#PROTOcall Episode 012 on ‘How to be a freelance journalist in a crisis’ will start in 30 mins! It’s our SEASON FINALE, so if you haven’t signed up for it yet, do so now at pro.to/call
Our hosts, @nayantaran and @arorakim will be assisted by Content Manager @sayakd who will be behind the scenes. Please reach out to him if you’re having any issues with the #PROTOcall #CoveringCovid
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd Our guests:
• @Raksha_Kumar who reports for @nytimes, @Guardian, @BBC, @scroll_in
• @SCMPNews Longreads Editor @davebesseling
• @thatdoggonelady who has written for @forbes_india, @IndianExpress, @livemint
will speak on how freelancers can survive in times of crisis #PROTOcall
• @Raksha_Kumar who reports for @nytimes, @Guardian, @BBC, @scroll_in
• @SCMPNews Longreads Editor @davebesseling
• @thatdoggonelady who has written for @forbes_india, @IndianExpress, @livemint
will speak on how freelancers can survive in times of crisis #PROTOcall
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd @Raksha_Kumar @nytimes @guardian @BBC @scroll_in @SCMPNews @davebesseling @thatdoggonelady @forbes_india @IndianExpress @livemint With several newsrooms having to lay off staff, make cutbacks or close down altogether, a lot of journalists have now been pushed into freelance work without having planned for it. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd @Raksha_Kumar @nytimes @guardian @BBC @scroll_in @SCMPNews @davebesseling @thatdoggonelady @forbes_india @IndianExpress @livemint On the other hand, journalists who were already freelancing are seeing an alarming decrease in work prospects. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd @Raksha_Kumar @nytimes @guardian @BBC @scroll_in @SCMPNews @davebesseling @thatdoggonelady @forbes_india @IndianExpress @livemint For our season finale, we’ll get perspectives from independent journalists and an editor on how freelance journalists can navigate these difficult times. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd @Raksha_Kumar @nytimes @guardian @BBC @scroll_in @SCMPNews @davebesseling @thatdoggonelady @forbes_india @IndianExpress @livemint You can watch a live stream of today’s session right here on our Twitter page from 5 pm onwards! Keep watching this space. #PROTOcall #CoveringCovid
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd @Raksha_Kumar @nytimes @guardian @BBC @scroll_in @SCMPNews @davebesseling @thatdoggonelady @forbes_india @IndianExpress @livemint Of course, if you would rather actively participate and have your questions answered by experts than passively watch, you should register right away at pro.to/call and attend on @zoom_us.
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd @Raksha_Kumar @nytimes @guardian @BBC @scroll_in @SCMPNews @davebesseling @thatdoggonelady @forbes_india @IndianExpress @livemint @zoom_us We’ll start very shortly. Please ask your questions in the Q&A tab and feel free to converse in the chat box. Show us some love by tweeting with the hashtags #PROTOcall and #CoveringCovid. If you still haven’t registered: pro.to/call
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd @Raksha_Kumar @nytimes @guardian @BBC @scroll_in @SCMPNews @davebesseling @thatdoggonelady @forbes_india @IndianExpress @livemint @zoom_us We’re starting now! Log in for the #PROTOcall! #CoveringCovid
@nayantaran @arorakim @sayakd @Raksha_Kumar @nytimes @guardian @BBC @scroll_in @SCMPNews @davebesseling @thatdoggonelady @forbes_india @IndianExpress @livemint @zoom_us [LIVE] #PROTOcall 012 (Season Finale): ‘How to be a freelance journalist in a crisis’, with hosts @nayantaran & @arorakim, and guests @Raksha_Kumar, @SCMPNews’ @davebesseling and @thatdoggonelady. twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…
We're having some tech trouble going live but hang in there!
Okay, it looks like tech has won this battle! We can't get the streams up and running guys, sorry! We'll put the video up tomorrow on Facebook and share it here as well.
We start with @Raksha_Kumar telling us about the conversations she's had while working with @NWM_India to support laid off journalists. #PROTOcall #CoveringCovid
@Raksha_Kumar @NWM_India They've seen that freelancers are not seeing many commissions, people with 1-5 years experience are among the first laid off, but senior people with more experience see it too. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @NWM_India Advice from @thatdoggonelady: don't be a freelancer if you don't have savings. Magazines are shutting down before they can pay freelancers. If you decide to do it: just keep pitching. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @NWM_India @thatdoggonelady More from @thatdoggonelady: send at least 5 pitches a week. Id you don't hear back in a week, pitch elsewhere. Don't write for free. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @NWM_India @thatdoggonelady How to get an editor interested in your pitch? @davebesseling says: your pitch needs to be really good, it needs to stay with the editor. He commissions long pieces, and you need to know your stuff to write 6000 words. "I always want new people." #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @NWM_India @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling The two types of freelancers for @Raksha_Kumar: those who think in terms of how many articles to make x amount of money, and those who want to do a few high impact pieces a year. Many factors determine your success at each. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
Where you are and which publications you target will affect your success says @Raksha_Kumar. Meanwhile there are bills to pay, when you go after the 4 months of investigative journalism. But take heart: Editors always need content. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar .@thatdoggonelady tells us about her paid newsletter. It turned out she was spending 2 days a week working, so it should be paid. Her subscriber group is small but loyal and tells her it helps them. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady Sometimes pitches sit on @davebesseling's desk for weeks., so the topic can't get stale. But there's no real formula. Even when using the coronavirus for a pitch there has to be multiple angles to it. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling .@davebesseling: If you work really well on the pitch, it saves you time. The most imp. part of your work is finished. @Raksha_Kumar: an editor once told her she needed the story in one line, and Dave agreed. @thatdoggonelady: sometimes, you need more. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling Logistically, especially in difficult times, try to be part of multiple organisations that give you an ID card. But the main thing, says @Raksha_Kumar, is to stand your ground about your right to be there. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling On publications focussing on longform: @davebesseling says it's not going anywhere, but it's always going to be a niche thing. While management wants it for prestige, they don't always understand what goes into it.
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling What's it like writing on food and lifestyle and culture in these times? @thatdoggonelady says it's a welcome break given what's in the news now. "I have done more food stories in the past 2 months than in the past year." #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling Audience question: where do I begin? @davebesseling: what do you want to write about? That's the first thing to know. @Raksha_Kumar I would ask myself why I'm doing this, how do I want my journalism to grow. How much risk are you willing to take?
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling Find what you want to do and narrow the focus. Find groups and communities that you can join. @nayantaran says, don't keep watching other journalists, because it'll drive you crazy. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling @nayantaran On partial payment clauses and kill fees: @thatdoggonelady says, most Indian organisations don't have them in their contracts, and most of them wont even have a contract. You can ask the editor outright, but the probability of getting it is very low. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling @nayantaran Back to pitching! An audience question: how do you go about pitching when you don't have a beat or expertise to leverage. @davebesseling says, work with what you've got. If you've worked in an industry, leverage that. #CoveringCOVID #PROTOcall
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling @nayantaran .@thatdoggonelady: if your pitch is good, experience doesn't matter. You can work with the editor, but you have to get their attention. #CoveringCOVID #PROTOcall
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling @nayantaran Audience question: How long to wait? @thatdoggonelady sets herself a 2 week limit. Some places will tell you if you haven't heard from them in x time, pitch elsewhere. @Raksha_Kumar says it can vary depending on the publishing cycle of the publication. #CoveringCOVID #PROTOcall
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling @nayantaran Audience question: Can I pitch the same story to multiple places? @Raksha_Kumar: not the best idea. Send it to your top priority from there first. Even if it's a timebound story, give them a time by which you want to hear from them before you'll take it elsewhere. #PROTOcall
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling @nayantaran .@thatdoggonelady says, if you must send it multiple places, then you should clearly let everyone know, because it can lead to a very complicated situation. Also tell them when it's been accepted elsehwere. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
@Raksha_Kumar @thatdoggonelady @davebesseling @nayantaran .@davebesseling says that editors understand the situation of freelancers, and won't take it amiss if you do pitch to multiple places. Be polite, nice, and clear. Don't pick a fight with your editors. #PROTOcall #CoveringCOVID
