Meet a Journalist

A journalist's profile, stories and career in the field of journalism. Know a journalist who should be profiled here? Send an e-mail to Janet E. Bardon

March 23 , 2001
Joanne Jefferson
Freelance Writer
Pleasantville, Nova Scotia
nightlight@tallships.ca

First I should say that I don't think of myself as a "journalist." I have no formal training in journalism, and I probably break all the rules they teach in journalism school. My model for journalists has always been my intimidating older brother who wrote for the Globe and Mail for years. His was never a career choice I would make for myself, but I've been writing since I was in grade school.

I am a freelance writer. I've written for daily newspapers, regional and national magazines, university research projects, and amateur theatre productions. Most of my assignments require a query to an editor, then several follow-up calls, sometimes an "on spec" verbal agreement. This year, for the first time, I have an ongoing contract to write a short column about young kids for Treehouse Canadian Family, and they're paying me a dollar a word to do it.

I got into this work because I knew if I didn't start taking myself seriously as a writer I was going to lose my ability, and maybe go crazy. And I figured it might be a way to make a little money from something I love doing (always a dangerous assumption). I'd been an academic writer and completed my MA in English at Dalhousie, but my path to a PhD was detoured by the arrival of children. I was staying at home with my two young sons when a friend said she was starting up a newsletter for stay-at-home mums and could I help out. Writing for that small publication gave me confidence and a few credits for my scant resume.

When a writing buddy gave me a tip about a celebrity author who would be in Halifax for a convention and that her appearance would make a good story, I approached an editor at the Sunday Herald and managed to convince him to let me interview the woman. The whole episode was a hilarious learning experience, including toddler-interrupted phone calls from a fast-talking New York publicist and a malfunctioning tape recorder. I made a lot of mistakes, but earned my first by-line.

One of my favourite publications to write for has been Visual Arts News. I've done a few art reviews and a feature, giving me the chance to write about Nova Scotia artists and their work. Using my own creative efforts to celebrate theirs is satisfying. One painter, who told me that he felt like I'd looked into his soul when I wrote about his abstract paintings, gave me a piece of his wife's pottery as a thank-you gift. I've also enjoyed writing book reviews for Atlantic Books Today and the Daily News.

Being a freelancer is the right choice for me. I work at home, mostly when the kids are in school. I can make myself a fresh pot of coffee when I want, work in my pajamas if I want. The drawbacks are relatively low pay for most work, inconsistency in workload and income, and the distractions of housework and play. So far, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

For professional and moral support I've found two organizations to be extremely helpful: the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia and the Periodical Writers Association of Nova Scotia. Some of the best lessons I've learned came from a Writers Fed-organized workshop led by Silver Donald Cameron. He teaches about self-marketing, keeping track of assignments and ideas, and recycling stories. PWAC runs a listserve for members that provides a daily dose of messages on every aspect of professional writing. Both organizations can help with the potential for isolation that is part of self-employment. And they've both raised my awareness of issues like electronic copyright that complicate the careers of freelancers.

As I write this, I'm watching the snow falling and listening to the kids urging me to join their tobogganing party. School was closed early today. Luckily, I have no deadlines.