Creative ways freelancers make travel reporting work

By Alice Sun, Freelance Health Journalism Fellow

Although reporting in the field is what makes journalism leap off the page, opportunities to undertake these in-person projects are becoming increasingly scarce, especially for freelancers. A panel at Health Journalism 2025 in Los Angeles addressed these challenges and offered advice. 

“Field reporting, I think, is still a critical part, if not the essence, of what we do as journalists,“ said panel moderator and independent journalist Katja Ridderbusch. The key message from the panel: Travel reporting is possible, and freelancers can find creative ways to make it work.

The panel first outlined a common way that freelancers can get travel funding: fellowships. When looking for a fellowship, pay attention to the details, said Dawn Fallik, an independent journalist and master at securing this type of funding. Note: What costs does the fellowship cover? Does it require editorial input? Is it focused on a particular topic or angle? 

Once you choose a fellowship, the key to a successful application is to “be specific as possible,” Fallik says. Break down your costs, like transportation, visas, insurance (Fallik recommends biBerk), transcriptions, and more. Note who you want to interview and the locations that you want to visit and why. “You want them to see the story you envision,” said Fallik. 

Sonya Collins, a freelance journalist from Atlanta, has a different approach. She books her trips first and then tells editors when she’s heading to a destination. “That almost guaranteed that I would get the assignments,” she said. 

With this strategy, Collins spends around three to six months a year abroad and has visited 25 countries in the past five years. She first looks for story ideas in local online groups, medical or research institutions in the area, or alumni of the universities she often writes for. She then makes sure that her destinations have some sort of community for remote workers or digital nomads. She also checks whether there are co-living spaces, stable internet, or laptop-friendly cafes that allow her to continue her work abroad. Once her travel is set, Collins then records her itineraries on an app called TripIt, which she can then share with her loved ones to ensure safety.

Justin Madden, the deputy West Coast news editor of The Guardian US, gave the publication’s perspective on supporting freelance travel. Because the outlet only has eight staff reporters, The Guardian “relies on freelancers a great deal,” he said. As a result, he often works with other editors at The Guardian, or sometimes other publications, to get freelancers the funding for travel. He is also very open to giving a letter of commitment for a fellowship. Once a story is assigned, Madden conducts regular check-ins with writers, facilitating discussion as reporting pivots or goes wrong.

“How do we get those writers the best support and the most support possible? It’s all about collaboration,” Madden said.

Alice Sun is a freelance science writer based in Brooklyn, NY.