The freelance market can be precarious, especially for those who are just starting out. Journalists complain about poor pay, unclear expectations and needy editors - a contract can help you avoid these problems. Columbia Visuals reporter Joanna Plucinska met with Bill Loundy, the Director of Talent Management at Content.ly, to discuss some of the things that every freelancer should keep in mind when drafting a contract.
We spoke to several Indian journalists to understand what it’s like working as a female visual journalist in India today, how they overcome the limitations of working in a society that still retains a strong gender bias, and what advice they’d give to young women who’d like to work in India someday.
We interviewed J-school alum Dave Mayers about his time working as a freelancer in South Africa, and lessons learned.
While there are many guidelines for writing a print pitch, it seems like information on pitching video stories is scarce. We spoke to video editors from several publications to figure out what makes a strong video pitch.
Photojournalist Nicole Tung shows us the safety gear she takes on assignment. "If I'm going to the front lines or just going out and about where things can turn deadly very quickly I always have my medical pack with me," says Tung. The flack jacket, photo and safety gear, can weigh between 50 and 60 pounds.
Libyan men, many of whom were regular civilians just days before, picked up weapons and heavy machinery at the beginning of March to fight against Ghaddafi loyalists outside of Ajdabiya on March 2, 2011 in eastern Libya. / Photo by Nicole Tung
A woman holds a picture of her son, who she claims was killed in the 1996 Abu Salim massacre, along with over 1,200 other men. Benghazi, Libya, February 26, 2011. / Photo by Nicole Tung
Photojournalist Nicole Tung shares the lessons she wishes she had known before covering a war for the first time.
Novice freelancers (and experienced freelancers, too) may have a hard time knowing what to charge for their work. What are the fair going rates? Learn how to calculate fees and negotiate with an editor.
