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Ok, so we're having a ton of layoffs in Indian media, which means a bunch of us are going to have to freelance + job search. Here's one thing any journalist with a decent set of bylines needs to do now: get that portfolio/website made now. Here's how. (thread)
Before I proceed, I want to tell all the journalists/writers who flinch at promoting work and call it unworthy of pushing that, it's ok. We didn't come in here to look good, we came in to write good. But if you want to be listened to, you've gotta yell a bit in this noisy world.
So, first things first. You need to collate all of your work. Links, PDFs, all with a clear byline. If you're sharing a byline, that's cool too. If this means going way back, go back. If you want to leave out a piece you're embarrassed about writing, no prob! It's your portfolio!
Then you need to Write! That! Bio! Make it short, make it snappy, where you've worked, what you've covered, what you've written/do outside of work, what interests you, what you're available to do, accomplishments. Don't make this a CV. Write conversationally!
Put together your social media links, and that's all the prep. Now we move to the best home (website) for all your great work. There are a few great options: some are free, some may cost you, some may offer you a personal domain.
I highly recommend JournoPortfolio for paid and free - gets you personal domains for Rs.900/month (free with the url), take the coding out of it and have a free CMS where you can feed in your articles via links and PDFs. Yours truly has one there. http://www.divyakarthikeyan.com
https://www.clippings.me is another favourite. Again, pay for the pro version, but the free one is pretty good too. Similar to JournoPortfolio, has a user-friendly CMS, and super cool journalist network too.
https://muckrack.com/journalists . Aaah, Muckrack. That's probably where you're going to go to find your work in the first place. It looks and feels like a LinkedIn profile for journalists, but if you're strapped for cash, this is the best place to start.
https://contently.com/register is also good, but is of late more focused on matching writers to brands or content creators. They still have their portfolio options available though, with a .contently.com domain.
http://www.porterfolio.net is sadly down (?), but has some of the best Indian journalists on there too. I'm not too keen on its exclusivity, but it's a clean, no-fuss portfolio. I have one, but I can't seem to access it.
Now after you've zeroed in on a home, fed all your stories, linked your social media, set up a contact form/your ID, written a kickass bio, don't forget the value of sharing it.
Share your website, shamelessly. Put it on your social media, put it in your email signature (important!) your CV, send it to your family WhatsApp group, send it to fellow journalists, get some bouquets, some brickbats. But put yourself out there.
Also! Get a good picture of yourself if you can, please. I got mine done as a favor for a photography student friend in college and still haven't grown out of that dress (phew). It has served me in making a pretty decent first impression.
Your profile photo doesn't have to be shot by a pro, or expensive. Hell, you can shoot it yourself. If Sobhita Dhulipala can, so can you. Go to your terrace. Get it done. Wear something professional. Look like you got the job already, not like you're begging for one.
Fellow writers and journalists, don't sell yourself short. There are enough out there who will chew and spit you out in this industry. It's not easy work, so honor what you've done & pull up your socks for what's to come. Nothing feels better than creating your own opportunity.
