Pressfolios: a new option for freelance portfolios
A potential client recently asked me for some writing samples. “No problem,” I thought, and went to my website to gather some links. But when I clicked — horrors — several of my choicest samples opened to a “404-page not found” message. Fortunately, in an uncharacteristic fit of foresight and organization, I’d saved most of the […]
Tips on writing long-form journalism from AAN
by H.G. Watson It’s not often you get to sit in a room with three people who have, respectively, lived with and written about crack gangs in Los Angeles, exposed the financial crimes of some of the most high profile people in America and played a round of golf with former President Bill Clinton. But […]
Airchecker: an online resource for radio freelancers
Are you a radio freelancer? Then there’s a new online home for you to explore: Airchecker – originally a news blog for Canadian radio professionals – has launched a social network. Airchecker was created in 2007 by a Canadian radio personality who prefers to remain anonymous. Seeing a need for a one-stop source of radio-related news, […]
The Born Freelancer on the Rebirth of Radio Drama in Canada
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer shares personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? Your input is welcome in the comments. Just over a year ago I wrote about the death of drama at CBC Radio, that is, the format – not any behind the scenes […]
“A topic is not a story.” A post mortem of a postmortem on Columbia.
by Lesley Evans Ogden One of the most difficult but also most valuable lessons I’ve learned in making the transition from scientist to science journalist is that a topic is not a story. Scientists are often driven by passion for topics – bat behavior, particle acceleration, human genome sequencing… Journalists, in contrast, need a […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #10 – Amy Jo Ehman
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. 1. What’s the most important thing you’ve done over the years to develop your skills as a writer? I worked as a journalist before I became […]
The Born Freelancer on the Art of Collaboration, Pt 3
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer shares personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? Your input is welcome in the comments. Several months ago I wrote about the art of collaborative partnerships (Part One is here; Part Two is here). It seems to be a topic of continuing […]
Traits of a successful freelancer. Have you got what it takes?
by Lesley Evans Ogden In May I had the good fortune of spending a week at the Santa Fe Science Writer’s Workshop. There I joined a class of 52 students whose minds were expanded by learning from top American science journalists – staff or freelancers for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, and MIT’s […]
Google+ for writers
So I’ve been thinking a lot about Google+ lately. I’m not happy about this. It’s a site I’ve been trying to ignore for two years now. I mean I’m barely keeping up with Twitter, and my LinkedIn page is a poor, stunted thing. Do I really need another social media site to neglect? But last […]
The Born Freelancer on the Art of the Cold Call
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer shares personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? Your input is welcome in the comments. Several posts back I interviewed a marketing guru and we discussed various forms of marketing. What he didn’t mention were some of the old school […]
