The Latest: More media layoffs; Covering COP28; Writers, meet editors on Dec. 8 at NPC

Join us for an in-person workshop designed for journalists who are interested in pitching freelance stories. This event will take place on Friday, Dec. 8, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. All career stages are welcome!

GET TICKETS

Doors for the workshop open at 12:30 p.m. with the sessions starting promptly at 1 p.m. Topics to be covered include:

Pitching — how to craft and freshen your pitches: Editors from Brainfacts.org, The Washington Post, Washingtonian, and WHYY will discuss how to submit pitches that catch their attention.

The business of freelancing: Institute for Independent Journalists founder and experienced freelancer Katherine Lewis will share advice on managing your freelance business for financial success, with tips on marketing, negotiating contracts, and the value of finding your specialization.

Managing the writer-editor relationship: Editors from AARP Bulletin, Industry Dive, POLITICO Magazine, and Slate will shed light on what editors want and need from freelance writers.

Looking to network with other journalists? Continue the conversation with fellow freelancers and editors for an hour of networking after the sessions end.

Hosting interns in DC? Share the Lewis Scholarship: Free housing. Monthly stipend. Deadline is Nov. 30.

🚨 Today is the deadline for NPC's Lewis Scholarship 🚨

Aspiring journalists can still apply for a scholarship that provides free housing and a $4,000 stipend to support student journalists of color who plan to intern at news media outlets in Washington, D.C., in spring 2024.

Applications for the Spring 2024 Lewis Scholarship are due today, Nov. 30.

The National Press Club’s Lewis Scholarship aims to improve accessibility to experiential learning opportunities in the nation’s capital for students of color. This scholarship, administered through the National Press Club Journalism Institute, extends the Lewis family’s commitment to increasing representation in Washington, D.C., to include news media, adding to their work founding and operating the Washington Intern Student Housing program and the HBCU National Center. It is awarded to one undergraduate student journalist of color each fall, spring, and summer semester.

Forget the numbers and create

“Numbers, statistics, and metrics will fail you. When we tie our progress to something outside our control, our highs and lows are yoked to them as well. Say you’ve always wanted to start a podcast. Instead of obsessing over listener numbers, what if you became intent on providing more value in each episode? Publish more often — and create an even more compelling product — and you’re designing more opportunities for people to find you . But do not tell yourself, I need people to listen. Rather, reframe your mindset to: I am sharing something important.”

-- Kara Cutruzzula, writer, The trick to sticking to a project every day—for years (Quartz at Work)

Resources

This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Bara Vaida, and Holly Butcher Grant. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

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The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.