News & Media

I've been freelancing for the last three years, but I'm thinking about going back to a previous full-time staff writer job in a newsroom. It’s been a while since I've worked in that kind o… more

In London at the moment there have been transport strikes which will be lasting all week. I’ve never seen so many people waiting for buses or cycling through the streets. If any of you are affected by… more

I saw my name published for the first time and felt like I had made it. Then I saw the typo in the second line. Do you remember your first byline — did you celebrate or just panic?

Just got assigned to a new metro desk and my editor keeps second-guessing my story angles. Last week she killed my piece after I'd already done three interviews. How do you win over an editor who … more

I sat in a meeting where we debated the word "exclusive" for over an hour. By the time we agreed, the story was already on three other channels. What is the most pointless word war you have … more

One of my mates has been reported by a coworker for having a second job. HR and said they'll decide if he's fired. It's not a conflict of interest.. should he worry?

What's your social media strategy after leaving a toxic workplace? I got burned by posting a celebratory before-and-after pic of my new vs old job and the former company's lawyer came after me… more

I had a client ask me to remove the Oxford comma "because it is too political." That was the moment I knew we had entered nonsense territory. What is the pettiest edit you have ever had forc… more

Part of my team works in a different country, and whilst teams keep us talking, it’s not the same as being in the same room. I was lucky enough to meet them all in person at the start but now it feels… more

I once left a role quickly because it wasn’t the right fit, but it felt like that decision stuck to me in interviews afterward… almost as if staying longer would’ve been better, even though I knew it … more

Are free trial shifts ever worth it? I have been offered a free trial shift next week for an international outlet. I don't like have to do a full work day for free but it's too good of an oppo… more

What do you do to decompress outside of work? For me, it’s running; just getting outside and switching off after a day of screens and deadlines makes all the difference. I find it’s usually the only t… more

I got asked to cover a topic I had zero background in. No prep, no context, just "get it done." The final piece was shaky, but I survived. Why is "sink or swim" treated as a valid … more

An editor once rewrote my intro so it sounded like a legal disclaimer. It killed the entire story. I put it back in my portfolio but under a fake name. Have you ever disowned your own published work?

I had a good time here people were cool and friendly

I went to an industry event and spent half the night wondering if I was talking enough or smiling enough to be "likeable." Networking feels like performance art sometimes. Does anyone else f… more

I always have mixed feelings about peer reviews; sometimes it’s great to get honest feedback from people you actually work with, other times it feels awkward or forced. In your experience, do peer rev… more

Sometimes the newsroom feels like school all over again. There are the favourites, the untouchables, and the ones who always get picked for the big stories. Talent matters, but so does who you sit wit… more

Every time I bring up concerns about story tone or framing, I get told I'm "too sensitive." Sometimes I think maybe I am, but then I remember what drew me to journalism. How do you hold … more

I’m constantly told to take regular breaks away from screens to stop burnout. Personally I’m bad at stepping away often throughout the day because it gets too busy to do that; does anyone actually tak… more

An editor wants you to incorporate AI into your role as a copywriter? Do you do it?

I once worked for a site that sent me an AI generated piece and then asked me to tidy it up and make it pass plagaris… more

I remember thinking my first drafts had to be perfect. Now I know the first draft's only job is to exist. The suffering comes from believing every word is a test. Do you share your drafts early or… more

I used to think tone of voice guidelines were holy documents. Then I realised most of them are written once, filed away, and ignored. The hard part is being new and realising no one actually follows t… more

Hi all! Does anyone have any suggestions for good courses (like on LinkedIn or Coursera) about AI search optimization? Maybe that is not the right term, but I am talking about ways to optimize content… more

I publish content online and the algorithm obviously favors angry, dramatic posts. But I'm over here trying to build genuine trust with my audience, rather than just chasing views. It's hard t… more

First time I sent a draft, the client asked me to "make it pop." I spent a whole weekend trying to figure out what pop even means in words. Spoiler: it means nothing 🙄. Whats the silliest t… more

Hey everyone, I'm looking for podcast recs about journalism, not just news shows. I've been doing local news for 8 years and want to find more shows that talk about the business, ethics, or ju… more

Digital content creator and new to AI. Any good apps to help train my models with more accuracy? I've made a few AI videos on YouTube that have done excellent. However I want a consistent model fo… more

I used to think “just a quick edit” actually meant quick. Then I learned it can mean a full rewrite, a tone overhaul, and a fight with three managers. New copywriters learn fast: there is no such thin… more

I am looking at jobs again, freelance and staff. It seems to be no classic writing jobs exist anymore. You have to be prepared to be a SEO manager, social media manager, make tiktoks, video edit, code… more

Anyone else hitting a wall lately? I'm getting ignored left and right and starting to take it personally. What do you do when you feel like giving up in this industry altogether?

When I started freelancing, I said yes to everything - 500 words for pennies, "exposure," projects with no brief. I thought I was building a portfolio. Really, I was building resentment. Any… more

When I first started in media I expected a lot more structured training. In reality, most of what I’ve learned has been on the job (through many mistakes). Has your company invested in proper training… more

The other day I was on a client call, editing, and trying not to drop my lunch down me all at once. Media work seems to turn everyone into a multitasking pro (or mess). What’s the strangest combinatio… more

I'm updating my LinkedIn profile since I'll be job searching soon. I keep seeing these AI headshot generators that produce realistic images, but they're clearly artificial. Do you think a … more

I've been a reporter for three years and I'm still stuck covering court cases and press conferences while other people who started when I did are getting to work on big investigative stories. … more

I keep seeing reporters go off on their own - starting Substacks and launching YouTube channels. I used to write a lot on Medium and I'm getting back into it. Coming from academia, I'm pretty … more

When you read or watch a piece of media what really makes you think ‘that’s great’? I personally love snappy editing and things that feel quite personal but I know other people prefer other styles?

Some days it feels like my whole job is just replying to emails. No matter how many I clear, more come in and it’s hard to feel productive when you’re just stuck in the inbox loop. Do you have a syste… more