Freelancing for journalists isn’t a fallback plan—it’s a smart one. Here’s how to make it sustainable, strategic, and profitable.
Freelancing for journalists used to be code for “between jobs.” Now it’s code for “I work from my sofa, invoice in four currencies, and once filed a news story from a ferry.”
This isn’t a hobby, and it’s definitely not a backup plan. With the right strategy, freelancing can be a full-throttle, byline-stacking, award-winning career—and yes, one that actually pays your rent and your sanity tax.
After 20+ years in the industry, I’ve learned what works (and what definitely doesn’t). This playbook skips the vague advice and gives you the real stuff: where to pitch, what to charge, and how to make your freelance career sustainable, profitable, and maybe even fun.
Let’s get into it.
What is freelance journalism?
At its core, freelance journalism means you’re not tied to a single publication—you’re your own newsroom. You find the stories, pitch the ideas, negotiate the fees, do the interviews, write the pieces, chase the edits, file the invoices, and then gently remind someone to actually pay you.
Unlike a staff role, where editors assign you stories and payroll handles the money bit, freelance journalists run the whole operation. It’s part journalist, part project manager, part mildly caffeinated entrepreneur.
A typical week might include:
- Reporting a news story on deadline
- Interviewing a climate scientist or game developer
- Scripting a podcast episode
- Writing a personal essay for your Substack
- Tweeting something that accidentally goes viral
- Then explaining to your family, again, that yes—this is your real job
In short: freelance journalism is flexible, creative, and full of possibility. It’s also a real career path, not a stepping stone. And once you know how to navigate it? It can take you just about anywhere.
How to get started as a freelance journalist
So how do you land your first freelance journalism gig? The same way most of us did: slightly terrified, wildly underprepared, and hitting “send” on a pitch while hoping for the best.
For me, it started with one idea, one email, and one editor kind enough to say yes. That first yes turned into a clip, which turned into another pitch, which eventually turned into an actual freelance writing career.
You don’t need a Pulitzer to get started—but you do need a few basics:
- Work experience (even if it’s from a student paper, personal blog, or local newsletter)
- A few strong writing samples or published clips
- A willingness to write the piece before the panic sets in
Some freelance writers begin with copywriting or branded content to pay the bills while building a portfolio. Others shift over after working as a broadcast journalist, editor, or researcher. There’s no single path—but they all start with clips.
And yes, LinkedIn matters. It’s not glamorous, but editors check it. Keep it up to date, make your work easy to find, and don’t be mysterious. Mysterious doesn’t get you assignments.
Where to pitch: Finding work that pays
Let’s get one thing straight: freelancing is not a charity project. You are not here to write for “exposure,” for the “experience,” or for a free mug with the outlet’s logo on it. You’re here to get published, get noticed, and get paid.
Here’s how to make that happen.
1. Start with the right kinds of publications
Big names like The Guardian, Metro, and The New York Times are great—if you’ve got a solid idea and the right angle. But if your story is strong and you know the beat, niche verticals can be even better. Think trade magazines, independent media, international publications, or newsletters that specialize in a particular topic (climate, healthcare, gaming, policy, art, parenting—you name it).
These outlets often have:
- More space for freelance voices
- More targeted audiences
- Less competition than the big-name glossies
- Editors who are genuinely grateful you know what you’re talking about
2. Think beyond traditional publications
Some of the smartest journalists today are diversifying—using platforms like Substack to grow an audience or launching a podcast to dig deeper into a beat. If you have a unique voice or access to underreported stories, building your own platform isn’t just viable—it’s strategic.
And while subscriptions aren’t instant money, your subscribers become long-term backers of your work. (Plus: no rewrites for an editor who “just wants to make it a bit more clickable.”)
3. Skip the low-paying guesswork
We’ve created a list of 200+ publications that pay $1 a word or more—because Googling “what does this obscure science magazine pay?” is no one’s idea of a good Tuesday.
These aren’t just filler assignments either. These are serious publications, many of which have led to journalist awards, book deals, and stable freelance incomes. And we’re constantly updating the list so you’re not pitching a place that quietly folded in 2019.
📌 Pro tip: Don’t pitch the same story to five identical outlets. Tailor each pitch to the tone, audience, and editor you’re contacting. If it reads like a mass email, it’ll land in the bin like one.
You don’t need 50 places to pitch. You need 5 that pay well, align with your interests, and publish the kind of work you want to be known for. The rest? Delete and move on.
How to set freelance journalism rates
Let’s be honest—journalism work is one of the only professions where people regularly ask you to work for peanuts… or “prestige.” You’re not here for peanuts. And prestige doesn’t pay the bills.
If you’re freelancing, you need to price like a professional—not like someone hoping to be “discovered.”
1. So, how do you set your rates?
There are a few standard models:
- Per-word rates: Common for features, profiles, essays.
- Flat rates: Often used for opinion pieces or commissions with a fixed budget.
- Day rates: Typical for newsroom shifts or content-heavy projects.
The range is wide. One editor will offer you $50 for 1,000 words; another will pay $1 a word and throw in a thank-you note. Same amount of effort. Very different outcomes.
2. Know your value, especially if you’re transitioning from a newsroom
If you’ve worked full-time in news reporting, you’re probably used to a steady salary, a built-in editor, and not thinking about invoices. Freelancing flips all of that on its head. You’re now responsible for your time, your fees, and your financial future.
That means:
- Charging based on your expertise, not your insecurity
- Quoting with confidence—even if your voice shakes a little
- Saying no to rates that insult your intelligence (and your rent)
3. A few things new freelancers often forget
- “Short piece” ≠ “small fee.” Some 400-word briefs take five interviews and a soul-search.
- “Quick turnaround” is usually not that quick.
- Your rate isn’t just about the word count—it’s about the reporting, the rewrites, and the years of skill that make it good.
📌 Pro Tip: If a pitch is worth your time, it should be worth their money. Price it that way.
Freelancing for journalists: Building a sustainable career
A one-off commission is exciting. A steady stream of well-paying, deadline-respecting work? That’s the dream. And if you want this to be more than a hustle between jobs, you need to think long-term.
Here’s how smart freelancers turn a few clips into a full-time career that doesn’t involve panic-pitching at 11 p.m.
1. Turn one-offs into regular work
Editors are creatures of habit. If you file clean, hit deadlines, and don’t make their job harder, they will come back to you. Your job is to make that first assignment so smooth, they never want to go looking for someone else.
Tips:
- Ask what else they’re commissioning
- Pitch again before the first piece even publishes
- Be low-maintenance, not invisible
2. Get comfortable being self-employed
You’re now the boss, the bookkeeper, and the one-person HR department. That means taxes, invoices, contracts, and all the fun admin stuff you didn’t miss from the newsroom.
📌 Pro tip: Set aside money for taxes as you go. Future You will be very grateful. (Also: don’t let unpaid invoices pile up. Chase them. Relentlessly. Professionally. Like a polite shark.)
3. Invest in yourself
You can’t just write—you have to evolve. Webinars, online courses, and mentoring aren’t indulgences; they’re fuel. Learn how to pitch better, price smarter, and protect your time like the asset it is.
And yes, we’re biased—but Wordling Plus exists for exactly this reason. It’s where working journalists sharpen their strategies, get real-time support, and finally stop guessing what editors want. You don’t need to DIY everything.
4. Visibility is part of the job now
Love it or hate it, social media, Substack, and even that little podcast you keep talking about starting? They matter. Not just for self-promotion, but for staying on editors’ radar, connecting with other journalists, and reminding the internet that yes—you exist and yes—you write good stuff.
You don’t have to be everywhere. But being somewhere helps.
Sustainability isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing smarter. Build systems, build relationships, and don’t rely on adrenaline alone. There’s a better way—and you’re building it.
Tools and platforms to support freelance journalists
Freelancing can feel like spinning 14 plates while chasing an editor for payment and pretending you understand your tax software. Good news: there are tools, platforms, and resources to make it all a lot easier.
(And yes, some are genuinely helpful. Others… are mostly vibes.)
1. Where to find work and pitching opportunities
Platforms like journalism.co.uk and Journo Resources offer job boards, pitch calls, and content gigs that range from promising to “please don’t.” There’s also the FFJ newsletter, co-run by Emma Wilkinson and Lily Canter, for a weekly roundup of what’s out there.
These are solid starting points. But if you want more than a list of jobs—and you’re serious about strategy—you’ll want something built for the long game.
That’s where Wordling Plus comes in. We don’t just show you where to pitch—we help you build a system that gets you paid, positions you as an expert, and takes your freelance career out of feast-or-famine mode.
Pitching templates? Check. Weekly call-ins? Check. Actual support when you’re spiraling about scope creep? Also check.
2. Tools that keep your business running (without losing your mind)
Freelancing isn’t just writing—it’s project management with a press pass. These tools won’t do the work for you, but they will make sure you know what’s due, what’s been paid, and what you agreed to at 1 a.m. in a moment of optimism.
- Google Sheets or Notion: For tracking pitches, deadlines, and payments
- Wave or QuickBooks: For invoicing and keeping tax season from destroying you
- Toggl or Clockify: For figuring out whether that flat-fee feature is actually worth your time
- Substack, social media, and even a low-key podcast: For staying visible without becoming a full-time influencer
Freelancing isn’t just about writing. It’s about managing time, money, energy—and expectations. Use the tools. Drop the ones that don’t serve you. And stick with the resources that make your work stronger (hi).
Freelancing like a pro: Advanced moves that actually pay off
Once you’ve got the basics down—clips, pitches, rates—it’s time to level up. These strategic shifts that separate seasoned freelancers from the constantly-hustling chaos crew.
1. Think like an editor, not just a writer
Pitching isn’t just about ideas—it’s about editorial judgment. What angle works for that outlet, right now? Tailor your pitches so precisely, the editor feels like you’ve already written the piece (without actually doing it yet—don’t do that).
2. Clarity over cleverness in communication
You’re a writer. We know you can turn a phrase. But when you’re emailing editors, clarity beats poetry every time. Be polite, be concise, and don’t bury the pitch under five paragraphs of context.
3. Your reputation is your career
Deadlines matter. So does how you handle edits, invoices, and follow-ups. Submit clean drafts. Editors remember the ones who make their lives easier—and they definitely remember the ones who don’t.
4. Stop working job to job
Sustainable freelance writing careers come from repeat clients, long-term relationships, and systems that scale. You shouldn’t be starting from zero every month. Build a structure that supports your income, your time, and your actual life.
5. And finally: protect your energy
Not every commission is worth it. Not every editor is a dream. Not every opportunity will move your career forward. Be strategic. Be intentional. Be the freelancer people want to hire again—and again—and again.
Freelancing for journalists, done right
You don’t need to wait for someone to hand you a press pass and a desk in a windowless newsroom. Freelance journalism is a smart, flexible, and scalable career path—and when done right, it pays.
You’ve got the skills. You’ve got the stories. Now you’ve got the top tips to back them up.
Ready to pitch like a pro?
Download our list of publications that pay $1 a word (or more)—200+ real outlets, real editors, and real opportunities that value your work. No guesswork, no fluff, just assignments worth saying yes to.
