Freelancing or Freefalling? Is there a difference since the economic crisis!

By Nicholas Persad

War. Politics. Celebrity scandals. These are a few topics that a journalist covers on a daily basis. Freelance journalists oftentimes have the opportunity to present these topics in a way that is more pleasing to them and can be more controversial than a staff writer may be allowed to. However, as a result of the current economic downturn the chances of reading groundbreaking journalism are withering away.

This recent economic downturn has affected many aspects of journalism including the numerous print magazines that have folded or had to switch to online publications, but freelance journalists have felt the effect of this in an even more remarkable way.

Many publications are becoming more critical as to how they invest their finances and this has had a direct impact on many freelance journalists because these publications are not searching for and employing writers as they use to. Freelance journalists are then forced to reevaluate their career paths.

“Everything has slowed down because of the economy,” said Peter Haas, a freelance journalist who describes himself as a ‘Writer At Large’ and who has worked at companies such as CBS Inc. and McGraw-Hill. “In the past a lot of work came to me because I am very established but now I really have to go and search for it,” Haas said.

Haas has been a freelance journalist for about 15 years, so his reputation has allowed him to still feel secure even as the recession plummets. However, some freelancers, especially recently graduated journalism students, are beginning their career at the worst part of the recession.

“I graduated from journalism school last December when the crisis now started,” said Monica Heger, a freelance journalist who has written for Discover and Technology Review. “There were no jobs to be had. It’s pretty tough, especially if you don’t have connections with people,” Heger said.

Ruth Thaler-Carter, who has been a freelance journalist since 1984, agreed with Haas and Heger that the recession has had a serious effect on the opportunities for freelance journalists. “One of my regular clients, representing about $10,000 a year of writing work, had to cut back on all freelancers early in the year because of the recession,” Thaler- Carter said. “That was pretty scary, but I took it as an indication that I needed to make more of an effort to find new clients.”

Nevertheless some freelance journalists are not feeling the effects of the recession in the slightest form. Jeanne Lenzer, who is an extremely well known freelance writer who specializes in medical pieces, believes that it depends on the journalist whether he/she is going to get work or not. “Some editors are saying that they are having trouble finding good writers,” Lenzer said. Even though Lenzer says she does not feel the effects of the recession she still takes precautions in case anything drastically changes. “I’ve been taking more stories,” Lenzer said.

Regardless of the circumstances, whether they have been working steadily for many years or are now beginning their journey through journalism all the freelancers agree on a few things. These are the methods that will allow them to remain relevant and on top of the freelance journalist industry.

“Build up a lot of samples in the area that you want to specialize in so when you go to knock on doors you have something,” Haas said. “Networking, getting to know people in your field even though they seem like competitors. You never know when they will pass the word along.”

Thaler- Carter agreed but also added that a freelance journalist should have some sort of money already saved if they want to go into freelance journalism as their only source of income.

“Previous work experience,” Thaler-Carter said. “Great skills in writing and finding both stories and outlets for getting them published. Tenacity. Integrity. A savings cushion. A good network of colleagues and contacts.” She also discussed the importance of acquiring new skills as you move forward with your career. She noted that in her own career she added new skills such as desktop publishing and using technology for editing and proofreading so that she would not become complacent with only one skill.

“You have got to be a self starter,” Lenzer said. “A flexible journalist is very important but you are still going to have to ‘prove your chops’.” A method she suggested to achieve this was having a writing partner. This is a person who you don’t necessarily write with but the two writers’ review each other’s work.

The end result, however, is that if work is not available there is very little a freelance writer can do to change that but simply continue to push forward.

“For me to continue doing this long term I would definitely have to make more money,” Heger said.