Juggling work and freelancing
Podcasts, journo tips and journo jobs
Hey! Welcome back to the natter and if this is the first time you’re getting this newsletter - welcome to the Northern Natter family! Since launching our newsletter last week we have had SO many new sign ups, thank you! And thank you to everyone who commented and messaged us about it.
This week, we were on a collab with Views Our Own, a podcast for young journalists by Sophie Kiderlin and Mischa Alexander. We were on the opposite side of the table, this time as guests, we chatted about the differences between reporting in the North and South of England. You can listen more here:
We love to know your thoughts, so feel free to drop us a DM or comment on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook; join in on the conversation!
So what have we been working on this week?
Katie B: Balancing a full time job with podcast life, attending weekend workshops focused on career advice, creating Instagram content, writing newsletters, planning three episodes for Series 2. In my job role at the moment, I help students create and grow different policies and campaigns and train students in career development and positive activism.
Katie W: Trying to find freelance and shift work. I’m also struggling to sleep and divide my time to different projects through the day so if anyone has tips on how to do that - please tweet me @katie_wjourno. My inbox is full of rejections and I’m waiting to hear back from a few editors. But we keep on pushing through! It has made me think about my self worth and what I’m willing to put up with. I’m refusing to work for free (apart from this podcast of course, but if you like you can buy me latte) and continuing to stand my ground.
Reviews from listeners:
We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support from our listeners! The content we create and produce is for you and always will be!
As you read this newsletter, we are recording our first episode of Series 2 with the delightful Emma and Lily from Freelancing for Journalists!
We’re discussing the financial side of being a freelance journalist. We are really hoping to get some tips for ourselves here - 2021 is the year we are both looking to start pitching and get some freelance work.
We wanted to take our time with this series, to give us time to edit, breathe, work and prepare. That is why we have three episode recordings booked within a week of each other. This. Is. Fine. *internal screaming*.
We have some really great guests lined up with bold and important topics on the agenda to natter about and can’t wait until we can share them with you.
We charted #95 in UK careers podcasts on Apple?!
It might not seem much but to make it into the top 100 with our little natters from Scotland and The North all about journalism and the media - it’s a big deal. We would love for Season 2 to push it even higher. So if you want to help us, give us a listen on your favourite podcast platform and share - thank you!
NN reacts
Katie B:
Katie B: Podcast producer and Youtuber Leena Norms!
Leena is a hilarious, insightful woman who covers topics such as career advice, life choices and general lockdown/life humour! I’ve started to read / listen to podcasts before I start work at 9am - it sets me up to start my day!
Katie W: President Biden has been sworn in!
I’m currently watching the Inauguration of Biden and Harris and it so refreshing to finally see a new President. Harris is the first woman to be a VP and she was sworn in by Justice Sonya Sotomayor, the first Latina woman to serve in the Supreme Court. It really does feel like a big F You to White Supremacy! My Queen, Lady Gaga gave me goosebumps to a song I still don’t know the words to - but who needs to understand words when she belts like that. Mon’ yersel hen!
Jobs and Opps
The bit you’ve all been waiting for - Scotland and Northern friendly jobs… because we don’t want to move to London.
FREELANCE: Screen Rants are looking for writers and editors on film, tv and gaming. It pays and you can write about things you love!
FREELANCE: Vicki Turk from WiredUK loves commissioning long form pieces on travel. Obviously we can’t travel right now so get in there to pitch about your town/city. She wants local pieces! We love love LOVE this at Northern Natter. We want to see Scottish and Northern pieces, and if you do pitch - please share it with us.
FREELANCE: Team Leafie (love that name btw) is looking for journalists within the cannabis community for either regular or one-off pieces.
FREELANCE: Jenna Mahale is commissioning for I.D this year. She is looking for a diverse range of underrepresented voices. It would be great to get diverse voices from Scotland and Northern England involved - let us know how you get on if you do pitch.
FREELANCE: Ashdown Group are looking to engage an experienced, commercial content writer on a freelance basis to help produce regular, engaging content relevant to their customer base. £20-£30 per hour.
EDINBURGH: Gilchrist Recruitment Partnership are looking for a Content Editor.
EDINBURGH: Core Assest Consulting are looking for a Social Media Specialist. They aren’t asking for any qualifications and favour experience.
GLASGOW: Broadcast Radio Journalist at Global (The folk who do Smooth and Heart and Capital FM) - it sounds like a dream gig!
ABERDEEN: SEO Copywriter needed at MJS Digital. Temporary role, remote, but expecting to go back to the office once it is possible.
MANCHESTER: Beauty Writer wanted at THG. Easy role to apply for!
REMOTE: Writer wanted for The Soul Publishing for their client Bright Side. Their website looks fun!
NORTH EAST: Headliners are looking for a journalist/youth worker at Arts Council England. Home-based during COVID lockdown, £26,000 per annum pro rata, part time 21 hours a week including some evenings and weekends.
NEWCASTLE: Reach PLC are looking for a North East football app and engagement editor. Ideal candidate will be an NCJT qualified journalist, ideally with content editing or social media management experience.
Song of the week
Katie B - Good as Hell, Glastonbury 2019, Lizzo
Katie W - Not exactly a song but this is my go-to podcast at the moment!
Who to follow this week:
Emma Boyd - Emma is a broadcast journalist for BBC Sport and founder of sport podcast ‘Its All Sport To Me’
Evie Muir - Evie is a freelance writer and community manager for Restless Network.
Harry Mitchell - Harry is a video producer, writer and designer, station manager at Air3 Radio and contributor for BBC The Social.
Dani Cole - Dani is a journalist at Manchester Mill and writes at various news platforms, including The Chronicle and Aurelia Magazine.
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