A talk to journalism and media communications students at Taylor's College on freelancing and being your own boss in the media business today. Aug 11, 2010.
1. By Julian Matthews, Trinetizen Media www.trinetizen.com Aug 11, 2010 Journalism Entrepreneurship
2. Who am I? Media trainer Stringer Cadet journalist Fulltime journalist Undergraduate Drop out Journalist Travel writer Photographer Senior features writer Freelance travel writer Copywriter Speech writer Children’s story writer Web designer Wedding photographer Corporate brochure writer Table-top book editor Technology Journalist Director Husband Father of two children Chauffeur Office boy Take out the garbage Editor
The idea became more modest of just travelling around Peninsular Malaysia
From seven people to three people and the mode of transport become increasingly modest.
Was interviewed by New Straits Times for the six weeks trip which eventually led me being hired to be a stringer.
First published work involved interviewing my friends for NST-Times Two, Times of Your Life section.
First fulltime job at the Star as a cadet journalist. First story assignment was Lim Kit Siang on Bukit China protest. Went with senior journalist. Only thing I remembered was the blisters on his feet after the long protest march.
Senior journalist banged the story out in less than half an hour. He then turned to me and asked whether I had anything to add, to which I replied : “What about the blisters on his feet?”
Some news stories I broke as a junior reporter for the Star.
Received Best Travel Writer 1989 award from Tourist Development Corporation (now Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board) barely a year into being a travel writer.
Freelancing for a variety of magazines.
Feature story in a magazine. Was freelancing using a pseudonym in case my boss found out.
Nikkei Business Publications was the biggest trade magazine publisher in Japan.
"Eighty percent of success is showing up." -- Woody Allen