Alejandro Gutiérrez: I’m able to support myself solely through freelance journalism

Interview by Jon Zabala

For my Freelance Journalism course at Üsküdar University, Istanbul, I have interviewed an experienced freelance journalist Alejandro Gutiérrez. He has been doing freelance journalism for more than five years in Spain. 

How do you define freelance journalism? Who is considered a freelance journalist?

From my point of view, a freelance journalist is anyone who is self-employed, officially registered as such, and who makes a living working as a journalist for media outlets, production companies, etc. They have to be open to any job or proposal that comes their way.

How long have you been working as a freelance journalist? What led you to become a freelance journalist, and what factors influenced your decision?

I’ve been registered for about five and a half years. It’s true that I spent two years at a local media outlet, which at the time served as a kind of showcase for me, since they only paid for my transportation and not much else. I had to leave because I needed to bring money home and ended up working making countertops until an opportunity came up with the RFEF. It has always been a vocation; I knew from a young age that this was what I wanted. After graduating, as I mentioned, I spent a couple of years at a local media outlet and then I managed to get settled. But the decision came because in Spain it’s very difficult to get a permanent contract as a reporter or presenter at a media outlet.

Can you describe how you work as a freelance journalist? Do you propose your own story ideas, or are you assigned specific topics to cover?

I usually work by pitching my own ideas, especially when I collaborate with Telemadrid or other clients. Sometimes the media outlets or production companies I work with propose specific topics, but in general, I try to stay proactive and bring in stories that I think could fit their needs. With time and trust, they also start calling you directly for particular assignments, but at the beginning, you have to be the one knocking on doors and showing what you’re capable of.

Do you regularly contribute with certain media outlets, or do you sell your stories to whichever outlet is interested? Which platforms publish your work most frequently?

I regularly collaborate with Telemadrid, the public channel of the Community of Madrid, and have done so for the past two and a half years. The RFEF also contacts me for occasional work, and I also work through production companies and clients who refer me to new proposals and other clients.

Do you find the income from freelance journalism sufficient, or do you need to take on additional jobs? If you do other work, what is it?

Luckily, I’m able to support myself solely through freelance journalism. It’s true that living with my partner helps. For a long time, I worked seven days a week without a break while waiting for opportunities. Now we can live decently, though not extravagantly.

What does journalistic ethics mean to you? Is adhering to ethical principles important?

It’s very important to me and something I keep in mind constantly. In this job, you interact with a lot of people, and in this world we all know each other. Any breach of journalistic ethics can get you labeled, -‘you were the one who did that…’- and it gives you a bad image, which could ruin your career.

How free do you feel as a freelance journalist? Are freelancers more independent than those employed by media organizations? What are the advantages and disadvantages of freelance journalism?

I feel pretty free. Honestly, I’ve never been told what to say. Of course, I can’t say outrageous or inappropriate things, but I can say I have full freedom to express myself. We are more independent; we don’t have to follow an editorial line. I must say that most journalists I know say the same things in the media as they do privately, although behind closed doors, you never really know what someone truly thinks. Freelance journalism, as I said before, brings a lot more stress and workload because you depend entirely on yourself. In the beginning, when you need to make a name for yourself, I’ve spent summers working seven days a week. At least with a contract, you get job regularity and stability, which helps a lot with your health.

As a freelance journalist, do you have a national press card? If not, does this create difficulties when reporting in the field?

In Spain, there are press associations, but joining is optional. I was a member for a couple of years, then I opted out. They offer some benefits like job boards, discounts on many cultural activities, and they also send us useful information via email. But honestly, it doesn’t impact our work much.

What advice would you give to journalism students who want to become freelance journalists? What should they know to be a good freelance journalist? What kind of knowledge and skills should they have?

Don’t be shy, you need to get rid of that from day one. You have to be very patient, be open to all types of work, and approach everything with the same passion and commitment as if it were your dream job, because you never know who might be reading or listening to you—it could help you in the future. As I said, it’s a profession full of ups and downs; you have to be persistent.

If you had the chance to choose again, would you still pursue journalism, or would you pick a different profession?

I wouldn’t recommend studying journalism -at least not in Spain- because the degree program needs a revamp. It’s outdated compared to how the world works now. It should be complemented with other things. If I could go back in time, I’d choose higher-level vocational training and short courses that give you much more practical experience and get you out on the street, which is where the stories are. In a course I took on event presenting, the first thing they told us was to go out on the street and interview people to find out what people are talking about. In journalism school, that doesn’t happen until the second year, if at all. Studying how to interview and different formats is way more productive when put into practice.