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Fiona Cullinan
I used to be a freelance sub (90 per cent) and writer (10 per cent).
These figures are now radically different through forces of market supply and demand - in the last year I have become a content generator across many media from editorial and advertorial for print, to editorial for online, to blogging (75 per cent) and subbing via traditional casual bookings (25 per cent).
In addition now, through choice and connectivity - Twitter is the best thing I did in 2008 - I'm becoming a social media joiner and digital mentor, which I enjoy and see as a way forward during the recession.
In some areas, journalism is sounding like a dirty word in that it's associated with old-school media and broadcasting rather than new social media and conversation. I'm still hoping there is a way for both to co-exist in a business model that works but still values that old sub-editor quality.
I've had a website since Feb 2005 - I think I was prob one of the earlier freelance subs to do this, sending a link to my online CV page rather than a PDF or word doc by email.
This used to secure me lots of work, but the scene is now changing from static portfolio sites towards more of a blog format to showcase work and talk more directly to people. It's also a lot cheaper as a platform.
Since August I've had two blogs: one for writing about sub-editing, which acts as both a personal brand and a self-training mechanism - hey, I'm freelance, who else is going to train me in latest practice and software; the second is hopefully going to become a more commercial venture and I'm currently working out an ad revenue sharing plan with Lonely Planet.
I'm also having ideas for new blogs all the time in the same way as I used to get a lightbulb over my head with a feature idea. Now I ask 'is it a blog with legs' rather than 'is it a story with legs'.
With regards to mentoring, I'm starting to hold the hands of those who want basic techie help and advice in setting up a blog or wiki or ning or other social media tool, and also what kind of content to put on it. I'm doing this for free mostly, but see it as an expanding area in the future.
As a writer, I'm also looking out for opportunities to become a paid blogger for businesses, as this type of earning opportunity has started coming onto my radar and also translates well from my current copywriting work, blogging experience and sub-editing skills.
Do you think diversifying is the best way ahead for freelancers given the current economic climate?
I think it's probably the best way ahead in the long run. Freelancers are having to get skilled up, not only to cope with the recession, but because of long-term changes in media thanks to the advent of the internet.
Traditional freelance sub roles in particular seem to be disappearing or at least being re-invented with online and multimedia skills taking over from copy-fitting and even checking as more copy is filed direct to web.
Blogs are a potential income stream that cuts out the middleman, i.e. the publisher or media organisation, but it's risky and no quick fix. You need a blog with legs and commercial potential, and an average development time of around three years (according to ProBlogger), to reach any kind of decent salary level.
Have freelancers always been able to diversify or is this a result of increasing pressures?
Freelancers are renowned for their adaptability and flexibility is part of the freelance mentality anyway. Personally, I've 'weathered' two previous downturns by diversifying.
The first time in the early 1990s, I diversified from subbing features into subbing TV listings, which coincided with the deregulation of the TV industry and a swathe of new TV guide launches.
The second time was post 9/11 when advertising revenues dropped significantly and budgets were cut. Fortunately I had just moved into web producing for Freeserve (now Orange) and business was picking up there.
I guess you've got to look ahead and the future is predominantly online. Hopefully this is my lucky pick number three.
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