The authors of the popular textbook in Sweden for a freelance journalist Fredrick Neumann and Michael Berling May 13 visited the Viciebsk and shared with their colleagues from the Belarusian Association of Journalists of successful experience in journalism freelancing system.
Both Fredrik and Mikael are freelance journalists with fifteen years of experience. In addition to journalistic activity they teach, write books, play the role of coaches in the various types of seminars. Their experience is interesting and in demand not only in Sweden. After all, due to changes in the media market structure changes and approaches to journalistic practice.
For example, the Swedish reality Fredric Neumann spoke about the developments. Thus, from 2004 to 2016 due to falling circulation publications total staff of journalists fell by thirty percent. A number of freelancers, on the contrary, has increased: only among the members of the Swedish Union of Journalists, they now make up fifteen percent. And this is without taking into account the fact that many freelancers are not in the journalists' union, which is a trade union in Sweden, not creative organization.
In his textbook and seminars for young journalists Fredrik and Mikael seek to debunk the myth of the bohemian life hateful freelancers, according to which the article is written as if for a cup of coffee at some cozy outdoor cafe. They are convinced that the freelance journalist – is first of all a professional. Convinced that his work is very heavy. For in contrast to their colleagues working on a permanent basis, except freelancer must possess creative skills and entrepreneurial abilities.
In the words of Fredrick Neumann, even the best of Swedish journalists from leading national media could not survive as a freelancer more than one month. After a successful freelancer – not the one who writes the best, who is the most talented, but the one who knows how to sell the results of their work.
The most significant advantage of a freelance journalist named Fredrik freedom. He has a lot more opportunities in the choice of professional bias, so to improve themselves in the narrow specialization interesting for him.
Activities freelancer should begin with a study of the market and potential customers, as which can act and leading national publications.
Recently, Swedish freelancers cooperate, unite for a successful conduct of the activity. Instead of working in solitude in the kitchen, they rent office space, pay the rent jointly. Such associations are good that you are among peers, and your contact network is expanding significantly. This creates more opportunities for the successful implementation of professional activity, increases your status, pointing to the fact that you – not craftsman and pro. it also allows you to buy professional equipment a purse, which leads to lower costs.
Association of freelancers "Blue office", whose members are Fredrik and Michael, is one of the largest in Stockholm (25-27 people). The name of the office was similar to the home of the Swedish author August Strindberg, which he called the "Blue Tower" and which is just across the road from the office. The association is well known, it is believed that if you belong to the "Blue office", you will always work.
Drawing on his own, of course, a wealth of experience in the field of freelancing and Fredrik Mikael developed a step by step success strategy for a freelance journalist, which they called "12 steps to success". The secret of success, and they have shared with their colleagues Połacak and Viciebsk.
