A year’s worth of work by SPJ’s Freelance Committee debuted at Excellence In Journalism 2012 with the introduction of On Your Own: A Guide to Freelance Journalism, the committee’s first effort to consolidate the collected wisdom of its members.

The 77-page guide, available only in digital form, addresses a broad range of questions common among new and aspiring freelancers — from bookkeeping to business licenses to branding — and is free to download for all SPJ members.

Follow this link to get your copy. Not an SPJ member? Now you have yet another reason to be one.

The Society of Professional Journalists' blog for freelance writers, editors and photographers working in print, broadcast and online media. Let's talk. Latest entries:

– It’s National Grammar Day (insert exclamation point here)
– Fellow Freelancers: Friends or Foes?
– Giving it the ‘ol college try
– Freelance writers, this is your week
– They don’t teach this in J school
– In social media, patience is spelled with five W’s
– Make a resolution to do better on social media
– SPJ Solutions Offers Insurance Benefits to Members
– Two way-out ideas for freelance travel costs
– From home alone to ‘coworking’

SPJ's On Demand sessions are available to all SPJ members at any time and are included as part of your SPJ membership.

NEW! Personal Branding:
— What is a Personal Brand?
— Social Media Tips to Enhance Your Brand
— Mistakes to Avoid
— Staying Ahead of the Game

Videos on Freelancing:
— Generalizing v. Specializing
— Finding Work
— Freelancing: As a Business, Part I
— Freelancing: As a Business, Part II
— Freelancing: As a Business, Part III

Additional topics include:
— Smartphone Journalism
— Using Social Media Tools
— FOI Acquiring Records
— Basic Video Techniques
— Using Blogs and Video

Follow this link to see all available sessions.

Not an SPJ Member? View a sample video here, and then join SPJ to see the others!

Editors: Need a personal finance writer from California? How about a sportswriter from Texas or an arts & entertainment writer from Illinois? Find the right journalist for your next assignment with SPJ’s brand-new Freelancer Directory. Search by state and/or specialty, subscribe to state-specific RSS feeds, or just do some window shopping. Freelancers: What are you waiting for? Adding your information to the directory is free if you're an SPJ member. Not a member? Here are a few more reasons to become one.

SPJ's Job Bank has expanded to give members even greater benefits than before. Now all members can post résumés and career profiles, which registered employers can search. Creating your profile is free for all SPJ members, so get started today!

Continuing to improve as a professional is a focal point of any good journalist. Inside, you'll find articles written by SPJ Freelance Committee chairs Wendy Hoke and Dawn Reiss that address the needs and challenges of Freelance Journalists, as well as tips on how to improve your contacts and source gathering.