Master the Business of Entrepreneurial Journalism
Build a sustainable freelance career in one day!The Freelance Business Workshop
Your Path to Financial and Emotional Sustainability
Presented by the Institute for Independent Journalists and
Investigative Reporters and Editors
Friday, June 19, 2026, from 9:00 am to 6:15 pm ET
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
201 Waterfront St
This full-day workshop will help freelancers develop a sustainable independent journalism practice. While geared toward people with a few years of experience, even long-time entrepreneurs will learn skills to level up.
Topics Include:
The 3 P’sⓒ model of structuring a freelance portfolio and what to negotiate for in addition to higher pay.
Effective networking, recruiting anchor clients, identifying your brand and niche, and when to say no.
A range of organization, time management, and mental health strategies
What Past Participants Say:
“This experience was one of the most impactful, educational workshops I've ever taken in my career (and I've sat through a lot of them!) … such meaningful encouragement.”
“The entire workshop was wonderful, but the last session-particularly the sections on scheduling work and rest and creating habits and systems-were enlightening and empowering. I left feeling excited about freelancing and put some gems on post-its that I now look at every day when starting my workday.”
“Understanding the essentials of a contract and practicing negotiation skills were crucial parts of this seminar for me. I was pretty oblivious before this. Now, I feel confident that I can stand up for myself when pursuing a project.”
Create a personalized roadmap for long-term success as a freelancer. You’ll learn to:
Apply Katherine Lewis’s 3 P’s modelⓒ to shape a balanced and profitable portfolio
Track your income and time with ease, and set clear, achievable goals
Negotiate beyond pay—and recognize when it’s time to say no
Build smarter systems for organization, time management, and maintaining your mental health
Strengthen your network, identify anchor clients, and define your brand and niche
Whether you're laying the groundwork for your freelance career or fine-tuning an established business, this workshop provides a wealth of practical guidance to ensure your financial and emotional sustainability.
Friday, June 19, 2025 (9 am - 6:15 pm ET)
9:00 - 10:00 am
Session 1: Principles for Sustainable Freelancing
Learn the 3 P’s model© of freelance gigs and the importance of hourly rates. Review an income-expenses statement, and adapt a budget to use in your freelance practice. Dig into the key roles all entrepreneurs must shoulder and how employers and freelancers differ. Reflect on your reasons for being an independent journalist and identify the elements of a good assignment for your goals.
10:15 am - 11:15 am
Session 2: Your Brand and Your Network
Learn the importance of cultivating relationships with peers and potential clients. Discuss brand identity and marketing strategies. Compare effective networking and excessive self-promotion. Create a Venn diagram of your interests, your experience and the market, as you identify potential anchor clients.
11:30 - 12:30 pm
Session 3: Inside a Freelance Business
Learn the basics of entrepreneurial business structure, tax and licensing obligations. Develop a system for tracking invoices and managing your cash flow. Hear about the risks freelancers face—financial, legal, health and psychological—and how to manage them. Understand the copyright and contract terms that impact the value of your work, and review sample proposals that limit your risk and clearly define the project’s scope.
12:45 - 2:15 pm
Lunch Offsite
People who pre-registered for a group lunch will walk to the lunch site together. The deadline has passed to register for lunch.
Email info@theiij.com if you’re not sure whether you’re confirmed for lunch.
NOTE: The IRE awards luncheon will be held at the same time as our group lunch. The awards lunch is separately ticketed. If you have an all-access IRE registration, the awards lunch is included in your ticket.
2:30 - 3:45 pm
Session 4: Editors Panel
Hear from editors who assign to freelance journalists, including what they’re looking for in a pitch, how to become a go-to contributor, strategies for deepening your relationship with a client, managing conflict, and more. Speakers include editors for the Baltimore Banner, Mother Jones, National Geographic and Type Investigations.
Speakers:
Maryam Saleh, senior editor, Type Investigations
Mitch Ryals, editor, The Baltimore Banner
Starlight Williams, editor, National Geographic Digital
Moderator: Kirstin Garriss, award-winning independent journalist and communications director at URL Collective
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Session 5: Time, Client and Self Management
Learn key principles for managing your time, clients, and yourself. Evaluate your current motivation strategies, high-low discipline hours and needs for rest, connection and fun. Hear about supports and strategies for maintaining mental health and work discipline. Understand the importance of turning down work and practice several ways to say no.
5:15 - 6:15 pm
Session 6: Freelance Systems for Success
This session will be a practical, hands on approach to setting up your freelance practice for emotional and financial sustainability. You’ll consider what you need to thrive and start drafting a business plan at granular and annual levels. Leave with specific steps to reach your goals next week, next month, and the coming year—and a plan for staying accountable to yourself.
6:15 pm
Stay to Network
Finish the day by evaluating the learning, sharing contact information with new colleagues, and setting up any next steps that will help cement your day of learning.
$79 for One Day of Personalized Support!
This is one of the most affordable and high-impact freelance workshops available today.
Seats are limited!
Sign up now for:
One full-day workshop
Assignments that build crucial business skills and personalized feedback
A full toolkit of worksheets, templates, and resources you can rely on for years to come
About the Instructors
Katherine is a science journalist and author based in the Washington, D.C. area who writes about education, equity, mental health, parenting, journalism, and social justice for publications including The Atlantic, The New York Times, Nieman Reports, Parents, and The Washington Post. Her 2018 book The Good News About Bad Behavior grew out of Mother Jones’ most-read article. A biracial woman (Asian American and White), she previously worked as a national correspondent for Newhouse News Service and Bloomberg News.
Katherine Reynolds Lewis
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. Her written and video work has appeared in MarketWatch, Fast Company, Inc, TheGrio, Word In Black, Comcast Newsmakers, Ivanhoe Broadcast News, and various local outlets. She also serves on the leadership team for the National Association of Black Journalists' Entrepreneurship Task Force and is founder of Shernay Olivia Art & Jewelry, specializing in handcrafted earrings and bangles.
Shernay Williams
Emma Carew Grovum is the founder of Kimbap Media, working at the intersection of journalism, technology, and audience. She holds a Cornell University certificate in Building a Diverse Workforce, completed leadership programs at Yale and Poynter, and participated in CUNY’s 2025 AI Lab for Leaders. Emma has previously served as director, careers & culture, at The Marshall Project, and assistant managing editor of The Daily Beast. Prior roles include the New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, and The Star Tribune.
Emma Carew Grovum
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!
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MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
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Democracy Fund
Past Workshops
2025 Chicago
Freelance Business Workshop
Presented by the Institute for Independent Journalists, Palabra and National Association of Hispanic Journalists
Thank you to our sponsors!
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O'Brien Fellowship in Public Service Journalism
Marquette University
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MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
2023 Washington, DC
Freelance Business Workshop
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. Many freelancers enter the course still exploring their path. One of the first things we work on is helping you identify your strengths, values, and goals, so you can define a niche that feels aligned and sustainable.
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No. This workshop is designed to support your journey whether you freelance full-time, as a side hustle, or even if you’re preparing to transition into freelancing. We meet you where you are and help you build systems that match your capacity and long-term goals.
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Yes, and more important, the right kinds of clients. Rather than chasing volume, we focus on helping you build a freelance business with clarity, boundaries, and intention. You’ll learn how to attract clients who respect your time and expertise, negotiate stronger contracts, and build lasting professional relationships that support your career growth.
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We rotate amongst cities and can not guarantee that programming will be near you.
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Absolutely. While this course was created with the experiences of BIPOC freelancers in mind — and many discussions will center around identity, access, and equity — it’s open to anyone who shares those values and is eager to learn in a community-centered space. We ask all participants to engage with respect, humility, and a willingness to grow alongside others.
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Email us at: info@theiij.com
Master the Business of Entrepreneurial Journalism
Build a smarter, more sustainable freelance career with IIJ instructors Katherine Reynolds Lewis and Shernay Williams.