If you’re a journalist going freelance, First steps in freelancing is for you

Coronavirus is hitting journalism hard, with hundreds of staff jobs going or gone according to the Press Gazette. Freelancing could be the answer for some, either while looking for another job or permanently. For many freelance journalists, choosing your own hours and working from home is business as usual. But it is a tough thing to start doing, particularly in hard economic times.

My one-day course First steps in freelancing is designed to pass on the things a freelancer needs to know to get started: how to get work, agree a price and get paid; the options in terms of an office and technology; the first things to do about tax, pensions and marketing; and the opportunities for freelancers beyond selling individual pieces of work.

The course next runs on Friday 16 October from 10.30am to 4.30pm online. Given the economic situation the NUJ is charging standard members a bargain price of £40 and student members £30. You can book here.

I will also be running Winning and negotiating freelance work, a similar but more specific one-day online course, on Friday 6 November. It costs £50 for NUJ members (£40 for student members): booking is here.

If you are in higher or further education and studying journalism or a related subject, or involved in student media, you can join the NUJ as a student associate member for £30 for the duration of your course.