If you want to meet more fellow freelance journalists, now is your chance! The IIJ is hitting the road to several different journalism conferences this summer, including the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention and the Asian American Journalists Association convention, the National Association of Black Journalists convention, the Online News Association, and the Association of LGBTQ Journalists convention, so if you’re in Miami, DC, Birmingham, or Philly come say hi!

We’re excited to meet everyone in person!

If interested in attending a meetup, RSVP here.

For more information, scroll down to our calendar.

Last Call for All-Day Freelance Workshop at Regular Rate—Sign Up Today

Find freelance success at the IIJ-AAJA all-day, in-person workshop on July 20 in Washington DC on the business of independent journalism. Hear directly from assigning editors at CNN, the New York Times, Washington Post and Vox.com about what they’re looking for in a pitch. Leave the event with a concrete plan for running a thriving freelance practice. Register for the IIJ-AAJA Freelance Business workshop today for our regular registration rate of just $79, through June 10. Anyone registered for the AAJA convention may attend for free, but you must sign up to secure your spot.

Don't miss out on the chance to completely transform your freelancing career! This full-day workshop is specifically designed to equip freelancers like you with the essential knowledge and insights required to achieve financial and emotional sustainability in your independent journalism journey. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or an early-career journalist, everyone has something to learn from this workshop. We'll teach freelancers to attain both financial and emotional sustainability.

Click here for workshop details. Or go ahead and register now for just $59—or for free if you're attending the AAJA 2023 convention. We look forward to seeing you on July 20!

Fellowships and Other Opportunities

The Peace Studio Fellowship

If you’re looking to fund a project for social change, The Peace Studio Fellowship awards $10,000 to five artists and five journalists committed to affecting social change through their work. Along with the money, the fellows will gain access to The Peace Studio’s curriculum, guided workshops, career development resources, and network. Fellows will also be matched with another artist or journalist to help them carry out their vision. This is a one-year program.

For more information or to apply, visit their site.

The deadline to apply is June 16, 2023.

Eyewitness Photojournalism Grant

If you’re an independent photojournalist, Diversify Photo and the Pulitzer Center are offering $3,000 grants to those who tell visual stories from historically underrepresented communities that surround, but not limited to racial justice, climate change, environmental justice, gender equality and human rights. Along with monetary support, recipients will receive mentorship.

For more information or to apply, visit their site.

The deadline to apply is June 30, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Investigative Reporters & Editors Freelance Fellowship

If you have a project proposal for a book, television series, documentary or any other long-form project, you’re eligible for the IRE’s fellowship. Proposals that involve whistleblowers, business ethics, and/or privacy issues will be given priority.

1st place gets $2,500. 2nd place gets $1,500, 3rd place gets $1,000. All three winners will get a one-year-long IRE membership.

For more information or to apply, visit their site.

The deadline to apply is August 28, 2023.

Interesting Reads

• Read Sophie Culpepper’s “How one journalist uses Instagram to pull back the curtain on her reporting process” for Nieman Lab. In it, she discusses social media as a reporting tool, keeping in touch with sources, and where to draw personal and professional boundaries when it comes to who does—and doesn’t—follow your personal accounts.

• Read Grace Abel’s “Can ChatGTP fact check? We tested.” for Poynter. In it, she reveals the results and unpacks ChatGTP’s abilities and usefulness in terms of fact checking.

• We're always eager to connect with freelance journalists of color who'd like to be involved in the work of the IIJ or contribute to future programs. Email [email protected] to volunteer — or if you have an idea for a partner, funder or topic we should explore.

Calendar

• June 15 IIJ leaders Katherine Reynolds Lewis and Erika Hayasaki will speak on our responsibilities as journalists and the power we wield at ASJA on Thursday June 15, at 4 p.m. ET.

• July 12-15 in Miami at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention, IIJ leaders Katherine Reynolds Lewis and Valeria Fernández will present a session on financially and emotionally sustainable freelancing, along with conference speaker and expert negotiator Mónica Ortiz Uribe.

• July 19-22 in Washington D.C. at the Asian American Journalists Association convention, IIJ leaders Katherine Reynolds Lewis and Jamila Bey will present an all-day workshop on the business of freelancing, including a panel discussion with assigning editors, on Thursday, July 20. Registration is free with your AAJA convention badge or $79 to $99 for others, depending on when you register. We'll be partnering with the AAJA freelance affinity group on a convention session and happy hour, too!

• Aug. 2-6 in Birmingham, Ala., IIJ leaders Katherine Reynolds Lewis and Jamila Bey will speak at the National Association of Black Journalists' convention.

• Aug. 23-26 in Philadelphia at the Online News Association, IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis will attend as part of the ONA Women's Leadership Accelerator.

• Sep. 7-10 in Philadelphia at NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists convention, IIJ leaders Katherine Reynolds Lewis and Jamila Bey will present a session on the business of freelancing.