5 tips for journalists who want to be successful in self -employment

1. Find your number one skill

The journalists They require a wide range of skills, from writing headlines to locating a story in a database. Everyone working in media should take the time to fully understand their strengths and weaknesses.

You have to build your career or business on what you do best.

2. Expand your work

Surviving as a freelance journalist usually means diversifying your skill set outside of the journalismMy work as a speaker and consultant is highlighting my strengths. Developing skills that solve other people's problems is essential. Expand your career path: become a journalist/videographer/data expert, for example.

3. Acquire the risks

Entrepreneurs take risks and succeed because of it. They launch new ventures, experiment with new ideas, and regularly learn new skills, without any certainty about how they'll turn out.

4. Accept that journalism has changed

There may be some purists who don't like to use the word "promote," but that's exactly what we do. Journalists' work is now monitored in terms of page impressions and social media shares. Journalists have become marketers without even realizing it. Developing a social media presence is a must.

5. Use social media wisely

Social media is an important part of a journalist's role. It's rich in information and a super-fast way to find contacts. But social media carries many dangers, not least its ability to suck us in and waste our time. Those who use social media know which platforms work. I focus on entrepreneurs, so my main network is LinkedIn, while Twitter has limited value.

The future of media is uncertain, and no one can even begin to predict where we will be in 2030. My advice: adapt, change, and be entrepreneurial if you want to survive, or better yet, thrive.

Source: journalism.co.uk