Freelancing, ITV, Screenmedia, Guardian

Podcast, journo tips and journo jobs

Feb 05, 2021

Damn technology! We are so sorry this is late! Substack has been testing us all day - not letting us save, edit or copy. Enjoy your Friday, pour yourself a nice cuppa and settle down - it’s nearly the weekend!

From Katie B…

A new month, a new outlook! Happy February everyone! From writing job applications to accomplishing work tasks, this week has been busy! I’ve found taking annual leave to go out for walks and spend time with my Mam has been a saviour for me this week. Nature is so important for your mental wellbeing! I love the outdoors, even when the weather is a bit gloomy!

I’m currently reading a few pages of the Guilty Feminist every day - it’s so interesting! Being involved in activism in my job, it’s interesting to read the history of feminism from different perspectives and the impact it has had on society today - definitely worth a read!

From Katie W…

I have grown leaps and bounds in my freelance journey this week. I have a pitching spreadsheet, a growing list of editor details and bagged 2 shifts for a publication. I’ve been working towards this since 2019. I keep reminding myself that it does take time and it's okay to go at my own pace. It is also totally okay to admit when you don't know something. Despite the 4 years studying journalism, there is still so much I need to learn and I want to take the time to do this, knowing it will make me a better journalist.

There are so many workshops, courses and resources out there and I really want to delve deeper into them, since it doesn't look like I'll be going back to work anytime soon. Why am I telling you all this? Because I think it’s good remember that there are so many different ways to learn in this industry.

In the episode below, Shahed and Emma discuss their unique way into the industry and the challenges they have faced.

Question of the week

From Ashleigh Smith: Social media advice for increasing my audience on Facebook and Twitter?

Hi Ashley!,

Social media can be such a challenging sector to break into these days! I always find managing my time wisely by forward planning content always helps. Websites such as Trello may help you to organise your projects into boards. In one glance, it tells you what tasks are being worked on, what member of your team is working on the task at hand and how much progress is being made.

I find having a monthly/weekly calendar overview helps me to organise tasks too. Split your day into morning, afternoon and evening and tick the task off as you accomplish it. Whether you like writing in a notebook or writing notes online, figure out what works best for your productivity!

Got a Question of the Week for us? Drop it in the comment box and we’ll get answering in the next newsletter.

NN Reacts - what we love:

Katie B: In preparation for International Women’s Day on March 8, people around the world would have joined forces in the Global Count women’s march to give a voice to the cultural, economic and social barriers people face. While the pandemic may have put a stop to in-person marches, Global Count are celebrating their fifth anniversary by creating an online global march and digital poll designed for intersectional voices to be heard. Read more about it here.

Katie W: I am loving the amount of budget friendly workshops that are available right now. Lily and Emma (who we nattered with a couple of weeks ago👀) are launching lunchtime webinars for just a tenner! They are the pros in this industry so you can definitely trust their advice.

Who to follow

Amna Saleem is a screenwriter, journalist and broadcaster from Glasgow and has created a wonderful radio sitcom called ‘Beta Female’ .

Assa Samaké-Roman is a french journalist in Scotland. She has a strong portfolio but this one about Scotland’s relationship with the EU caught my eye.

Ellis Palmer is a journalist for BBC World Service. We recently watched a brilliant piece by BBC Ideas that focuses on ‘how best to talk about diversity’.

Jack Edwards is a 22 year old university graduate, youtuber and author who talks about his personal university experience and how to make higher education more accessible for future students.

Song of the Week

Katie W: In light of me grabbing opportunities by the nuggets - it can only be one song for me this week!

Katie B: Morecambe & Wise never fail to get me through the week!

Journo Jobs and Opps

With the start of a new month, freelance call outs have kept on coming! Unless stated otherwise, everything is paid.

FREELANCE: Diyora Shadijanova is looking for food related pitches for Gal-Dem

FREELANCE: Another Gal-Dem call out from Moya Lothian-Mclean with an emphasis on outside London. We would love to see some Scottish and Northern voices!

FREELANCE: Avid readers! Sian Cain from Guardian Books has put out a plea for news orientated and reported features.

FREELANCE: Love theatre, art, fashion, beauty, feminism? Burlesque Online is asking for your features!

FREELANCE: Aurelia Magazine, a online magazine focused on the opinions of marginalised genders are now accepting pitches. Shahed has put together a nifty pitching thread. They are still a small publication but are paying their writers a small fee (£40). Got to start somewhere right?

FREELANCE: Observer Innovation section are asking for your stories. For more information, contact Jordan Zakarin.

FREELANCE: Media Matters For Democracy are reaching out for reported features that ‘critically investigate’ internet access in Pakistan.

FREELANCE: Sammy Maine has put a call out for essays for music zine Gold Flake Paint - an indie publication from Scotland. Since it’s a zine, we can’t find examples of work online but here is a post that includes a page spread with an article included to give you pitching inspiration.

FREELANCE: Helen Coffey wants your colour travel pieces for the Independent.

STIRLING: A PR and public affairs position with Sisterme Scotland.

GLASGOW: Screenmedia are hiring freelance copywriters.

EDINBURGH: Copywriter for 4 days a week at Communisis. It states “a number of years worth of experience”.

YORK: Part time Content writer for Go Hire. Perfect for students or freelancers!

YORKSHIRE: Reach are looking to expand their pool of freelancers and Wayne Ankers is looking for journalists in Yorkshire to do some casual work. Some will be remote, some will be community reporting.

LEEDS: With a salary of 29k-35k Activate Group limited are looking for an experienced Marketing Copywriter.

LEEDS: Modo25 urgently need a PR Manager!

MANCHESTER: Now this sounds exciting! Reporter/Presenting role with Entrepreneurs Circle. They require a drivers licence.

MANCHESTER: Content and PR Writer for Marstep Resourcing Solutions

VARIOUS LOCATIONS: ITV have opened up their trainee scheme. They have various jobs on their website all around the UK.