadwinner of the family. And yet apparently we haven’t gotten past those 19th-century stigmas. The evidence was right there in front of me.”
Interesting and extremely depressing if the reason behind the upturn in work was due to her gender. What do you think – could something else be behind it?
I can’t help wondering, though…didn’t she ever have to phone or meet any clients?
The Ten Commandments of Journalism
What do you think are the ten commandments of journalism? Veteran US broadcaster Jim Lehrer outlined his on his last episode of 'The Newshour with Jim Lehrer', before the programme was revamped, updated and renamed ‘PBS Newshour’.
His commandments are:
1) Do nothing I cannot defend
2) Cover, write and present every story with the care I would want if the story were about me
3) Assume there is at least one other side or version
4) Assume the viewer is as smart and as caring and as good a person as I am
5) Assume the same about all people on whom I report
6) Assume personal lives are a private matter, until a legitimate turn in the story absolutely mandates otherwise
7) Carefully separate opinion and analysis from straight news stories, and clearly label everything
8) Do not use anonymous sources or blind quotes, except on rare and monumental occasions
9) No one should ever be allowed to attack another anonymously
10) And, finally, I am not in the entertainment business
Here in the UK, The Times has asked readers to send in their journalism commandments, which should make an interesting read. What are yours? Find me in FreelanceUK’s Journalism forum and tell me the journalism gospel according to you!
Jan 6, 2010
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