For journalists, the freelancing appeal outweighs its risks
Having received a stable paycheck for seven years, Samantha Kelly was scared to quit her job.
Kelly began working as a fellow intern at TED Conferences her senior year in college. She watched her peers left throughout the years as she converted her contract, accepted a full-time community associate role and got promoted as a fellows program manager in 2016.
Everyone Kelly knew switched career paths while she stayed. She was that person at the office who stayed longer than expected and never left.
“I eventually reached a point where I wasn’t going to grow — I felt like I had reached a dead end,” she said. “I wanted to try something new, and I wanted to gain experience quickly.”
Kelly wanted the chance to produce videos for lots of different kinds of companies, and in the process, to learn new things about how to do it. But most of those jobs don’t have benefits. If she was going to leave TED so that she could grow and improve, she’d have to give up the safety from corporate perks and a consistent income. She was going to have to become a freelancer.
According to a Freelancers Union and Upwork survey, there are 56.7 million freelancers in the U.S. As more people are reportedly prioritizing portfolios over resumes and work over jobs, the survey predicts freelancers making up for 50 percent of the American workforce in the next decade. Companies prefer to hire contractors over a full-time staff, and employees are drawn to gigs and choosing sporadic jobs. Whether they realize it or not, freelancers are redefining what it means to work in media.
The booming gig economy means less benefits, less stability and probably less money. Yet, studies show that freelancers are more satisfied with their careers, and millennials, Gen-Xers and boomers are all drawn to the freelancing appeal.
Job seekers’ view on work is different now, as following their passions and career aspirations become more of a priority than a hefty paycheck. Career flexibility and work-life balance went from a bonus to a must, and freelancers explain gigs allow them to be more in-tuned with their creative lives.
Kelly saw the opportunity to pursue her passion for film and video production — or what she called her “North Star.” Though she had some money saved up in case it didn’t pan out, Kelly struggled to own her hire-ability, panicked and applied to over 100 jobs. Her binge led to three simultaneous gigs. In nearly two years, Kelly has taken on over 14 freelancing jobs. She’s earned titles as experiential producer at Samsung, director of a virtual reality video game and a production assistant for news commercials.
From video and film production roles at big companies like McKinney to writing assignments at smaller publications, Kelly’s resume just keeps getting longer and her experience more extensive.
“I’m finally at a place where I’m comfortable with the freelance workflow, and I love being my own boss,” she said.
For Chasity Cooper, the creative aspect of freelancing is worth the hardships. With over seven years of experience in communication strategy, the social media manager at Freelancers Union has a full-time position to pay the bills but keeps her pen busy and often pitch to multiple publications whenever she gets the chance. Communications aside, Cooper said journalism is her true craft.
“I’ve been [freelancing] for five years now,” she said. “I truly believe that there is enough money, resources and creativity to go around — We just have to be willing to share it and connect with one another freely so that we all win.”
Cooper explained that the rise of digital and social media encouraged her freelancing. She’s more cognizant of sharing ideas broadly. Instead of tweeting or posting her ideas that she said would get stolen, Cooper wants to share her opinions “amid the noise” and join a community of people around the world who are doing the same.
The journalist has written for Teen Vogue, Essence, Bustle and Elite Daily specializing in features addressing diversity, inclusivity and women of color in the workplace.
“The art of storytelling will always be in demand,” she said. “And as our culture continues to evolve and change, we will always need someone to document history. I think journalists are more committed than ever.”
About 90.1 million Americans are predicted to be on the same boat by 2028. Despite the rise of the gig economy, some freelancers said that might not be a good thing.
Freelance audio producer Laura Sim agreed there’s an increasing demand for freelancers globally, but she explained the project-by-project basis of freelancing is a risk for journalists who might not have multimedia skills.
“I feel lucky that I’m in an industry where people are offering me projects because audio is in demand right now,” she said. “But for people like my friend who’s a freelance travel writer — it’s a cool job and you get paid to travel, but there’s not much of a demand.”
The number of podcast listeners more than doubled in the past five years, with more than half of Americans listening, according to Edison’s Research Infinite Dial Report. With more than 700,000 podcasts available today, television hosts, a-listers and newsrooms are adopting the audio trend and hiring people who have the skills for it.
Sim is among the group of audio freelancers who didn’t have much trouble finding side gigs through a public radio listserv. After working at The Wall Street Journal for nearly two years, she decided to quit her digital producer role and buy some time by freelancing.
“I believe in myself that I can try it out and make it work,” she explained. “I personally thought it was exciting — to be able to choose like a buffet what I want to do and where I want to go in my career.”
Sim also expressed concerns over companies’ preference in hiring temporary contractors over long-term staff because the opportunity for skill-building and mentorship is more scarce in the freelance world.
“When they hire someone for a specific project — the assumption is that you already have those skills,” she said. “I think it’s important for companies to invest in their employees so both sides benefit from it.”
The audio-specialized journalist is currently under two temporary contracts with LinkedIn and The Financial Times. Sim said her freelancing career lets her do things she really cares about such as a six-week storytelling class. She didn’t have the time while working a full-time job.
Freelance B2B copywriter and content marketer Reva Harris also said work flexibility and having ownership over her career are among the most appealing aspects of gigs. Harris has been in and out of freelancing, and she recently decided to give full-time freelancing another try, according to an article she published on LinkedIn.
“Financially, each month is a gamble,” she said. “Even for freelancers with regular clients — the feast and famine cycle can be a real threat.”
Harris is realistic about weighing in her risks, but the freelancer insists her career path is a conscious choice. By her becoming a better writer with more support, the freelancer developed her own professional website, Reva Writes, as a leeway to her own business.
Sim, an audio producer and reporter, said she couldn’t have made the move into freelancing if she wasn’t in the situation and age she was in. The 25-year-old explained being on her parents’ health insurance took the pressure and stress out of getting a full-time gig. It’s harder to find an organization with freelancer benefits, and Sim said she might have to accept a full-time offer after being opt out insurance coverage on her birthday.
Some of the challenges video, film and documentary producer Samantha Kelly experience are competing with the large volume of freelancers and standing out from the crowd. She explained much of freelancing, especially gigs in larger organizations, and based off of personal connections and networks.
“It’s hard to get your foot in the door,” she said. “A lot of people want to get published and get experience, and when you’re competing with so many people — it’s hard to figure out your worth.”
Regardless of the hardships, Kelly said freelancing in the digital age remains empowering for her.
“There’s something about getting to publish yourself and build your own body of work with full credit — it’s really worth it,” she said.
Weng Cheong is a recent graduate at S.I. Newhouse School of Communications, Syracuse University. This piece is a part one of her capstone requirements. Cheong is currently working as an editorial fellow at LinkedIn.
Check out Cheong’s portfolio here.
