SABEW offering training call for freelancing

The Society of American Business Editors and Writers will offer a conference call on Aug. 5 for business journalists interesting in a career in freelancing.

Whether driven by economic necessity, industry conditions or the desire for a more flexible schedule, more journalists are contemplating the freelancing life. Many succeed, but it’s not easy.

SABEW has a panel of experts to help explore how to develop story ideas, where and how to offer them, rules of the game and best practices and more.

The call will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. EST.

The panelists will include Marci Alboher, columnist and blogger for The New York Times, is the author of “One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success.” Her articles have appeared in Time Out New York, Travel and Leisure, Marie Claire, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Legal Affairs, The International Herald Tribune and More Magazine, covering such topics as workplace issues, entrepreneurship and travel.

Another panelist is Greg Daugherty, who has been a full-time magazine editor and part-time freelance writer for nearly 30 years. He has held senior-level editing positions Money, Success, Reader’s Digest, and Consumer Reports, where he is currently executive editor. His books include “You Can Write for Magazines.”

Also on the panel will be Maya Payne Smart, who has written hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and websites. Her work has appeared in Black Enterprise, Black MBA, Crain’s Cleveland Business, GSA Business Journal and numerous trade and custom publications. She is the author of several how-to guides on topics ranging from business writing to cutting everyday expenses.

The panel will be Moderated by Cliff Cumber, who is business editor of The Frederick News-Post, a 45,000 circulation, family owned Maryland daily. He was the paper’s first webcaster and initiated the paper’s first blog. Under his leadership the business section has transformed into a dynamic consumer advocate, emphasizing multimedia. He often works with freelancers.

Those wishing to join the call should dial 1-218-936-7999. You will be prompted for the access code, which is 316748. In order for SABEW to estimate the number of callers, please reply to sabew@missouri.edu with “Yesâ€? in the subject line. To send questions in advance or during the call, please e-mail Josh Mills, joshmills@optonline.net.Â