Missed the Conference? You Can Still Watch the Replay!

You can still view the wisdom, practical advice, and challenging conversations of the 50 speakers who joined us in 10 thought-provoking sessions, for just $89. Recordings and associated resources are available to view until April 10. That's a hard deadline, so start watching now!

This one-of-a-kind gathering of experienced editors, writers, reporters, audio journalists, and photographers will help you pitch better, negotiate higher rates, understand contracts, and bring new revenue to your freelance business.

But even more, it will provoke you to think about our responsibility as storytellers to the subjects of our narratives, how to responsibly report in and from marginalized communities, and navigating a troubled and problematic journalism industry. Here's what one attendee said:

"I was blown away by every session I attended, from the learnings I took away from the super pitch session to how inspiring I found the conversation between Stephanie and Ly. I have so many notes I'm parsing through with advice that will help me move forward with my freelance journalism goals and also pursue paths I hadn't even thought of! So grateful for this incredible space and all that I learned the last two days."

See IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis and MacArthur Foundation president John Palfrey kick off the conference in this video.

If you registered for the conference and are looking for your recordings, check your email for directions that came from [email protected]. They will be sent sometime this morning.

Grab Your Spot in Our Business of Freelancing Course!

We have just 10 spots left in our course on the business of freelancing, so sign up before March 10 for just $147. You'll participate in 8 weeks of live, interactive classes and develop a customized business plan and path to financial and emotional sustainability. You'll also receive individual attention and learn road-tested frameworks for landing assignments and making smarter decisions about how you spend your time, energy, and resources. This course is limited to 30 people and is for freelancers of all levels who are interested in building income and achieving their goals.

The class will begin with a kickoff video call on Tuesday, March 21, at 1 pm ET, and then will run every Tuesday from 1-2 pm ET from April 4 through May 16. Hold Tuesday, May 23, for a possible final cohort meeting.

For more info, visit the course page.

Catch the IIJ in DC, Miami, Philadelphia and maybe more cities this summer!

Let's keep the momentum of the conference going! The IIJ will be going on the road this summer to a number of different journalism conferences. Please reach out if you'll be there too. Or if you have a suggestion for a different collaboration. We're excited to meet you in person!

• June 8-9 in Washington D.C., IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis hopes to attend 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 and hopes to present on freelancing at the conference.

• 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.

If You’re a Female or Nonbinary Journalist, Check Out the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship!

The International Women’s Media Foundation has opened the application for its 2024 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship! It’s for women and nonbinary journalists with at least three years of professional experience in journalism and focus on human rights and social justice.

The Fellow will advance their reporting skills by completing research and coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies as well as journalism internships at both The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

Visit their site to apply and for more information.

The deadline to apply is April 23, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.

If You’re Interested in Climate Justice, Consider Climate Nexus’ Narrative Fellowship!

The Water Hub of Climate Nexus uses story and narrative-based strategies to advance water justice and resilience, and are looking for a Narrative Fellow.

This person will work half-time and support a multi-platform effort to create narratives of progress, centering the water solutions that take place in frontline communities, tribes, and underrepresented groups.

During the first month of the fellowship, the Narrative Fellow will focus on research and planning, creating a campaign brief and making connections with nonprofit and community groups working on safe water and climate preparedness to learn their needs. Then, in the next four months, the Fellow will work on website and creative development. For the last two months, the Fellow will launch the campaign and continue outreach.

Visit their site to apply or for more information.

The deadline to apply is March 27, 2023.

More Resources, Upcoming Opportunities, and Interesting Reads

• Read Tamar Sarai’s, “We can’t allow oppressive systems to co-opt abolitionist language“ for Prism. In it, she writes about the overwhelming amount of people—often those who work hand in hand with oppressive systems—who are using progressive slogans and rhetoric without failing to acknowledge their abolitionist origins. She also touches on the importance of language in social justice movements and why this co-opting is harmful.

• Read Roy Peter Clark’s “How to write fast — or at least faster” for Poynter. He gives 12 tips and strategies on how to increase your energy, focus, and momentum when writing and reporting.

• 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.

Thank You to Our Supporters!

Thank you so much to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the O'Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism, the Fund for Investigative Journalism, and the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, for supporting the conference. The IIJ appreciates you!