Entrepreneurial journalism is the future, says NPC Freelance Committee chair

Tam Harbert thinks freelancing is the future for many journalists.

“As traditional media, including print newspapers, magazines and wire services, shrinks, it’s getting more and more difficult to get a traditional job if you’re a young journalist, and even harder if you’re a mid-career journalist,” Harbert said.

At the same time, technology and the Internet have made it easier for journalists to become entrepreneurs. And more and more are doing so – by running their own businesses, she said.

Harbert has freelanced off and on for her entire career. She spent 20 years in traditional trade publishing, working full time for technology publications including Electronic Business magazine (a monthly magazine for C-level executives at tech companies) and Computerworld (a newspaper for information technology managers). Nine years ago, she jumped into freelancing with both feet permanently.

While it was a struggle during 2009-10, in the aftermath of the financial meltdown, Harbert’s business is profitable today. But the best aspects of freelancing aren’t financial. They are the improved quality of life and the sheer adventure of it, she said.

“I like the freedom of being my own boss and controlling my own time,” she said. “I also have the freedom to explore all sorts of new opportunities. We are living through a revolution in journalism. The ground is constantly shifting beneath our feet. That can be scary, but it also can create incredible opportunities for people with strong journalism skills.”

Harbert's optimism about the future of freelancing is the reason she has served as chair of the National Press Club Freelance Committee for the last two years.

The committee’s goals include raising the credibility of freelancers within the Press Club and offering events that help freelancers improve their businesses and make more money. For example, the committee maintains and promotes a directory of freelancers on the NPC website. The committee also has a private LinkedIn group where it posts job leads and serves as a virtual water cooler where freelancers can share tips and discuss concerns.

“We are trying to enhance the freelance community within the Club,” Harbert said.

Another community building activity is the committee’s semi-monthly “freelance soirees,” where freelancers gather in the Truman Lounge to discuss various topics. The most recent soiree, on Oct. 29, had a Halloween theme. “It was a chance to have a few drinks and talk about our common fears,” Harbert said.

Harbert has won more than a dozen awards for her work, including an Azbee Gold Award and an ASJA Award this year. She blogs about the freelance life.

For more information on the Freelance Committee, e-mail her at [email protected] .