What is a freelance journalist?
Freelance journalists are paid on a per-article or per-report basis, are not dependent on any news organization, and may work with several media outlets. On Malt, you can search for freelance journalists by area of specialization: politics, economy, sports, entertainment and culture, people; or you can go for a more versatile profile.
All you need to know about freelance journalists
What does a freelance journalist do?
Journalists who are not attached to a particular news agency or media outlet are considered freelance. They write for several clients. They can, for example, offer their writing expertise to companies. Freelance journalists are called upon to write for different media (web and print) for a wide range of clients. Like employed journalists, they can also work for the media (web, radio, TV, print), but as freelancers their clients have no authority over them.
As not all freelance journalists are professionals, they may lack press credentials. Freelancing allows many young journalism graduates to gain skills. They spend their early years writing for various newsrooms before getting a contract with one of them. Some choose to keep this independent status for longer and use their experience to work for companies or the media.
By choosing to be self-employed, freelance journalists do not benefit from the protection offered by collective labor agreements. They have a different legal status as they run their own business.
What content can freelance journalists provide?
Freelance journalists work differently to freelance content writers and they are also bound by the strict ethical rules of the journalism profession. Content writers primarily write for company websites. They rarely take up their pen for the media, a practice that requires some experience in journalism.
Freelance journalists may deliver full reports illustrated with photographs, create video documentaries, conduct interviews or simply compose text content based on current affairs. They adapt to the editorial line of the media outlet or company they work for. Freelance journalists need strong writing skills and a perfect command of spelling and grammar. They are also capable of writing press releases. To produce their articles, freelancers have to travel to the field.
They have their own equipment:
–A microphone for sound pickup
–A camera
–A computer
–A notepad
This independence allows them to quickly transmit information to the editorial offices that use their services. As a freelancer, they can also produce report- style content for non-media companies. Some even offer web writing and SEO (search engine optimization) services. There are no real limits to the content a freelance journalist can provide thanks to the wide range of profiles available.
How to choose a freelance journalist?
Do you need a freelancer for journalistic writing work? Here are our tips for choosing a freelance journalist on Malt.
Freelance Journalist's preferred topics
Make sure the freelance journalist is comfortable with and has a solid understanding of your industry. Some freelancers specialize in a certain field (sport, health, politics, economy, etc.), while others are more versatile and can take on different subjects.
You can view the areas of expertise of a freelance journalist on their Malt profile.
For specific needs such as creating a photo report, a podcast or an interview, you can use these keywords in the search bar to quickly find the right freelance journalist for you.
Freelance Journalist's experience
If you’re looking for an expert freelance journalist who can produce high-quality content worthy of the leading newsrooms, you’ll want to focus on those with the most experience. On Malt, you can view freelancers’ portfolios and the latest clients they’ve worked with. This provides good insight into the experience of each freelance journalist.
Unlike content writers, freelancers usually publish articles under their name, which makes it easy to check the authenticity of their portfolio. Clients’ reviews also provide insight on previous collaborations.
Freelance Journalist's rate
Freelance journalists are usually paid per article. The average price of a brief article (1500 characters) is around €65. Photos are often charged on top of this rate. Depending on the service, the freelancer may charge by the number of words or per hour.
On Malt, you can sort freelancers by their Average Day Rate (ADR). You can then directly consult the selected freelance journalists to get a precise quote for your needs.
