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Online Journalism News

Freelancer of the fortnight: Caspar van Vark, London

Posted: 21/04/08 By: Clare Fisher
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Click here to look at Caspar van Vark's full freelance profile on Journalism.co.uk

Why did you choose to become a freelancer?
I didn’t really choose freelancing - it chose me.

After several years in a staff job on a magazine, I decided to go travelling for six months. I came back with a tan and no job, so I started freelancing while I worked out a plan. I soon realised that freelancing was actually what I wanted to do.

If you trained, where? If not, how did you become a freelancer?
I did a post-graduate course in magazine journalism at City University. Before that, I'd done an English Literature degree at Edinburgh University.

Do you specialise in any particular field and what areas do you write about?
I specialise in social and ethical issues. I cover areas such as housing, food, travel and business from a social point of view, and I write a lot about the charity sector.

I also do a fair bit of copywriting. I recently wrote a report for a human rights organisation, and I've written annual reports and case studies for lots of charities and NGOs.

Before going freelance I was a sub-editor, and I still do some of that as well. There’s a lot of satisfaction to be had from turning dreadful copy into something worth reading.

Which publications have you been published in?
The Guardian, BBC, the Independent, Evening Standard, Traveller, Sydney Morning Herald, and many specialist titles such as Third Sector and Social Enterprise.

Which articles, in which publication, are you the most proud of?
I recently did a piece for the Guardian about the global sugar industry and how Fairtrade can make a difference for sugar producers in developing countries who struggle under unfair trade rules. It was a beast of a subject to fit into 1,000 words, but it's an important issue and I hope it raised some awareness.

What are the best and worst aspects of freelancing?
Some freelancers like being able to work in their pyjamas, but that's not for me. I have a desk in a shared office and I put in normal days. What I love is being my own boss, and not answering to anyone. I also love the unpredictable nature of freelancing. Assignments can come out of the blue, and I enjoy the variety.

The disadvantage is not being on a career ladder where you automatically get a promotion and a pay rise every few years. As a freelancer you have to push yourself up and set your own goals, which can be hard work. But ultimately, it's also rewarding.

Do you have any interesting anecdotes in relation to your experience as a freelancer?
I was recently asked to write a review of a leg of lamb from an organic farm. This vast piece of meat arrived at my office by courier, and I had to take it home, cook it, and write about it. It was only a 100-word review so it wasn’t hard work, and it fed us for days.

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