AHCJ – Association of Health Care Journalists

08/30/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/30/2024 14:33

Lunch and Learns are back after summer hiatus

AHCJ's monthly Lunch and Learn networking will return in September. During these informal hour-long sessions - which occur every third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. ET on Zoom - freelance members catch up and chat about a designated topic. The Zoom link is always the same.

Lunch and Learns are not recorded so participants can freely discuss confidential matters. Summaries of key takeaways, as well as the lineup for future topics, are available on the Freelance Center Networking page.

Here are upcoming topics for the remainder of the year. Please join us.

  • Sept. 19: How to get fair pay and tailor your work to the level of compensation.
    Editors may have more latitude in their payments than you realize. Freelancers will talk about their experiences negotiating higher rates and how they respond if the work required for an assignment doesn't match the fee. We'll also discuss what to say when the assignment changes - and the fee doesn't. Freelancers provide the majority of content for many publications, so we should request (and receive) fair compensation.
  • Oct. 17:Building a niche beat as a freelance health care journalist.
    Many of us are health care generalists, but others specialize in covering technology, aging, patient safety, infectious disease and many other areas. A "beat" can provide a great foundation for freelancing, as you become a subject matter expert. Please join us at this Lunch and Learn if you want to learn how to build a niche beat, what kinds of publications to approach with pitches, and how to find and take advantage of medical meetings. Members who specialize will share their expertise.
  • Nov. 21: Accountability hour. Do you need an accountability partner?
    Accountability partners give each other feedback and encouragement on freelance goals and hold each other accountable for taking the next steps. During this discussion, we'll share our freelance challenges, such as battling procrastination, re-pitching when a pitch is rejected, shifting to different outlets and increasing productivity. We'll also offer tips for finding and keeping an accountability partner. Maybe you'll find a partner who can help you realize your goals.
  • Dec. 12 (second Thursday due to holidays): Jump start your freelance biz into 2025.
    The new year is the perfect time to reassess your freelance business. Some freelancers formally do this - even holding a solo business retreat at a hotel or other venue, where they can review their past work, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their freelance business and consider other paths forward. We'll hear from freelancers who have done this successfully - and discuss other ways to pause and reset for 2025.

If you have ideas for Lunch and Learns in 2025, please don't hesitate to contact Michele Marill at [email protected], or you can send your ideas to [email protected]. We would love your feedback on our past topics. Just like you, we'll be reassessing for 2025 and looking for topics that help us make the most of opportunities and meet the challenges of freelancing. We may revisit AI in reporting, efficiency tools and a"Freelance Free-for-all," a chance to bring your questions and get advice from colleagues.

We look forward to seeing you soon!