Case studies: Freelance magazine journalist: Ben

Ben graduated with a BA in English and Communication Studies from the University of Liverpool and then completed an NCTJ journalism qualification in London.

I currently work as a freelance magazine journalist based in London. After I graduated, I worked as a runner in television for a while before deciding to return to study on the NCTJ course. This helped me develop my journalism skills.

Following completion of the course, I worked freelance for a short period and then worked a stint for a news agency and then freelanced again. This time helped me to develop my skills and contacts. I worked some shifts on newspapers but my break came when I secured a job at Chat magazine as a writer where I worked my way up to commissioning editor.

I decided to return to freelancing a year ago, mainly as a lifestyle choice. With family commitments it meant I had more choice over my hours.

A typical day for me includes pitching story ideas to magazines, getting commissions, writing and editing features. I would say my role has developed as I now work for more publications than ever before.

I enjoy my job because it is so creative. Every day is a new challenge and you’re only as good as your last article. The most challenging part of the job is selling story ideas to potential clients as this stretches your influencing and communication skills. The best thing about this job is the social and fun nature of the work and the people in the vocation. This is no profession for wallflowers.

My degree subject hasn’t been that relevant. It doesn’t matter what your experience and education is, if you can prove you’ve got an ability to write, put people at ease, interview and come up with great ideas, you’ll be in with a good chance.

So, as a freelancer, or working for one of the many agencies supplying them with stories, study the magazines you’re interested in, come up with ideas they can use, and when you’ve struck up a good rapport, offer to do some shifts for them. If you’re good, you'll get asked back again.

Work experience on any publication is well worth doing, too. Again, if you shine, you may well get more work out of it. Some of the best journalists I’ve met started off on work experience and have never been out of work since.