Suggestions on first steps as a freelance journalist transitioning from a full time position in the media field to full time freelancer. This presentation was made at the NABJ LA Media Summit on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at USC Annenberg.

1. Entrepreneurship
on a Deadline
@MarikoLochridge
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

2. @MarikoLochridge
@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline
10/29/2019
 Nearly a decade of experience as a
freelance video journalist
 Dispatched to over 10 countries around
the world for breaking news coverage
 By-Lines include Reuters, Japanese
broadcaster Nippon Television, KCET,
Washington Post, etc.
 Experienced social media consultant
and digital asset management librarian
 Japanese / English bilingual
 Adobe Premiere / FCP X

3. Self-Introduction
Mastering the Pitch
- Intro / Credibility
- The Story & its Nut Graph
- Working headline (if you have it)
- Why I am Special/Most Qualified
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

4. Pitch Structure
1-3 Sentence intro
2-3 paragraph max pitch description
Clips (previous articles)
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

5. What does full time freelancing look
like?
- Pitch, Pitch and Pitch some More
- Developing a Niche or Special Skill
- Offering something more
- Lots of rejection
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

6. Getting Started as a Freelancer
- Thinking through Your financial plan
What is the bare minimum you need to survive?
- Choosing Your Streams of Revenue
100% Journalism?
Combination of content creation and journalism?
- Funding
Anchor Clients, grants, themed projects, one offs
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

7. Setting Yourself Up for Success
- Having clips with established publications
OR
- Having a blog in a niche topic area that has been updated
regularly and establishes you as a industry leader
OR
- Having a specialized skill or ability such as language
ability, drone license, etc.
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

8. Setting Yourself Up for Success
- Having clips with established publications
OR
- Having a blog in a niche topic area that has been updated
regularly and establishes you as a industry leader
OR
- Having a specialized skill or ability such as language
ability, drone license, etc.
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

9. Suggestions on Getting Started
- Mind Map Your Goals : 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, Lifetime
- Do a 6 week pitch rush - Make a list of 40 publications you want to
pitch, find their points of contact and pitch ALL OF THEM
- Find an accountability partner, coworking space, meet up group,
affinity group, etc to keep yourself accountable and also to make sure
you don't end up really depressed or anti social
- Volunteer : You will lose a lot of your ability to have stories fed to you
once you leave the newsroom. Be active in the community to find the
stories on your own.
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

10. Suggestions on Getting Started
- Mind Map Your Goals : 3 months, 1 year, 3 years, Lifetime
- Do a 6 week pitch rush - Make a list of 40 publications you want to
pitch, find their points of contact and pitch ALL OF THEM
- Find an accountability partner, coworking space, meet up group,
affinity group, etc to keep yourself accountable and also to make sure
you don't end up really depressed or anti social
- Volunteer : You will lose a lot of your ability to have stories fed to you
once you leave the newsroom. Be active in the community to find the
stories on your own.
- Story Idea Notebook : Keep a running list of ideas!
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

11. Resources
Binders (Facebook Groups for Female / Non-Binary)
StudyHall.xyz (PAID ListServ)
Storyhunter (Video Journalists Agency)
Twitter (Follow Editors)
WheretoPitch.substack.com (Newsletter)
@Weischoice (PAID Newsletter)
@Freelance_Beat (Newsletter)
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline

12. 10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline
Any
Questions?
@MarikoLochridge

13. What do you need to get
started with your
online profile or website?
10/29/2019@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit : Entrepreneurship on a Deadline
• Brand Kit
• Clips
• Editorial Calendar
• DEDICATED TIME

14. What’s in a
COMPLETE Brand Kit?
• Color Palette
• Fonts: Main / Subtitle
• Logo and its Dimensions
• Short and Long Bios
• Tagline
• Selection of Images
• Promo Video / Reel
Social Media Brand Kit
• Social Handles
• Keywords / Hashtags
• Partners to Tag / Notify
• Writing Samples
(to establish tone of brand)
10/29/2019
@Mariko Lochridge / NABJ Media Summit :
Entrepreneurship on a Deadline