Independent media
Freelance and independent journalists are gathering in Sydney tonight – and it’s for more than just a beer at the pub. The annual Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance Freelance convention is on, and in the digital age it seems independent jourmalists account for a larger segment of the workforce than ever before. Freelance broadcast journalist, author and journalism educator Sharon Mascall-Dare says the mainstream media doesn’t understand freelancers or appreciate that they’re a force to be reckoned with. Media Alliance Queensland Vice President Leo Bowman says there is a growth in freelancing due to growing populations and technology, but warns that it should not be overplayed. Broadcast freelancer Elizabeth Tardic says it can be difficult to get commissions for politically and legally sensitive stories, and dangerous to pursue them independently.