In early October I was all set to travel to Rwanda for a week-long reporting trip on NCDs and hepatitis B vaccination in children, with commissions from the Lancet and hopes for others.
But then came reports of deadly Marburg Virus, which had killed a number of people, particularly healthcare workers. The World Health Organisation termed it an outbreak and recommended no travel. The trip was off.
While some may have relished an enforced week’s holiday, many journalist freelancers would have been put into a tailspin about having no planned work for a couple of weeks.
Portfolio career
Having a portfolio career mitigates that risk. In the 17 years since I left the Sun as its Health Editor, I’ve written for consumer and medical titles, consulted for pharma firms, carried out media training, moderated at conferences globally and worked as a regular lecturer at two Universities, City in London and Winchester, for their MA and BA students respectively.
So far, so normal for a health journalist. And there’ s lots of competition in these fields, which grows monthly as staff redundancies take hold.
I have been fortunate to build up a secondary arm of work specialising in humanitarian comms. As a journalist, much of the global health work I do involves advocacy and NGO specialists, and I have built up contacts in those areas.
One of the NGO connections led me to the Disasters Emergency Committee – a terrific organisation which works year-round with a small secretariat and bursts into life with the help of its 15 member charities when an Appeal is launched for a natural disaster or a humanitarian tragedy with roots in conflict.
Somalia
I had done some individual comms work with them, including visiting Somalia with the Chief Executive to follow up how money donated in the 2016 East Africa appeal was being spent. The then director of comms tried me out during the 2019 Appeal following Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe as a freelance Editorial Manager, slotting in with the two very capable freelance PR managers.
I have worked on each of the subsequent six Appeals for a very intense fast-paced two weeks, using my news background to tailor press materials and make interviewees as compelling as possible, and to predict any specific issues or media areas of interest. It’s the closest experience I have come to being in a newsroom since the Sun and Telegraph days, with the additional benefit of all working as a team for a common goal of helping the most vulnerable.
Which brings me up to date, as the latest, the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal, was launched on October 17 and only because of the cancellation of the trip last minute was I able to take part.
Dynamic team
As usual, seconded press officers from member charities such as Oxfam and British Red Cross pitch in and make it a very dynamic team. Going from largely working on my own to working in an office, learning from others at all stages of their career, from those enthusiastic younger members with amazing digital and social skills to seasoned professionals with insight and judgement, is fascinating and humbling. And being just a teeny tiny part of the Appeal which has raised £25 million in just over 2 weeks is so rewarding.
So, if you have a secondary interest, pursue it and consider a two-armed portfolio career. You never know when opportunities will present themselves.
- To donate to the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal visit dec.org.uk
Congrats Jacqui!