Feedback on IIJ Events

2023 Freelancing Conference

  • “Hands down the best journo conference I've attended including four in-person and two other online. Just such a sense of safety, inclusion, and not at all intimidating.”

  • “Working as a freelance journalist can be so overwhelming and exhausting, from navigating elitist and white spaces to trying to make ends meet. This space has been rejuvenating and affirming in ways I didn't even realize were possible. The labor and love you put into organizing this really shined through, so thank you so much!”

  • “I absolutely loved that the conference centered women of color in all of the sessions. It was extremely refreshing to hear from a wide range of diverse voices.”

  • “I was blown away by every session I attended, from the learnings I took away from the super pitch session to how inspiring I found the keynote conversation. I have so many notes I'm parsing through with advice that will help me move forward with my freelance journalism goals and also pursue paths I hadn't even thought of! So grateful for this incredible space and all that I learned the last two days.”

  • “I appreciated being in a predominantly POC space in journalism and receiving relevant advice where money is openly discussed and there's no assumption that everyone has a trust fund to fall back on. It's honesty mind-blowing how much more relevant this freelancing advice was from every other freelancing resource I've looked into because it's by and for BIPOC folks.”

  • “Jamila Bay's inquisition towards editors from mainstream media simply rocked it all. Precise, concise, and wise, she went straight to the point for the joy of us all: "what really makes you open/read a pitch?", "what is the worst kind of pitch?", "what drives you mad?".

  • “Really appreciated the gentle yet direct way moderators set the tone at the top of each session - no rate shaming, hold space, etc. I haven't seen that at other journalism conferences (virtual or in-person) and I'd love to see more of it"

  • “I learned SO much! Connecting with my peers, trading tips and support enabled me to experience a solidarity of cause that will creatively inspire and sustain me to do good work and be more fearless!"

  • “It was reassuring that even highly accomplished journalists have self-doubt. It was helpful to learn that their success came from persistence and not giving up. Sometimes I think I'm just not good enough, but maybe it's just that I don't pitch the same story more than five times. The honesty was really helpful and inspiring.”

  • “I loved the wide variety of panels and topics – this definitely felt like an ‘all you need to know about freelancing’ two day crash course.”

8-Week Business of Freelancing Course

  • “This course was one of the best investments I ever made. It forced me to become organized about my billing, about how I choose my projects, and more importantly, I learned so much about myself and what projects I want to work on. And best of all, I met a community of brilliant journalists and writers who inspired me during every class.”

  • “What a wonderful class, full of encouragement, accountability, and useful tools and insights to reinvigorate my freelance business and take it to the next level.”

  • “I've taken other freelance business classes, but this one is the most useful so far. The amount of information and expectation is commensurate with the support, which is helping me move forward with making and reaching my freelance business goals.”

  • “This was an expertly led, comprehensive class. In eight 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!”

July 2022 Business of Freelancing Workshop at AAJA

  • “This experience was one of the most impactful, educational courses 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 session 4 -- 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.”

  • “I loved it. I wish it was longer! I had to rush off before the end of the day, but would have come back if this was a two-day workshop."