The Freelance Journalism Podcast

Katherine Reynolds Lewis hosts this monthly podcast from the Institute for Independent Journalists, and it fills a gap that most journalism shows ignore: the practical business of freelancing. Instead of focusing on reporting techniques or media criticism, the show gets into the specific, unglamorous details that determine whether a freelance journalist can actually pay rent. How much does The Atlantic pay per piece? What does a good pitch email to National Geographic look like? How do you negotiate a kill fee? Each episode runs 30 to 54 minutes and typically features either an editor from a major publication explaining what they actually want to see in pitches, or an experienced freelancer walking through their career trajectory with real numbers and honest assessments. With 18 episodes and a perfect 5.0-star rating from 13 reviewers, it is a newer show that has quickly established credibility. Lewis asks the specific questions that aspiring freelancers want answered but are often too embarrassed to ask, and her guests are refreshingly candid. Recent topics have covered building a freelance business from scratch, mental health challenges specific to independent journalists, navigating the industry as a person of color, and the economics of different publication types. The show treats freelance journalism as both a craft and a small business, which is exactly the right framing for anyone trying to make this career work in 2026.