Season 1
Experienced food journalist Jesse Hirsch is the only editor at Offrange–an editorially independent publication owned by Ambrook–so he is always open to freelance pitches. He shared with IIJ leader Erika Hayasaki that he’s looking for offbeat stories on agriculture and farming, but that scope is broad. Writers have successfully pitched him surprising stories about attacking bird flu with lasers, the U.S. Navy’s “boat forest,” and how witches source their botanicals (by the IIJ’s own Sara Murphy!). Offrange also accepts pitches for essays and op-eds on food and farming. Erika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She writes a newsletter called The Reported Essay. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com
Soleil Ho has always had a lot of irons in the fire. For a decade, they worked as a chef while freelancing as a writer. In 2019, they joined the San Francisco Chronicle, where they served as the paper’s restaurant critic until 2025, nabbing a James Beard Award in the process. These days, when they’re not collaborating with chefs on cookbook projects, they’re helping to run COYOTE Media Collective, a Bay-area-based worker-owned newsroom. Ho shared candid insights and hard-learned lessons for the cooperative-curious with IIJ leader Shernay Williams, and discussed their career as a food journalist. Shernay Williams is an instructor and coach for the Institute for Independent Journalists. She spent more than a decade as a journalist for television, radio, and print outlets throughout the South and East Coast before serving as a business coach, running a content firm, and in 2020, launching the Black Mompreneur. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com
Since the Washington Post abruptly fired her in 2025, Karen Attiah has stayed busy. She founde Resistance Studies Series that summer to teach online, after Columbia University cancelled her race and media class, and is writing book projects and her newsletter, the Golden Hour. With IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis, Karen discussed the catharsis of writing through trying times, and her career trajectory from working in a legacy newsroom to being a multi-hypenate independent. She reflected on reporting across continents, confronting power, her late father’s influence, and shaping conversations on race, gender, human rights, and democracy. Karen Attiah is an independent journalist and writer who served as the Washington Post’s founding Global Opinions editor before transitioning to a columnist in 2021. She has reported from countries all over the world, completed a Fulbright Scholarship in Ghana, and is the recipient of numerous honors including the 2019 George Polk Special Award. Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists and special projects editor for the Greater Good Science Center. A science journalist and author who writes about relationships, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, entrepreneurship, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com
University at Texas professor Anita Varma’s recent book Solidarity in Journalism: How Ethical Reporting Fights for Social Justice creates a framework for journalists to center the humanity and dignity of their reporting subjects and challenge narratives pushed by the powerful. In this conversation with the IIJ’s Erika Hayasaki, Varma discusses how solidarity practices can restore the public’s trust in journalism and lead to higher-impact coverage. Dr. Anita Varma is a professor and researcher at UT Austin, where she leads the Solidarity Journalism Initiative at the Center for Media Engagement. She serves on the board of the Objective and Press On: A Southern Collective for Movement Journalism. Erika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She writes a newsletter called The Reported Essay. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com
The Society of Environmental Journalists invited the IIJ to host a live Pitch Fest at the annual SEJ conference in April 2026, which took place at the University of Illinois-Chicago. IIJ Editorial Director Ann Marie Awad brought a handful of freelance journalists on stage to pitch their stories about AI, brain hacking, rare birds, and more to this all-star panel of environmental editors: Bryce Cracknell, founder and editor-in-chief, the Margin Jenny Splitter, editor-in-chief, Sentient Media Michael Kodas, senior editor, Inside Climate News Michelle Rowan, deputy editor, Chicago Tribune Peter Prengaman, global news director for climate and environment, the Associated Press Up your game by listening in on the conversations that usually only happen behind the scenes. Every one of these editors also shared valuable info for any journalist wishing to pitch their respective publications, including rates and contract information. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com Video by Joe Miller. Special thanks to the journalists who pitched their stories: Karthika Gupta, Eric Kasina, Sarah DeWeerdt, Meg Duff, Michael Zografos, and Ann Davis. Thanks to volunteers Amy Yee and Araceli Ramirez, who also captured photos. We are especially grateful for the support and collaboration of the Society of Environmental Journalists and the University of Illinois-Chicago.
We’re sharing a highlight from the 2026 IIJ Freelance Conference: Kavitha Cardoza’s keynote conversation with Katherine Reynolds Lewis! Kavitha received the 2026 American Mosaic Prize, for her independent coverage of children, education, health and poverty. She has reported for the Hechinger Report and NPR, and she’s an assistant professor for journalism at the University of Richmond. You don’t want to miss this deep dive into Kavitha’s career journey, how she avoids extractive reporting, dealing with rejection, her freelance pitching process, and her insights for journalists who want to make the jump into academia. Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists and special projects editor for the Greater Good Science Center. A science journalist and author who writes about relationships, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, entrepreneurship, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com
Documented is a digital publication centering the voices and stories of immigrants in New York City and New Jersey, producing reporting and resource guides in four different languages. Deputy Editor Clarissa A. León helps lead Documented’s small team while also developing relationships with diverse freelancers who can deliver written stories and photojournalism. She spoke with the IIJ’s Erika Hayasaki about how freelancers can pitch her–even early career journalists or students. Erika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She writes a newsletter called The Reported Essay. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com
Times are hard for journalists, even though our work has never been more important. That’s why IIJ leaders Shernay Williams and Katherine Reynolds Lewis wanted to take a moment to set you up for success by answering some common questions from our community of independent journalists of color. Listen in for advice on setting rates, finding clients, maintaining your work life balance, and more. Katherine Reynolds Lewis is the founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists and special projects editor for the Greater Good Science Center. A science journalist and author who writes about relationships, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, entrepreneurship, and social justice, she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News. Shernay Williams is a 3x entrepreneur and an award-winning independent journalist and content strategist with 15 years of cross-platform experience. She worked as a newspaper journalist before transitioning to local TV as a reporter, anchor, and producer. Since then, she’s run a content firm, served as an entrepreneurship coach, and launched a national directory and resources platform for Black mompreneurs. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com
Robin Kazmier is senior digital editor for Science Friday, overseeing the digital operation for the beloved radio show that’s broadcast to more than 500 public radio stations across the country. An experienced science journalist in her own right, Kazmier shares the secrets to a successful Science Friday story with IIJ leader Erika Hayasaki. Kazmier accepts submissions in English and Spanish, and seeks enterprise stories about the surprising ways science helps people understand the world around them. Erika Hayaski is a writer focusing on the intersections of identity, race, psychology, inequality, science, technology, history, and the human condition. She writes a newsletter called The Reported Essay. She is a former national correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and currently teaches at the University of California, Irvine as a professor in the Literary Journalism Program. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com
Founded in 2018, Sentient is America’s only nonprofit newsroom focused solely on factory farms and their effects on climate, environment, public health, labor, and animal welfare. Editor-in-chief Jenny Splitter is an award-winning climate and food journalist and a former freelancer herself. She sat down with Shernay Williams to discuss Sentient’s goal to build the factory farming beat, and shared tips for how to pitch her your next story. Sentient’s rates for a 800-1,000 word story start at $300, but are often in the $400-$500 range. Check out their freelance charter for more information. Shernay Williams spent more than a decade as a journalist for television, radio, and print outlets throughout the South and East Coast before serving as a business coach, running a content firm, and in 2020, launching The Black Mompreneur. The Freelance Journalism Podcast is a production of the Institute for Independent Journalists, whose mission is the financial and emotional sustainability of freelancers of color. Learn more about our work at theiij.com