In series 17 we chat to new freelancers about how they are developing their journalism careers. In today's episode we chat to Tom Matsuda about his range of income streams, why he went freelance and the skills he is learning along the way.

Guest links

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommatsuda/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/_tommatsuda/

Resource links

The Freelance Writing Network https://www.thefreelancewritingnetwork.com/

Study Hall https://members.studyhall.xyz/sign-up

Recommendation

Can I make more money working for myself? https://www.ft.com/content/02076f10-8da0-4e42-8e6c-9bf2d37fa952

In this week's show we chat to Mariam Amini who is a new freelancer writing about faith, travel and diaspora culture. She talks about starting out as a freelance, how she has built up her portfolio and the challenges of creating financial stability when starting out.

Guest links

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-amini/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aminiarchives/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@aminiarchives/video/7355413066328182048

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To be transgender and religious is to live a life of tension https://hyphenonline.com/2025/03/18/muslim-transgender-religion-faith-tension-parents-reaction/

We continue our series delving into the working lives of new freelance journalists finding their way in the first couple of years. In this episode we speak to James Banyard about securing bylines with the Guardian, i and Positive News and setting up his own newsletter Pitch Fail Club to help other freelance writers.

Guest Links

Website https://jamesbanyardwriter.wordpress.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-banyard-446612290/

Pitch Fail Club newsletter https://pitchfailclub.substack.com/about

Resource links

Freelancing for Journalists webinars https://www.tickettailor.com/events/freelancingforjournalists

Freelancing for Journalists workshops https://payhip.com/FreelancingforJournalists

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Phones on the dance floor: where do we go from here? https://djmag.com/features/phones-dancefloor-where-do-we-go-here

In the latest series of the podcast we're digging into what life is like for newbie freelance journalists. We kick off with Emma Truscott who works permanently as a house sitter while pursuing her career as a travel journalist. She tells us about her breakthrough article and what it's like to always be on the move with no fixed abode.

Guest links

Substack https://wheresems.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-truscott/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wheres_ems/

Resource links

Travel Writing Academy https://www.thetravelwritingacademy.com/masterclass

Trusted Housesitters https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/

Recommendation

I travelled 2,160 miles from London to Lanzarote without flying

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/canary-islands/train-travel-london-to-lanzarote/

In this special bonus episode Lily and Emma sit down to do an annual appraisal together. They discuss what went well over the past year and what their ambitions are for 2026. They also scrub out previous goals and chat about what is important to them in the short and long term going forward.

Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year!

Our previous appraisal episodes:

2021: https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself

2022: https://freelancing-for-journalists.captivate.fm/episode/how-to-appraise-yourself-part2

2024: https://freelancingforjournalists.substack.com/p/time-for-a-self-appraisal

Today we speak to the winner of Best Investigation at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2025. Will Coldwell's investigation into the death of an offshore worker raised important questions about industry safety and was highlighted by judges as a significance piece of freelance work. Will discussed how to win the trust of sources when reporting sensitive subjects and how to craft long reads to keep the reader engaged to the very end.

Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year!

Guest

willcoldwell.com

@willcoldwell.bsky.social

https://www.economist.com/1843/2021/09/22/petrol-pints-and-pasta-meet-one-of-the-lorry-drivers-plugging-britains-shortages

We are kick starting the New Year with a fascinating discussion with Harriet Grant, winner of Best Feature in the 2025 Freelance Journalism Awards. Harriet impressed judges with her deep dive into the impact of porn algorithms on men. In today's episode she explains how she tackles issues of online child abuse as a freelance journalist and the ethical and legal issues she has to grabble with.

Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year!

Guest

Harriet Grant https://www.linkedin.com/in/harriet-grant-5a797b25/

Resources

Harriet’s deep dive into the impact of porn algorithms on young people was praised for its research and persistence

Safer Lives https://www.saferlives.com/

Just in time for New Year's Eve we speak to freelance English wine writer Rebecca Pitcairn. A regional journalist turned wine writer, Rebecca was winner of Best Specialist at the Freelance Journalism Awards 2025. She explains how to develop a niche, within a niche and the benefit of hosting your own podcast series.

Get your free portfolio today. We also have a special offer for our FFJ community. Sign up via the link above to any paid plan for 20% off for the first year!

Guest

Rebecca Pitcairn https://www.instagram.com/theenglishwinediaries/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-pitcairn-a0546127/

Resources

Rebecca impressed judges with her passion and quality reporting on the UK’s wine industry. She also hosts “The English Wine Diaries” podcast.