Long story short...
"Don't write for free" is very easy to say when you already have national bylines
If you were on Twitter on Monday night, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’d found yourself in the midst of WWIII. My timeline was full of professional journalists with national bylines quote-tweeting teenagers and twenty-somethings, telling them by offering or taking unpaid writing and editing jobs they were being harmful and selfish.
I toyed with whether or not I should talk about writing for free in this week’s newsletter, because I already summarised my thoughts in a thread that gives the Iliad a run for its money.
Not only did I write for free when I was starting out, but I now run The Indiependent – a publication that offers unpaid writing and editorial experience to budding journalists from around the world. I’m proactively trying to monetise the site so that we can establish commissioning budgets and compensate editors for their time. But in the meantime, I still think we offer value to upcoming journalists: we function as a communal portfolio site where new writers are taught i) how to pitch ii) how to write to a house style and iii) given extensive notes on how to improve their writing. The brilliant, brilliant editors are super nice: they reply to all emails, even if it’s to say ‘no’, and they realise that everyone has to start somewhere.
Certainly in the early stages of your career, I think there is a lot more value in being ‘kindly’ edited than there is receiving an insubstantial sum of money for your work.
At the same time, I know that there are still a tremendous number of access problems in journalism. But I believe the change needs to come from the top down, and that until those changes are made, spaces like The Indiependent are a vital resource for young people to get writing experience (especially if those individuals haven’t gone to university and might not have student publications as an option).
The only reason I’m reigniting the ‘Should you write for free?’ debate here is to say that although the journalism industry can often seem like a hostile sector to try and enter – especially if you’re not white or middle class – there are a great number of brilliant organisations and individuals committed to improving the situation.
PressPad is one such organisation: they are a social enterprise that matches aspiring journos with affordable and subsidised accommodation from fellow journos to improve media diversity when undertaking internships and work experience. They’ve got some great events on the horizon, including an evening with Dolly Alderton:
As well as organisations like PressPad, there are a great number of individual editors and journalists who are willing to provide advice, support and guidance to early-career stage writers.
Since posting my original Twitter thread about unpaid writing work, I have been humbled by the number of people who reached out to show their support for The Indiependent. Many of them are journalists or editors who I have admired from afar for years, thinking that one day I would like to be like them.
There are some truly lovely people who work in this industry, and we should focus on these individuals rather than the negative Nancies who frame journalism as an elite club that only a fortunate few can join. Long story short: be nice. Kindness costs absolutely nothing at all.
My week
… in editing
You know how they say if you love something let it go? Yeah, well, I let someone else review Taylor Swift’s surprise album ‘evermore’ for The Indiependent rather than doing it myself. It’s a great record, and it’s a great review, too.
… in writing
Pitches: 1
It was a time-sensitive pitch about Matt Hancock pretend crying on TV that didn’t stick – I got the editor’s out-of-office and then when I emailed his colleague I spelt his name wrong. Epic fail 🤦♀️ (I immediately apologised, but like, I don’t blame him for not responding. I wouldn’t reply either…)
Commissions: 2 (£80 for 850 words and £40 for 2,000 words)
One was off the back of a pitch that I sent last week, the second commission was from someone who reached out to me directly off the back of a Twitter exchange.
Articles written: 3
Articles published: 2
I wrote a small news piece about the surprise Taylor album. I also wrote this opinion piece for The Indiependent: ‘Women are shouldering unpaid domestic work: we can’t let COVID-19 erode feminist progress’.
… in listening/watching
I went to another of Terri White’s incredible FREE masterclasses this week - this time with Scarlett Russell (Entertainment Editor, The Sunday Times’ Style). I found it fascinating to learn about the complex relationship management that goes into the profiles and interviews you read in your favourite magazines and papers. A salient takeaway was: “Never lie – even if you’re being lied to!”
I’ve been listening to the podcast ‘Views Our Own’ by Sophie Kiderlin and Mischa Alexander – it’s a young journalism podcast discussing all aspects of the media industry.
… in reading
Loads of great stuff from New Statesman this week: see Sarah Manavis’ piece ‘Why Klarna’s millenial customers are losing faith’, Anna Leszkiewicz’s profile of Jacqueline Wilson, and Daniel Levitin’s Joni Mitchell interview. I rewatched Love Actually this week and listened to ‘Both Sides Now’ for a good hour, in the dark
I found Polly Smythe’s piece for VICE endlessly fascinating: ‘Introducing: the worst guy ever’
I liked this NME cover story with Dominic Harrison, AKA Yungblud
Adele Walton’s piece on ‘The dark truth about Dubai’s influencer marketing’ was interesting given the number of Love Island stars currently in Dubai
Teddy Jamieson’s piece ‘Shane MacGowan: Love anger and alcohol’ was a curious look at a man with a very obvious dependency on drink
Upcoming events
I’m going to a members-only event from Jericho Writers called ‘Pitch Perfect’ tomorrow.
I’m also going to watch Bombay Bicycle Club’s livestreamed show on Tuesday. ICYMI: check out my interview with the band’s bassist, Ed.
Opportunities
Birmingham: Reach is looking for an audience editor to work with the award-winning team at BirminghamLive
Birmingham: The Greater Birmingham Chambers would like a Press & PR Assistant
Edinburgh: Macquarie Group Ltd is looking for a media and communications executive
Glasgow: STV want a social media executive
Glasgow: The University of Glasgow is looking for a social media specialist
Edinburgh: Storm Ideas is a digital and content agency is keen to recruit a video editor
Leeds: The Vintage Clothing Kilo Sale would like a marketing and social media executive
Leeds: The Leeds University Union is looking for communication assistants
Liverpool: Accelerate Agency is keen to work with SEO content writers
Liverpool: This apprenticeship with Modern Sky Records looks super cool
Liverpool: A catering company is looking for a social media content specialist
Manchester: Reach is recruiting for a content and audience editor to work on Manchester Evening News / MyBrands
Manchester: The University of Manchester is looking for a digital communications officer
Manchester: Search Consultancy need an editorial assistant (3 month contract)
Manchester: Interact Intranet is looking for a content writer with B2B experience
Middlesborough: The Northern Skills Group want a junior content producer
Newbridge: NFU Scotland is looking for a communications and social media assistant
Newcastle: Bellway Homes need a copywriter, stat
Newcastle: Sage is looking for a global copywriter
Salford: That’s TV is still looking for a TV reporter/video journalist
Salford: The BBC is looking for an assistant curator to work on BBC Sounds curation
Salford: The University of Salford want a student communications and campaigns officer
Sheffield: GFL is looking for a communications, digital and marketing officer
Stoke-on-Trent: Dandy Marketing Agency is looking for a SEO & content executive on a 6-month FT contract
Nottingham: Impression is on the hunt for a digital PR data specialist
Nottingham: Reach is keen for a community reporter to join the NottinghamshireLive team
Wakefield: The Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust is still looking for a digital communications officer
Wigan: The University Collegiate School would like a PR, media and communications officer
Wigan: Wigan Council is looking for a temporary assistant media officer (maternity cover)
York: Product Gym have multiple content writer gigs (remote)
York: City of York Council is still looking for two marketing and communication officers
PS) If you like this newsletter, please tell your friends to subscribe! You can also Tweet me personally @BettyKirkers or via our official newsletter account at @DistrictPeaked