The Society of Freelance Journalists
Join our international Slack community of almost 4,000 journalists, editors and content creators
In partnership with the European Journalism Centre
"Think of the Society of Freelance Journalists as a kind of vast, virtual concourse. The main hub is a Slack messaging channel, which is a space to chat with freelance writers all over the world, share ideas, and ask for help.The cherry on top is the number of jobs and writing opportunities posted to the channel: you may well find your next commission here."
About us
The Society of Freelance Journalists is a global community for freelance journalists. We offer advice, moral support, learning and job opportunities for journalists whose main source of income is self-employment.
Founded in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SFJ has since grown to more than 2,600 members and is a registered Community Interest Company (CIC).At the heart of our community is a Slack group, with dedicated discussion channels for work opportunities, networking, events, and advice on topics from personal finance to working from home. Membership is free to ensure the group is accessible to all.The SFJ directors and founding members – Laura Oliver, Abigail Edge, Caroline Harrap and John Crowley – volunteer their time to maintain and develop the group, driven by their collective goal to support and lend a voice to the fast-growing freelance sector of the media industry.In 2020, SFJ partnered with the European Journalism Center to launch the Freelance Journalism Assembly workshops and unconference. We also contributed to a House of Lords report into the future of UK Journalism. Read our submission here..
In the press
- • Journalism.co.uk – Slack group for freelancers grows into a social enterprise
- • Hostwriter – How to build a team for a cross-border project
- • House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee – Breaking news? The future of UK journalism
- • Business Insider – How to start freelance writing
- • Press Gazette – The rise of the freelance journalist: Tough times and lockdown prompt boom in online networks
- • Poynter – 30+ resources for freelancers
- • Journalism.co.uk – New Slack group offers support for freelance journalists during the coronavirus crisis
Meet the founders
Laura Oliver
Laura is a freelance reporter, editor and visiting lecturer at City University. As a consultant, she helps newsrooms and media outlets with online editorial and audience strategies. Twitter @LauraOliver.
Abigail Edge
Abigail is an independent journalist and editorial consultant who works with newsrooms, tech orgs and NGOs to build engaged audiences and drive digital transformation. Find her on LinkedIn.
Meet the founders
John Crowley
John has more than two decades of experience working for local, national and international news titles. He writes about business, tech, mental health and disinformation. Twitter: @mrjohncrowley.
Caroline Harrap
Caroline is a freelance journalist and editor based in Paris. Her work has appeared in the Guardian, France Today and BBC Travel, among others. Find her on Bluesky: @carolineharrap.bsky.social.
