Make a Freelance Writing Living with Journalism Only (Session)

As magazines and newspapers struggle, you may assume it’s impossible to make a living as a freelance writer who specializes in journalism. But fear not! It *is* still possible to have a career and make a comfortable living with only (or mostly) traditional journalistic assignments. Three veteran, award-winning independent journalists will reveal how they make it work and provide numerous tips on how you can too

This is a recording of a session originally presented at ASJA’s 2022 Fall Conference.

Tara Haelle is an author and freelance science journalist whose publication credits include National Geographic, The New York Times, NPR, Scientific American, O Magazine, Wired, Texas Monthly, Medscape, and others. She wrote the Kirkus-starred Vaccination Investigation: The History and Science of Vaccines and nearly a dozen children’s science books, and she coauthored The Informed Parent: A Science-Based Guide to the First Four Years. Tara frequently gives talks on vaccines, children’s health, and mental health, including the TEDx talk “Why Parents Fear Vaccines.” Tara lives in Texas with her husband, two sons, four dogs, and 16 (or so) pet rats.

Meryl Davids Landau is a longtime independent health and science journalist. Her work has been published in National Geographic, Prevention, Vice, the New York Times, Good Housekeeping, O magazine, MindSite News, Everyday Health, and many others. Her work has won numerous awards including an ASJA article award, National Health Information awards, and a nomination for a National Magazine Award. She lives in South Florida, where she also writes fiction in her spare time.

Randy Dotinga, former president of ASJA and current board member of the Association of Health Care Journalists, has been a full-time freelance journalist since 1999. On behalf of ASJA, he spearheaded the successful effort to quash the provisions of a 2019 California labor law that threatened to kill the careers of countless freelance writers. He specializes in health/medicine, politics, books, history, and the odd and unusual. His clients include The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, WebMD, Medscape, and many more.