For health journalists

While reading journalism blogs, I discovered The Independent Journalist. I thought your freelance journalist readers might be interested  in a no-cost National Institutes of Health (NIH) training opportunity for journalists and bloggers – Medicine in the Media: The Challenge of Reporting on Medical Research. The 3-day course is taught by experts from the fields of medical research and health journalism to help develop journalists’ ability to evaluate and report on medical research.

NIH just announced acceptance of applications for the course, which takes place in Bethesda, Md., from June 24-27, 2009. The application deadline is Jan. 30, 2009, at 5 p.m. and space is awarded competitively.

The 2009 curriculum will prepare participants for the crucial task of interpreting and evaluating research findings including statistics, selecting stories that hold meaningful messages for the public and placing them in appropriate context. It is open to all journalists, including bloggers, whose primary target audience is the general public. Applicants may produce news stories about health or healthcare for newspapers, magazines, or newsletters; television or radio or online media.

There is no cost for the course, and meals and lodging are provided. The agenda and faculty list are still developing, but the 2008 course agenda and more information is available at http://medmediacourse.nih.gov. 

Please let me know if you have any questions and if you are willing to share information about Medicine in the Media.

Regards,

Erica Holt

Internet Marketing Specialist on behalf of National Institutes of Health Office of Medical Applications of Research

301-592-2117

Membership benefits?

Hi guys, got this message from John Huotari, chair of the SPJ membership committee. Please post your thoughts! Thank you! Amy

At our last teleconference, the committee members thought it would be a good idea for the membership committee to work with the freelance committee in trying to determine what membership benefits and offers might appeal to freelancers. This is particularly relevant as more journalists lose their jobs and some, presumably, become freelancers.

What kind of membership benefits or offers do you think might appeal to freelancers? The big one I wonder about is health insurance. I've been told that SPJ might have some sort of health insurance benefit already, but I haven't checked out the details on that yet. Are freelancers looking for health insurance? Anything else?

Thanks for any response you can provide.

Press badge?

Hi all, I got another interesting message from Eric Francis, a freelancer in North Little Rock, Ark. He writes, How do other freelancers go about identifying themselves as journalists when someone questions their credentials? I have business cards but was thinking about an actual press ID badge. However, our state press association (of which I'm an associate member) doesn't offer those anymore. What are the ethics of creating your own ID badge?

I'd invite everyone to share their thoughts. Here is my experience.

The only press badge I've ever had as a freelancer is one for PEOPLE that identifies me as an "independent contractor" for the magazine. Mostly I use my talent as a journalist at being persuasive and aggressive at pushing for access to someone or someplace.

Once when I was reporting on fatal tornadoes for The New York Times I explained my situation, showed my driver's license and SPJ membership card and offered to let the officer holding me back to talk to the editor on my cell phone. He let me through before I had to make the call.

While covering a high-profile court hearing for the Houston Chronicle I asked the editor to write a letter on Chronicle letterhead vouching for me. I folded up the letter and stuck it in a clear sleeve I wore around my neck so that the letterhead showed through. No one ever questioned me.

Mostly I've found the press badge to be unnecessary. Usually I find my word is enough, or I can be persuasive enough.

I would not recommend creating a press badge that in any way would lead someone to believe you are employed with an organization when you are not. My press badge for PEOPLE, given to me by the magazine, identifies me as an "independent contractor." Don't be dishonest. Editors can be touchy about freelancers leading people to believe they are staffers. Usually I identify myself this way, "Hi, my name is Amy Green, and I am a journalist working on a story for Newsweek about the election," or whatever.

I have business cards, too, and often I end an in-person interview by leaving a business card with my Web address on it. That way if the person has any questions about who I am, the person always can go online and check me out.

What do other people think?

Don't get discouraged!

I've been reading a lot about layoffs this week, more than usual it seems like. I quite literally gasped this morning when I read The Associated Press, my first employer, will trim 10 percent of its workforce next year. That's 400 employees.

Perhaps you've been laid off. Or you're like me, anxiously watching everyone around you either lose their jobs or worry they're going to. It's so upsetting. Of course we need to be aware of what's happening in our business, but please don't get too discouraged.

Remember, all these news stories of layoffs and the economy really are distractions. The anxiety. The ambivalence. All of it distracts us from our determined push toward our professional goals, which presumably are in journalism. They are obstacles, tests of our determination. We are entitled to the anxiety we feel. We should acknowledge it but then move on, resume our push toward our goals. Indulging in our anxiety only clouds our focus.

For six years I've worked under the uncertainty of no steady paycheck. I've done it armed with the belief that if we work hard, if we work earnestly and in good faith, the money will follow. This belief never has been proven wrong. Clients have come and gone, and when one disappears another always comes along to replace it, usually offering more opportunity.

We will get through this. We always do. 

How much should I charge?

Hi guys, I'm so sorry some of you are having trouble reading this. Here is the link: http://www.writersmarket.com/assets/pdf/How_Much_Should_I_Charge.pdf. It's a pdf, so if you're computer can't read a pdf that may explain your problem. Hope this helps! Amy

I've seen this circulating a few places and thought it might be helpful.

Libel insurance?

Hi all, got this message from Eric Francis, a freelancer in North Little Rock, Ark. Francis writes, I moved from newspaper staff to freelance work earlier this year and am still trying to iron out all the wrinkles of working for yourself. Does SPJ have any resource material on what an independent journalist ought to know about carrying libel insurance? Or can you recommend any other resources?

Since this is a frequent topic of discussion among freelancers, I thought I'd weigh in here and invite all of you to do the same. I'll start by sharing my experience.

Whether this is right or wrong, I don't carry libel insurance. Never have. I don't personally know any other freelancers who carry it, either. I am a journalist who specializes in faith and social issues, writing mostly features rather than investigative pieces that might stir stuff up. In other words I'm no Bob Woodward.

But if I did get into trouble here's what I probably would do. I would consult my accountant, who also is a licensed attorney. I would seek advise from the professional organizations I belong to, the American Society of Journalists and Authors and of course the Society of Professional Journalists. SPJ offers a Legal Defense Fund, an account that can be tapped to provide journalists with legal or direct financial assistance. Julie Kay, chairwoman of the Legal Defense Fund Committee, also is a freelancer in South Florida, and she wrote about the fund on the SPJ freelance blog here.

If you were to get into trouble I would want to know about it, as chairwoman of SPJ's freelance committee. I would contact SPJ President Dave Aeikens about possibly getting the organization involved on your behalf.

What are some other thoughts? How do other freelancers handle this issue? Please post your comments here.

Wanted: freelancer in Asia

The SportsOneSource Group, a trade publishing and market research company focused on the sporting goods industry, is looking for stringers in Asia to handle occasional assignments. Freelancers based in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan or Viet Nam with knowledge of or connections to the athletic apparel, footwear and sporting goods industries would be ideal. Interested parties should contact clunan@sportsonesource.com.

Wanted: freelancer in the Middle East

I have a small research consultancy focused on Eastern European, Middle East & African financial research. I am seeking a freelance financial journalist to assist me with some research in the Arabian Gulf and wondered if you might know of anyone.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly

Stacia Hachem

1-914-565-9127 cell

1-914-835-5888 office

sjhachem@researchagencyinc.com

hachem@bloomberg.net

For freelancers in Washington

SAVE THE DATE!

GOING FREELANCE: An All-Day Seminar on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Jointly sponsored by Johns Hopkins University Masters of Arts in Writing Program and American Independent Writers.

Johns Hopkins University, Bernstein-Offit Building, 1717 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036 (Lower-Level Conference Hall).

Metro: Red Line, Dupont Circle.

8:30-9:00 a.m.              Registration and continental breakfast

9:00-9:15 a.m.              Welcome

9:15-10:30 a.m.          The Fundamentals of Freelance Business

How do you know what to charge for your hard freelance work? Or what records to keep? Or whether you're being taken advantage of? This panel presents expert and experienced advice on rate-setting, accounting, record-keeping, legal issues, tax basics, and other nuts and bolts of successful freelancing.

10:45: 12 Noon           Finding Work in Commercial Writing

While we all want to publish our essays in national magazines, some of the most lucrative freelancing in the Washington-Baltimore area involves annual reports, media releases, marketing materials, and other writing-for-hire work. This session describes how to network and find the opportunities.

Noon-1:30 p.m.           Lunch and Networking on your own

1:30-2:45 p.m.            It’s Time to Publish

Okay, you have a great idea for an essay or article. Now what? This panel covers the many venues open to publishing creative writing, from online and print journals to magazines and newspapers. The focus will be on publishing essays or articles, although many suggestions will help poets and fiction writers, too. We’ll discuss how to target your work, the need for persistence, and the all-important query and cover letters.

3:00-4:15 p.m.            Blogging and Your Writing Career

Blogs are everywhere, but they can be more important than simple personal expression. This panel discusses how blog writing differs from other types of writing, how you can make money from a blog, how blogging can jumpstart your career, and how blogs can be a pathway to more prestigious writing work.

4:15-5:00 p.m.             Informal Networking

American Independent Writers Members' cost is $89; non-members' cost is $129, and non-Hopkins students' cost is $49. Hopkins Writing Program students are admitted free of charge, but all must RSVP by calling (202) 775-5150, emailing rsvp@aiwriters.org, or registering online at www.aiwriters.org. Please mention the event for which you are responding and your membership status.

Join SPJ's Freelancer Directory

If someone told you that you could have unprecedented access to the world’s top editors and news directors, would you believe him? Thanks to the Society of Professional Journalists’ Freelancer Directory, this isn’t a far-fetched idea.

SPJ’s Freelancer Directory can put your work at the fingertips of the country’s top editors and news directors. The directory enables independent journalists, who are members of the Society, to post information and links to work samples online for free. This same list is viewable by editors and news directors from around the world. They can search by state, specialty or both. All you have to do is post your best work and wait for the calls to come.

To help ensure these decision makers are aware of your work, SPJ will send out regular announcements to more than 5,000 editors and news directors, explaining the benefits of using our directory.

If you are a current member of SPJ, visit the directory Web page with your username and password to complete the registration and submit your work samples. If you are not a current SPJ member, join today and let SPJ start working for you.

For more information about SPJ membership, please contact Membership Coordinator Linda Hall at (317) 927-8000, ext. 203.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

Sincerely,

Joe Skeel
Society of Professional Journalists

What to do in a down economy? Freelance

By Dana Blozis

When I attended the national SPJ conference in Atlanta last month, I was overwhelmed by the depressing state of the journalism industry. The consistent message was that the industry is in turmoil, newsrooms are laying off, and we need to do more with less. While that may be true, there remains a need for good journalists and a successful career is still possible, if you have the patience and persistence to stick with it. One career possibility is that of the freelance writer, the coveted-but-elusive path of someone who is compelled to write.

Imagine waking up to the sounds of the birds singing rather than your alarm clock, casually strolling to your office in sweatpants and a My Chemical Romance t-shirt, being in control of your own daily schedule, and reviewing story ideas while sipping homemade, fresh-brewed coffee on your deck. It may seem too good to be true, but it is, indeed, possible. I’m living proof.

My path to the wacky world of freelance writing began about six years ago. After a 15-year career in the corporate world, I felt something lacking. I had a burning desire to write and nothing I did could quiet it. Through a connection at work, I was introduced to the editor of the Lafayette Leader, a local weekly community paper in Indiana. I showed her samples of my work gleaned from my work portfolio, and she hired me on the spot. I wrote light-hearted human interest stories for the Leader for six months while retaining my day job.

Through another work pal, I landed a second freelance gig in town before moving to Washington State for a new job. I had to give up the first freelance client because that work was locally based, but I was able to retain the second because that publication, Inside Classified, was an international trade journal for the newspaper advertising industry. It was a great gig to gain some interviewing and reporting experience, acquire some clips and make a few bucks on the side. I still write for them every month.

Fast forward nine months and I was without a job. I had been laid off by my new employer and, despite my experience and business degree, I wasn’t able to find another job that was a good fit for me. Panicked, I applied for unemployment and combed the want ads for jobs. I couldn’t find another full-time job in my field, but I did find several local publications looking for freelancers. For the next six months, I cobbled together an income by doing freelance assignments for The Bellingham Herald, Whatcom Independent and Northwest Business Monthly; working a flexible part-time job that paid my rent; and collecting unemployment for a few months. Within a year and a half, I was able to quit my part-time job to become a full-time freelancer.

That was more than three years ago. Since those first frightening months of unemployment, I’ve written for half a dozen newspapers and more than a dozen magazines. My work has appeared in The Seattle Times, Seattle Metropolitan, South Sound magazine, HS Today, GSN:  Government Security News and more. I now make a comfortable full-time living from the comfort of my home office, and I couldn’t be happier to be in control of my own career.

My point in sharing this story with you is not to bore you with how I made it work, but rather to encourage you to think beyond the traditional journalism route (college-job-better job). You don’t necessarily have to go from one full-time reporting job to another. You can try different things while retaining your full-time job, until you find a good fit. Test the waters by writing for a non-competing publication in your area. Ask if you could cover a story for it, submit a column, or pitch a specific idea. Tell the editor you’d like to learn more about the publication and its audience, and see if you can try it on a part-time or fill-in basis. Another option is to pitch a unique story idea to a local magazine. Offer them the idea and explain why you’re the writer to do the story.

This try-on-the-fly method allows you to sample the freelance world without losing the security of your full-time job and benefits. It also provides you with some additional income, clips, experience and references that you can take with you wherever you go. Whether you ride the industry’s wave of uncertainty or carve out your own niche, there is a place for you if you want to freelance. Check it out – you just might find that the freelance life is what you’ve been looking for all along!

Dana Blozis is a full-time freelance writer in the Seattle area. In addition to writing for publication, she writes and edits for individuals, small businesses and nonprofits. For more information about Blozis or to sign-up for her free monthly writing & editing newsletter, visit www.virtuallyyourz.com.

Freelance committee report

Hi all. I compiled this freelance committee report after meeting with freelancers this month in Atlanta at SPJ's annual conference. The report conveys the direction we envisioned for the committee during this meeting. You'll see it's brief, and I invite you to read it through and comment on it. Thank you! Amy Green, freelance committee chairwoman.

Members. As a committee we decided anyone who wants to participate is welcome. However five members will steer the committee. These members are:

Amy Green, chairwoman

Amy Green is a freelance journalist for PEOPLE, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor and many others. She specializes in faith, ethics and social issues, and her work also has appeared in Christianity Today, Sojourners, Charisma and with Religion News Service. She is a former Associated Press reporter in Nashville, Tenn., and in 2006 she worked for a month in Boston as an editor on the national desk of the Monitor. She is an active member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the freelance committee chairwoman for Society of Professional Journalists. She is a journalism graduate of the University of Florida, and she works and lives in Orlando.

Stephenie Overman, vice chairwoman

Stephenie Overman is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in workplace and health care issues. She is editor of Staffing Management magazine and has been editor of Executive Talent magazine and Human Resource Management News. She has written for a variety of publications, including the Los Angeles Business Journal, Daily Labor Report, Bulletin to Management, Employee Relations Weekly, HR Magazine, Independent Business and Working Smart. She is currently writing a book, “Next Generation Wellness at Work.” She is past president of the Washington D.C. and New Jersey SPJ chapters and is proud to have received a Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Chapter Member Award. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Ball State University and a master’s degree in labor studies from the University of the District of Columbia. She also has taught news writing at Rutgers University.

Kathy Ehrich Dowd, freelancer for PEOPLE, USA Today, Brides.com and Women's World. Hoboken, N.J.

Bruce Shutan, freelancer for Employee Benefit News, Human Resource Executive, Plan Sponsor and Variety. Los Angeles.

Emily Perlman Abedon, freelancer for Redbook, Child, Parents and Cosmo Girl. Charleston, S.C.

Meetings. Committee members will meet quarterly by phone, in January, April, August and October. We will depend on SPJ equipment to host these teleconferences.

The Blog. Our primary means of communication will be The Independent Journalist, at http://spj.org/blog/blogs/freelance/. Here committee members and freelancers will post announcements, job ads and how-to writings on the freelance life. Among these features will be "Editor of the Moment," in which an SPJ editor who works with freelancers will write about his or her job, freelance needs and pitches that he or she wants to see.

Conference wrap-up

Friendly reminder

For those of us who file quarterly, taxes are due today. Happy Monday.

SPJ's Legal Defense Fund

By Julie Kay

SPJ's Legal Defense Fund is another resource for freelancers.

The Legal Defense Fund Committee oversees the fund, a unique account that can be tapped to provide journalists with legal or direct financial assistance. Application to the fund is approved by either a small committee or the national board, depending on the level of assistance sought. The committee works throughout the year raising funds for LDF.

Purpose of the Fund
SPJ collects and distributes contributions for aiding journalists in defending the freedom of speech and press guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

The primary role of the Legal Defense Fund is to initiate and support litigation that enforces public access to government records and proceedings, which can be the most expensive way to defend the First Amendment. The fund can also be a source of support for FOI hotlines, coalitions and newsletters, as well as for legislative lobbying activities aimed at enforcing public access to government records and proceedings.

All requests for money from the Legal Defense Fund will be weighed with special consideration for activities that will effect the most far-reaching and positive outcomes.

How to Request an LDF Grant
Download and complete a LDF application (PDF), stating specifically the purpose for which you are seeking assistance. Be sure to apply any documentation you have to support your request.

If your request is an emergency, call national headquarters at 317/927-8000 or call the chairs of either of the Society’s Legal Defense Fund or the Freedom of Information committees. Be prepared to fax some documentation.

It is helpful for you to first enlist the support of a local SPJ chapter president or regional director. National headquarters can supply names and phones numbers.

Note: A six-person review committee can make decisions on financial requests of up to $1,000 at any time during the year. The Society’s board of directors must review any requests for more than $1,000. The group meets each year in April and October.

Julie Kay is chairwoman of SPJ's Legal Defense Fund Committee. She is an award-winning South Florida journalist who covers the southeast United States for the National Law Journal. Kay also freelances for PEOPLE, New York Post and C-Span. She spoke last weekend about freelancing at SPJ's conference in Atlanta.