Journalist
Cathryn Scott, 29, Freelance journalist
How did you get into the job? I didn't "get" the job as such, rather it involved me leaving full-time employment and becoming self-employed. Freelance journalists work for any number of different publications - you approach them with ideas for articles, and hopefully they say yes. Alongside the writing, I've done some PR work, and journalism lecturing.
What's your job history? After my degree in Welsh at Swansea University, I got a place at Cardiff Journalism School on the Post Graduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism. I then became Arts and Features Editor at The Big Issue Cymru magazine. I had freelanced for this publication while I was at Cardiff and a job came up at exactly the right time. After five years, by which point I had become editor, I moved to edit the weekly women's style and beauty supplement at the Western Mail newspaper (national Welsh newspaper). I stayed there for 18 months before going freelance.
What are the best bits/worst bits of the job? The best bits are the freedom to work my own hours, work for myself rather than a boss, and not have to deal with all the office politics a staff job inevitably involves. I also love being able to write for a variety of publications on diverse issues.
The worst bits are that you don't get your monthly pay coming into your bank account - some clients can be slow payers, so you are always chasing payments and have to be really good at managing your money. And it can get lonely if you are working at home on your own all day.
Do you have any advice for wannabes? If you want to go freelance it helps to have an established journalism career behind you. This will enable you to gain valuable contacts, such as PRs, editors and people with interesting stories to tell, as well as a cuttings portfolio to show potential editors. Save enough money before taking the plunge to keep you going for three months or so, while you wait for payment from clients to come in.
What are the CV essentials for the job? A journalism qualification isn't essential, but it will help. Choose one recognised by the Periodicals Training Council (PTC) or the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), and make sure your course offers media law and shorthand. Good grammar and spelling are a must - editors will not employ you if you can't get the basics right - as are good writing skills.
Describe the application process:
A lot of jobs aren't advertised in media and so networking is very important. However The Guardian and The Independent both produce media supplements on a Monday. Most journalism jobs will ask you to send in a CV, covering letter, and some examples of your published work. You may be asked for feature ideas and an analysis of the publication. Freelancers have to pitch for work in much the same way as if they were applying for a staff journalism job.
Job description:
This can vary greatly depending on the type of journalism you are doing and the publication you work for. As a staffer you may be sat at your desk conducting interviews over the phone and email all day and turning press releases into articles, or you may be out of the office researching a feature or investigative piece on the street, or spending your day in court or at press conferences.
No two days are the same for a freelance journalist, but regular tasks include pitching ideas to editors, interviewing people, visiting places, writing features or news stories, chasing payments and sorting out your books.
Skills/experience/training:
You have two options. One is to work your way up, get an internship or some form of work experience with a local or national paper, website or magazine. If you show willing you may land a job or some freelance work for them. Then keep on building portfolio, which often involves doing some work for free, and climbing your way up the ladder.
The second is to study more. There are various course levels from traineeships straight after your GCSEs to Postgraduate Qualifications such as an MA. Courses don't always have to be expensive - some bigger newspaper groups offer traineeships, the pay is not that great to start with but you will end up as a qualified journalist. Whichever route you choose, it is your 'on the job' experience that is going to help you stand out from the crowd.
Personality/ Who would it suit?
It is hard work - you have to be tough skinned to take the knock-backs - but it is very rewarding and challenging. Someone ambitious, sociable, motivated, able to multi-task and manage their time well. You have to be willing to take criticism - editors often pull your work to shreds and ask you to rewrite it.
Career prospects
The sky is your limit. If you work hard, write well and network you could climb the career ladder to work as an editor of a national paper, magazine or website. There are also plenty of opportunities for crossing over from print to web, TV and radio for suitable go-getters.
Starting salaries for trainee reporters on local papers are £10,000 while the average salary for all journalists is £23,000 going up to £50,000 to £80,000 as a senior editor. The NUJ produces a guideline for freelancer fees.
Got a career you want us to cover? Just let us know and we'll do our best to include it in this section.
Pros and Cons
Meeting new and interesting people.
Long hours and deadlines.
Getting free stuff: CDs, gig and theatre tickets, meals, festival passes and holidays.
Highly competitive business.
Going to new places from events to travelling abroad.
Chasing payments and spending the bulk of the day alone if you are freelance.
Written by Susie Wild
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