This website is using cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible on our website.
More info: Privacy & Cookies, Imprint
There are several online directories and databases that contain listings and profiles of freelance journalists. Here are some options:
Freeelancermap: An online platform that specializes in freelance workers in various industries, including journalism. It offers an extensive database of freelance journalists from around the world.
Journalist Directory: A directory of freelance journalists in Germany. The directory is sorted by state and topic and includes contact information and samples of work.
DJV-Freie: A database of the German Journalists' Association (DJV) containing more than 4,000 freelance journalists from Germany. The database is accessible to DJV members, but some information is also available to the public.
MediaBistro: A job board and online community for media professionals, including freelance journalists. The site includes a job database, a directory of freelancers, and a variety of resources for media professionals.
LinkedIn: A social platform for business and professional people, also used by freelance journalists. LinkedIn allows users to create their profile to showcase their skills and experience and connect with other professionals.
These lists are a good starting point for finding freelance journalists. However, it is important to note that many freelancers may not be listed on these lists or may not advertise their services publicly. In this case, it may be helpful to search social media or relevant groups and forums for recommendations.
Incomplete information: When reaching out to a journalist, it is important that you provide all the information necessary for the journalist to understand and cover your story.
Overly long emails or messages: Journalists are often busy and may not have time to read long emails or messages. Therefore, try to make your request as short and concise as possible.
Lack of personalization: when contacting a journalist, it is important that you familiarize yourself with their work and interests so that you can make a personalized and relevant request.
Inappropriate follow-up messages: It's important to give journalists time to respond to your inquiry. Excessive follow-up can be perceived as intrusive or inappropriate.
Lack of message etiquette: When sending an email to a journalist, make sure you use the correct salutation and signature, and that you do not include spelling or grammatical errors.
If you want to be featured in trade media as an expert, there are some steps you can take to improve your chances. Here are some tips on how you can build journalist contacts and get into trade media:
Identify relevant media and journalists: find out which media and journalists are active in your industry and what topics they cover. Follow their articles and posts and pay attention to their interests and focus.
Make contacts: try to build personal relationships with journalists. Email or call them to introduce yourself and express your interest in their work. Make sure you are friendly and professional and don't send pre-written press releases.
Offer relevant content: When speaking with journalists, offer relevant and interesting content that may be of interest to their audience. Be prepared to share your views and opinions and explain how your expertise can help shed light on a particular story or topic.
An editor is typically a person responsible for editing text and presenting it in various media. This may include, for example, checking texts for spelling, grammar, coherence, and consistency, writing titles and subtitles, formatting texts, and determining page layouts. An editor may also be responsible for selecting content to be published in various media.
A journalist, on the other hand, is usually a person who gathers, researches, and writes news and information for publication in various media outlets. Journalists often specialize in certain areas, such as politics, business, culture, or sports. They may also be responsible for investigative reporting, where they dive deep into a topic to uncover corruption, wrongdoing, or injustice.
Although editors and journalists differ in their roles and responsibilities, they may be the same people in some media organizations. In smaller media companies or freelance jobs, editors may also serve as journalists and vice versa.
When contacting journalists, the main thing is to build a good relationship based on trust, respect and openness. Here are some important points to keep in mind:
Relevance: make sure your story or information is relevant to the journalist and fits their interests. Try to clearly demonstrate the benefit to the reader or target audience:
Credibility: Present yourself as a credible source of information by providing accurate, verifiable facts and not making false promises. Avoid talking about things that you are not sure are true.
Relationship: Build a relationship by communicating regularly with the journalist and keeping him or her informed. Show interest in the journalist's needs and interests, and pay attention to his or her work style and preferences.
Understand: Understand the journalist's work style and needs. Journalists often have tight deadlines and need to work quickly. Try to accommodate them by communicating promptly and effectively.
Transparency: Be transparent and open in what you say and don't share classified information. It's important to gain the journalist's trust by being honest and transparent.
Overall, contact with journalists is about building a positive relationship based on trust, respect and openness. By following these principles, you can increase the likelihood of your story or information being picked up by a journalist.