11 Podcast keeps freelances up to date


The Dublin Freelance branch has launched a podcast to reach out to freelances in the absence of Freelance Forum events. The podcast, called Freelance Forum, was started


after coronavirus restrictions led to the cancellation of the March Freelance Forum event in Dublin. Episodes address useful issues for freelances, from pitching to podcasting, finances to mindfulness. “Now more than ever we needed the forum to keep


in touch with freelances,” Gerard Cunningham of the Freelance Forum and Dublin Freelance branch, said. Gerard produces and hosts the podcast. There are already eight episodes available online, with guests Padraig O’Morain, former Irish Times journalist who writes about and teaches mindfulness; Sinead Ryan, a print and broadcast financial correspondent, on freelance finances; Emmet Ryan, editor of Connected at the Business Post, on freelancing; journalist and author Joe Joyce on writing fiction; NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley on the future of journalism; broadcaster and trainer Aileen O’Meara on podcasting and audio production; RTÉ producer Sarah Binchy on Sunday Miscellany and other opportunities for pitching to RTÉ; and journalist Ken Foxe on using Freedom of Information. For the past 10 years, the Freelance Form, with support from the NUJ and Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), has drawn people to Dublin twice a year for events that offered tips from commissioning editors and other insights into developments in the field. They were early to explore a number of advances, anticipating such phenomena as the rise in podcasting. Gerard has applied to journalism schemes for funding to cover expenses for the Freelance Forum projects. While a decision is still pending, he decided to go ahead with the podcast. “We had the concept and we decided we’re just going to do it,” he said. Gerard had produced a radio documentary funded by BAI, Mechanical Meitheal, about software localization efforts in the Irish language, but podcasting was new for him. “I’m enjoying it,” he said. “It’s a new process so I’m learning on the go and learning fairly fast.” It takes him about two days to turn around each episode. The Freelance Forum podcast is available on the


podcast app of your choice and members are encouraged to leave a rating if the app allows. Gerard


Aileen O’Meara, broadcaster and trainer.


would also like members to get in touch with him with any ideas for future episodes at tribunalreporter@gmail.com. The Freelance Forum podcast is available through


iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Cast, and other podcast apps.


Seamus Martin joins Fetisov awards council


Veteran Irish journalist Seamus Martin has been appointed to the council of the Fetisov Journalism Awards. The awards have a fund of 500,000 Swiss francs under a programme


devised by Russian businessman, scientist and philanthropist Gleb Fetisov, who was jailed by the Putin regime. Details of the jury and the expert council as well as a call for entries can


be found online at the Fetisov Journalism Awards website, https:// fjawards.com.


NUJ condolences Sympathy is extended to Helen Taylor, Irish office, and to her family on the recent death of her father, Bill. Bill (86) died at the Mater Hospital, Dublin following a short illness.


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