Master the Business of Freelance Journalism

Build a sustainable freelance career with IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis and award-winning journalist Lisa Armstrong

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This eight-week live online course provides a comprehensive foundation in the business of freelance journalism. Each session combines real-world strategy with personalized guidance, covering topics such as rate setting, time and income management, client relationships, and long-term planning. This course is designed will meet you where you are, whether you are just starting out or are a longtime freelancer ready to level up your systems.

Participants receive feedback between sessions and a toolkit of resources to support your business goals long after the course ends. With insights from two accomplished journalists who built successful independent careers, learn to work with intention and avoid burnout.

$189 for 8 Weeks of Personalized Support!

This is one of the most affordable and high-impact freelance courses available today.

Seats are limited! Enrollment is capped at just 30 participants to ensure you receive individual attention throughout the program.

Sign up now for:

Eight one-hour classes every Thursday at 3 pm ET/12 pm PT, starting Oct. 16 through Dec. 11 (skipping Nov. 27)
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

Enroll Now!

What Past Participants Say:

“This was an expertly led, comprehensive class. In 8 short hours we went over the basic knowledge, essential tools, winning habits, and adequate mindset for a successful freelancing business.”

“Despite more than a decade in the business and three years freelancing, I learned A LOT in this class, and would highly recommend it!”

“The business of freelancing class gave me a useful framework for optimizing progress in a difficult field and created a supportive community that continued to connect after the course was over.”

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 course provides a wealth of practical guidance to ensure your financial and emotional sustainability.

About the Instructors

Katherine Reynolds Lewis is an award-winning science journalist, author, and founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists. She is also the special projects editor for the Greater Good Science Center. Her reporting has appeared in the Atlantic, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Bloomberg Businessweek, Slate, and USA Today, among others. Her book, The Good News About Bad Behavior, grew out of a viral story for Mother Jones, the most-read story the outlet has ever published. A Harvard physics graduate and former national correspondent for Bloomberg and Newhouse, Lewis has taught journalism at American University and Northwestern University, and has held fellowships from MIT, Medill, and Marquette’s O’Brien Public Service Journalism program.

Katherine Reynolds Lewis

Lisa Armstrong

Lisa Armstrong is an award-winning investigative journalist and associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in the Intercept, Rolling Stone, the New Yorker, and Mother Jones. She has reported globally on trauma, incarceration, public health, and justice, covering stories from Haiti, Sierra Leone, Kenya, and the Philippines. Armstrong has earned numerous fellowships and awards, including support from the Pulitzer Center and the Knight-Wallace Fellowship.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
You’ll complete hands-on assignments that help you build key elements of your freelance business, from pitch drafts to rate sheets, and a personalized network map. Along the way, you'll receive detailed, personalized feedback from Katherine and Lisa, designed to help you refine your approach in real time and build an adaptable system that’s right for you.
We understand that life happens. While we encourage you to attend all eight live sessions to ask questions and connect with the group, all classes are recorded and shared with participants. If you miss a week, you’ll still be able to access the materials, submit your assignments, and receive instructor feedback before the next session.
No. This course 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.
We recommend budgeting around 3 to 5 hours per week. That includes the one-hour live class, applying what you learned to your freelance practice, and completing exercises or worksheets. Some weeks will feel lighter; others might invite deeper reflection. But the course is designed to be flexible and manageable, even with a busy schedule.
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.
Yes! We will offer the course again in the spring. If the current session doesn’t align with your schedule, you won’t miss out. We encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media so as not to miss out on updates about the spring 2026 course.
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.
Email us at: info@theiij.com