Join the Institute for Independent Journalists for a networking Zoom on Thursday, April 20 from 7-8 pm ET. We'll break into small groups to discuss freelance journalism, pitching, productivity, long-form projects and more.

We have a limit of only 100 participants, so RSVP now!

See you soon!

Help Us Plan Our Next Conference—Take Our Survey!

Please give us feedback on when the next conference should be held and what content you want. It’s a quick, three-question survey.

IIJ Member Spotlight: Aarohi Sheth

Check out freelance journalist Aarohi Sheth’s piece for The Juggernaut. In it, she outlines how the colonial term “tiffin” became a South Asian staple.

Fellowships and Other Opportunities

The Online News Association’s MJ Bear Fellowship

If you’re a journalist born between June 26, 1993 and June 25, 2000 and working on a digital journalism project, hoping to expand digital news, check out the Online News Association’s MJ Bear Fellowship.

Themes for the fellows’ projects may include audience and social engagement, product development, and digital or business strategy.

Fellows receive registration to the ONA Conference, three online coaching sessions, and ONA membership, with three years’ dues paid in full.

For more information or to apply, visit their site.

The deadline to apply is April 27, 2023 at 11:59 pm ET.

Op-Ed Project’s Public Voices Fellowship

If you have a passion for writing about the intersections between child marriage, climate change, disability rights, equality, the gender pay gap, and immigration rights and women’s and girls’ rights, check out The OpEd Project’s Public Voices Fellowship on Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls. It aims to shift who writes history, shape public opinion on both current and emerging issues, and fight for gender equality for all women and girls.

Fellows will receive a year-long program of training and one-on-one mentoring to write at least two op-ed pieces and engage in other thought leadership, like podcasts or TED-style talks.

For more information or to apply, visit their site.

The deadline to apply is April 28, 2023 at 5 pm ET.

Interesting Reads

• Read Sherronda J. Brown’s “The prison system is a ‘gendering, killing machine” for Prism. In it, Brown interviews abortion doula and abolitionist organizer Ash Williams and discusses the ways in which gender justice and abolition must meet.

• Read Nora Neus’ op-ed, “Trans and gender-fluid kids are under attack. How can we tell their stories without furthering harm?” for Poynter. In it, Neus outlines the biased coverage against trans and gender-fluid children as well as what we, as journalists, can do to improve the coverage.

• 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

• April 20 over Zoom, IIJ leaders will host a structured networking session. This is an opportunity to connect with other freelance journalists, share ideas, and expand your network. RSVP here.

• June 8-9 in Washington D.C., IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis hopes to speak at the Institute of Nonprofit News' INN Days.

• 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 $49 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 hope to 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 an all-day workshop on the business of freelancing, including a panel discussion with assigning editors.