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NCTJ launches survey on how self-employed journalists are faring

NCTJ logoFreelance journalists are being asked to share their experiences of self-employment as part of new research by the National Council for the Training of Journalists.

The training body says the proportion of journalists who are self-employed has grown from 25pc to 35pc in recent years.

Now it wants to find out more about the issues and difficulties facing freelance journalists as well as the skills they use in pursuit of stories.

It has designed a 20-minute survey which aims to shed some light on these issues which can be accessed here.

One of the areas the NCTJ is keen to research is the phenomenon of “re-work” – namely journalists being made redundant and then re-hired as freelances.

It wants to know whether this practice is really occurring in the industry on a significant scale or is merely “anecdotal.”

Other issues which the NCTJ is seeking more information about include:

  • What part has the rise of hyper-localism played in the increase of self-employed journalists?
  • How do freelance journalists specifically gain their journalism skills?
  • How to they maintain and develop those skills and how can these needs be met?
  • What are the working patterns of freelance journalists? For instance, do they focus on repeat business with a small group of clients?

Any self-employed journalist who makes a living from the use of their journalistic skills is eligible to take part in the survey.