Five years ago, when I first started my journalism career, I never thought I’d be involved in business or finance journalism. I didn’t see my interests mirrored in the economic news of the day and couldn’t see myself being able to break the barrier to write my own. However, a story I wrote about food trucks—yes, food trucks—completely changed my close mindedness about business news. 

At the height of the pandemic, I wrote about how local Houston food trucks were adapting to the changing landscape. I was incredibly proud of the piece because I learned first-hand how much work they put into creating and curating menus, promoting their brand, figuring out labor costs and designing the most efficient kitchen layout. I thought I had written a straightforward culture piece. To others in the newsroom, though, it was a story about the economy and labor. Eventually, it sparked a larger discussion on whether it should go in the magazine’s food, business, or coronavirus coverage section. 

The discussion about story placement showed me the subtle, yet strong intersections between community, culture, and business. It piqued my interest so much that it led me to pursue the business beat. 

All this to say, you never know when a beat could be right for you—it’s all about making larger, seemingly unreachable topics accessible to your community. And you might just find your calling!

So, whether you think business journalism is right for you or not, join our panel discussion Friday, Nov. 17 at 12-1:15 p.m. ET. It’s designed for freelancers hoping to learn more about pitching and covering business and personal finance stories. Hear from editors about what they want in a freelance pitch and relationship. Come if you want to improve your reporting and strategy as an independent journalist!

Speakers include:

Manseen Logan, editor of freelancers, Business Insider

Manseen Logan is an editor of freelancers at Insider focused on business stories. Before joining Insider, she was an editor at Complex Media, where she edited the Life section and created political articles for the Webby-nominated "Pull Up and Vote" campaign. Manseen received her MFA in writing from Savannah College of Art and Design. She currently resides in New Jersey, where she spends her free time managing Liberian projects and athlete profiles.

Mike Dang, personal finance editor, New York Times

Mike Dang is an editor at The New York Times on the Business desk. He was previously a senior editor at The Counter where he helped developed a podcast investigating the National School Lunch Program and was the longtime editor in chief of Longreads, which was nominated for four National Magazine Awards. In 2012, he co-founded The Billfold, a personal finance site for young people.

Reyhan Harmanci, senior editor, Bloomberg Businessweek

Reyhan Harmanci is a senior editor at Businessweek. Previously, she worked at Gimlet, as the head of Society & Culture programming; Topic magazine; Atlas Obscura; Fast Company; and BuzzFeed.

Shernay Williams, independent video journalist, moderator

Shernay uses video to cover the gig economy, entrepreneurship and business development within Black, mom, and other traditionally under-resourced communities. The Baltimore native spent more than a decade as a journalist for television, radio, and print outlets throughout the South and East Coast, covering everything from mayoral races to the heroin epidemic. As an entrepreneur, Shernay has served as a business coach, run a content firm, and in 2020, launched The Black Mompreneur which features a growing directory of 200+ Black mom-owned businesses in the U.S. In January 2023, Shernay became host and producer of a digital series for TheGrio called A Taste of Chocolate, where she visits notable Black-owned restaurants to learn the stories behind their food. In late 2023, she will premiere her independently produced video series about Black mom entrepreneurs and the news that impacts them. 

RSVP here.

—Aarohi Sheth, IIJ newsletter writer

Donate to the IIJ!

We provide free webinars to the community as a service and would be so grateful for your support. Any small donation helps make these programs possible, and demonstrates their value to our funders.

Pitch Callouts, Fellowships, and Other Opportunities

Flashlight Call for Grants

If you’re a U.S.-based freelance investigative journalist in need of funding, consider applying for a $500-$1,000 grant from nonprofit giving circle Flashlight.

For more information or to apply, visit their site.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 18.

New Scientist Call for Pitches

If you have story ideas on space, consider pitching them to New Scientist.

Rate: $1/word

Click here to view the pitch guide.

Send pitches to [email protected] 

Atlas Obscura Call for Pitches

If you have story ideas on the holidays or anything winter-related that will surprise Atlas Obscura readers, consider pitching them.

Rate: ~50 cents/word

Click here to view the pitch guide.

Send pitches to [email protected] 

The deadline to pitch is Nov. 15.

Study Hall Needs a Sustainability Freelance Script Writer

If you’re interested in storytelling about environment and sustainability, consider applying to Study Hall. The freelance writer will be responsible for researching and writing scripts on pre-selected sustainability topics, working closely with other team members and subject-matter experts to develop scripts.

Rate: $850/1800-2000 word script

For more information or to apply, visit the job listing here.

The application deadline is Nov. 12.

Study Hall Needs a Criminal Justice Freelance Script Writer

If you’re interested in storytelling about crime, justice, and reform, consider applying to Study Hall. The freelance writer will be responsible for researching and writing scripts on pre-selected criminal justice topics, working closely with other team members and subject-matter experts to develop scripts.

Rate: $850/1800-2000 word script

For more information or to apply, visit the job listing here.

The application deadline is Nov. 12.

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Interesting Reads

• Read Yaileen Ramos’ “My East L.A. Upbringing Taught Me How To Grieve, Dia De Muertos Taught Me How To Live.” In it, she recounts what the older women in her East L.A. neighborhood showed her about the process of grieving.

• Read Katie Basile’s “Kasigluk endures the many challenges of thawing permafrost” for High Country News. In it, she tells the story of Alaskan village residents continuing to build community amid climate change.

• Read “Gaza diary: What life is like under daily airstrikes, blackouts and scarcity” in the Los Angeles Times. In it, a Times special correspondent—along with Nabih Bulos—gives a personal account as to what life is like in Gaza right now.

• 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

We love growing the IIJ family and connecting with fellow freelance journalists, so please come to one of our events! Here are the upcoming IIJ events and presentations by IIJ leaders:

• Nov. 16 AIR webinar on the business of freelancing. For more information, click here.

• Nov. 17 business and personal finance editors panel. RSVP here to attend.

• Dec. 8 travel and lifestyle freelancing webinar. RSVP here to attend.

• Jan. 19 insurance for freelancers webinar. RSVP here to attend.

• Feb. 9 sports and fitness journalism webinar. RSVP here to attend.

• April 12-April 14 presentation at the 2024 Women in Journalism workshop at the Reynolds Journalism Institute. For more information, click here.