Workshop
How freelance writing empowers underrepresented women **Please note all times are listed in EST**
Female writers from marginalized communities often face unfair barriers to fair writing opportunities. Discrimination and lack of general opportunities are often big hurdles. The international freelance market is a game-changer, but knowing where to start can be daunting. Freelancing can help feature your work in publications that understand sensitive topics and reaching your desired audience. This webinar will cover the basics along with some handy tips such as: 1)Topic inspiration: A strategy on coming up with ideas that are close to home or highlighting topics that you feel get little exposure from the media. Where to look for inspiration? Many of the feminist issues we’re still fighting today are practically age-old. How do we still capture people’s interest and find those hidden angles? 2) Knowing where to pitch to: Everything from avoiding scammers to finding fitting publications for your idea. Negotiating fair rates, navigating “kill fees” and how many rounds of edits you’re comfortable going through, and more. 3) Choosing the right journalism approach: Solutions journalism is an increasingly popular approach- especially when it comes to feminist issues that intersect with other areas. Find out if it's the right approach for you. 4) Starting from scratch or shifting careers: how to highlight your transferable skills. You don’t even have to have formal job experience. Many trailblazing journalists wrote their first pieces as absolute novices. 5) Managing several income streams: Just how many articles should you be working on at a time? 6) Carving a niche for yourself: settle on an area or “beat” that you’d be most comfortable exploring. It’s fine to start as a jack of all trades but really knowing a niche is valuable. 7) Nipping burnout at the bud: self-care tips to de-stress rather than let the whole process get to you.
Lara Reffat is a freelancer based in Cairo, Egypt. She is also a Features Editor at Empoword Journalism and a writer at Women of Egypt. Reffat first noticed the barriers women face in the media industry as a college student stepping into the media industry. She soon found international freelancing to be the best way for female writers to tell underreported stories from underrepresented communities. Reffat is a recipient of several media fellowships and awards including the IJNET’s Journalist of the Month and the African Arguments Freelance Fellowship. Much of her work highlights African women and has been featured in publications such as Courrier International, Quartz Newsletter, and Al-Ahram Weekly.