I started my freelance writing career in my early 20s without a specific goal in mind. I just wanted to make money writing and work for myself. Fortunately, I’ve made that goal come true and expanded my services and expertise vastly in the years that followed. With many years of cannabis journalism behind me, I want to go over some of the things I’ve learned as a cannabis journalist.
What it means to hire a cannabis journalist
I’ve always been deeply entrenched in journalism, taking in the news from all angles and dreaming up ways to deliver it. My original understanding of journalism was broad and generic, thinking of the news as a singular product.
Now, I know that journalism is evolving daily. Companies are hiring independent journalists to run their newsrooms and many laid-off journalists are turning to independent publications where they can build an audience and own their content. Trust in the news is scattered and not all publications follow standards for fact-based reporting.
Niche knowledge is crucial. Instead of becoming fixated on the news as a broad subject (which, of course, I follow LOTS of different news), cannabis journalists must become tapped into the nuances of the industry. And there are a lot.
When setting out to hire a cannabis journalist, publications must look for complex industry knowledge. The cannabis world moves fast and regulations and news cycles flip constantly. It’s crucial that any freelance cannabis writer keeps up with the news on a regular basis to stay tapped in.
Everyone wants coverage, most things aren’t news
While not strictly a cannabis-related pattern, many brands are hungry for earned media. It’s no surprise in the cannabis industry, where traditional advertising methods are limited or prohibited.
Having worked on both the PR and editorial sides of cannabis, I know that earned media is essential for many brand strategies.
But as a freelance cannabis journalist, it’s crucial to differentiate between brands who are desperate for coverage and those offering actual timely news stories. Journalists are inundated with daily pitches in all industries, but cannabis is particularly saturated because of the other marketing limitations.
A good cannabis journalist knows how to quickly identify news vs. fluff.
Freelance cannabis journalists face work shortages often
Cannabis is a rapidly evolving industry. It’s exciting. It’s newsworthy. There are a thousand different angles I can come up with for a thousand different topics right now.
But ideas and news don’t pay the bills. And unfortunately, many publications don’t have the budgets anymore.
I say this as a cannabis journalist who was laid off from an editor job years ago. That layoff followed several terminated contracts due to budget constraints. Tragically, a lot of my favorite cannabis journalism pieces have been lost to the void as publications shut down and pages get deleted.
Because freelance cannabis journalists face work shortages and layoffs on the regular, many pivot to cover additional industries or offer content marketing services.
Cannabis journalists make excellent content writers
Excuse me as I pat myself on the back here, but I must say that the best cannabis content writers are also cannabis journalists.
The reason why is simple: cannabis journalists understand the complexities of the industry. They understand regulations and compliance and the rapidly evolving nature of this space. As such, they make excellent cannabis content writers because they already understand the nuances of the industry.
As both a cannabis journalist and cannabis content writer, I know that my work has benefitted on both sides from the other. My SEO skills I learned from becoming a cannabis content marketing expert have boosted my editorial work in cannabis publications. Likewise, my extensive cannabis industry knowledge has significantly boosted my cannabis content writing skills and made it easier for me to provide marketing support in such a highly regulated industry.
Looking to hire a freelance cannabis writer?
Whether you’re looking for a cannabis journalist for feature stories (my favorite!) or news reports, lifestyle articles and more, or you want a cannabis content writer to help your brand’s SEO and credibility, I have you covered.
With nearly a decade of cannabis content background, I am equipped to help you meet and exceed your content goals.
Get in touch with me today to learn more.
