Eight Things I Learned While Freelancing

Greetings from Berlin!

I' m in a coffee shop next to Checkpoint Charlie just relaxing after an interesting conference on innovation. Thought I'd take this time to share some thoughts. 

A year ago I quit my job as an employed journalist to embark on a new adventure as a freelancer. I’ve learned tons this past year and I truly recommend anyone who feels like giving freelancing a go for a year (or even longer!) to do so.

Below are my top eight tips on what to have in mind when starting:

1. Focus on the topics you are genuinely interested in. This is your chance to embrace those stories you’ve been longing for to cover but haven’t had the opportunity to dig into.

2. Regardless if it's sustainability in Uganda, aid delivering drones in Malawi or the fashion industry of Argentina, you should be where the action is as much as you possibly can. Hence, make sure you’ve saved up a bit of money beforehand to travel and also apply for scholarships.

3. Apart from writing your own stories, also contribute regularly as a part time freelance reporter to a local newsroom (that doesn’t compete about the same stories as you do). That way, you’re not entirely depending on your own ideas to pay the bills (and you also make new friends!). 

4. Surround yourself with people who understand what makes you happy. 

5. There is a great slice of freedom that comes with freelancing. Make sure you stay focused. Stick to your daily schedule and plan ahead. At the same time, don’t feel guilty for suddenly devoting time to your other passions, such as gardening, in the middle of the day. That’s when creative ideas are born and if nothing else, you can always make up for “lost” time in the evening.

6. Study part time and a reward yourself with a completely new set of skills! If you're a journalist with some years of experience I recommend the course Data Journalism for Journalists at Södertörn University.

7. Do all the accounting work yourself. It saves you money and it's not as complicated as it first seems like.

8. Freelancing knows no borders. For example, if you visit The Minnesota Day in Småland, you bet there's a newspaper in the US who wants to hear from you! 

They want more young people to vote

Bite the Ballot and Undivided are among the youth organisations in Britain currently campaigning for a higher voter turnout at the upcoming general election among young people. Tune in here for my news story.

Stockholm Internet Forum #ICT4D

The rise of fake factcheckers, the ethic of algorithms, cultural frameworks, community networks, citizen journalism, open data...

Thank you brave researchers, activists and journos at the Internet Freedom for Global Development Forum, organised by Sida, for sharing your stories, insights and visions.

Meanwhile, in Strasbourg

Above: The European Parliament elects its new President.
Below: Prime ministers and presidents at the following press conference.

Greetings from Tanzania

I've spent the fall in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I was on radio the other day talking about the pre US election buzz in town, tune in here. For regular updates, check out Tech2Elect.

Listen to my news story on Code For Africa and Africa Code Week for national current affairs show P1-morgon here.

London Calling

As a journalist, I want to be where things happen. So of course I went to London for the historic EU referendum.

Like many others, I expected Bremain to win, however that didn't turn out to be the case.

In the morning, I spoke to quite a few Londoners, all of them commuters on their way to work, all of them equally shocked. Which is not a surprise considering the results of the last pre referendum polls and that general belief that the comparatively high voter turn out would favour their stand point.

Interesting reads:

Post EUref debate (Swedish Radio)

Britain's out. Now what? (Politico)

Scotland likely to seek independence again (CNN)

7 reasons why some Europeans hate the EU (Washington Post)

Hotellreceptionisten: "#Brexit kan vara starten på en större diskussion om #EU som union - flyktingkrisen visade att den inte funkar."

— Emma Kvennberg (@emmakvennberg) June 24, 2016

"Jag röstade inte men det var ett medvetet val, jag är emot hela diskussionen" - Jamie om #brexit #brEkot #EUref pic.twitter.com/LllwzigK4X

— Emma Kvennberg (@emmakvennberg) June 24, 2016

"Det här är en skam för Storbritannien, fler EU-länder kan följa efter"- Londonbon Raleigh om #brexit #EUref #brEkot pic.twitter.com/aEVBJVLrqz

— Emma Kvennberg (@emmakvennberg) June 24, 2016

Spanish General Election: Adiós, Two Party Politics

I have to say, before coming here, I didn’t know much about Spanish politics. I was aware of the Catalan independence story, hence the choice of Barcelona for destination. I’d also read about corruption allegations against the PM, and that he was punched by a teenager the other day. And I knew quite a few people were unemployed and that the economy was going so so. But I was keen to know more about this fellow member of the EU. And, although it might seem far-fetched to some, the outcome of the Spanish election affects Swedes too.

Ever since mid December I’ve meant to do some research on the parties involved but I’ve been crazy busy doing other things. Then I finally did a bit of reading on the flight, having printed 25+ news stories and polls while packing in a rush in the morning. Goosebumps! I truly picked the right election to check out!

For years and years, two parties (PP and ESIO) had been dominant. However, this election, there were two others making green numbers in the polls. The lefties Podemos (Spanish for the Obama styled phrase ”We can”) and liberal C's (stands for Citizens), both stood a good chance. And they did pretty OK. The political landscape of Spain changed completely:

Like in so many other European countries, campaigning was not to be done on Election Day. Instead, the loud, vibrant city of Barcelona was all wrapped up in a warm, yet elegant, spirit of Christmas, with Sangria sipping tourists leaning over 4 for 2 tapas menus in between shops. Just like in Kyiv, where there was a massive car race (!?) at Maidan on Election Day, different sports were performed at the main squares:

At Placa de Catalunya, where thousands of people gathered during the Catalan election earlier this year, many of which celebrated pro independence parties, things were peaceful once the exit polls were presented. But the police were everywhere. 

I talked to a few voters, among them an older couple revealing their PP support (I just love how open minded Mediterranean strangers can be!) and two men my age saying it was “about time” Podemos got seats in Congress. Once I got back to the hotel I noticed the TV was off in the lobby! On Election night! It led to a conversation with the portier on how, in Barcelona, regional politics to many are of way bigger concerns than national. 

Over all, I believe this was the most low key, down to earth, election holiday I’ve been on. No last minute rallies or massive election parties being held in public. However, this time around it suited me just fine, this was a sweet way to end this year.

When it comes media coverage, this is a good read by the Guardian on the challenges that come with a fractured parliament. Final results are to be published here by the ministry of interior. As for me I will appear on air tomorrow. Exciting!
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Spiritualized - Shine a light

Tears at Maidan: Ukrainian Parliamentary Election

© Emma Kvennberg

Greetings from the airport,

As always, I enjoy being here. Regardless of country and destination (like quite a few others) I absolutely love airports. Everything always make such great sense here.

My five days in Ukraine checking out its parliamentary election are about to end. For pictures, click here, here and here. A brief report on radio can be found here.


Pictured above is a woman crying, she's standing in front of several pictures of those who died during the protests. At Maidan, nearly one year after.

© Emma Kvennberg

© Emma Kvennberg

© Selfie

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The Strokes - Alone together

Social Scots

Photo: Getty Images

"How reliable is social media activity when it comes to voting?" An interesting piece on the upcoming referendum, click here: #indyref

First time voter in Sweden: As an immigrant I feel excluded

Photo: Emma Kvennberg/Sveriges Radio

A couple of days before the Swedish general election I interviewed a French social entrepreneur in Vaxjo about the upcoming political drama and what it's like to vote for the very first time in Sweden.

Click here to listen. 

Blinded by the lights

North Michigan Avenue, Chicago © Emma Kvennberg

At least once a month, sometimes even on rainy days like this one, it hits me like an explosive strike of lights in a sky full of sudden stars - there are so many beautiful opportunities to explore, to embrace!

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Feist - I feel it all  

Behind the scenes: The European Parliament in Strasbourg

© Emma Kvennberg

Two month before the European elections I went to Strasbourg to report on a plenary session, ask questions by listeners to Swedish MEPs and to do a reportage.

It was an interesting journey which included interviews with the locals, parliamentarians, commissioners, journalists and the President himself, Martin Schulz.

I also found myself reporting on the parliament's reactions to the tragic death of Swedish Broadcasting's correspondent Nils Horner who was murdered in Kabul, Afghanistan.

© Emma Kvennberg

© Emma Kvennberg

Above: Commissioner Vivian Reding is helping EC President Barroso out with his microphone. To the right; Swedish commissioner Cecilia Malmström. 

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Jussi Björling - Nessum Dorma

The Hungarian Parliamentary Election, April 2014

Fidesz supporters on Election Night. Photo: Emma Kvennberg

The other month I was in Budapest to learn more about the Hungarian parliamentary election. 

For voices and pictures, check out this European election Twitter account and Swedish Broadcasting's web here (pictures only).

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Lisa Gerrard - Something is troubling you

Protests @ The Romanian Consulate, Chicago

© Emma Kvennberg

"Not even the Romanian press writes about it" she said and pressed a leaflet in my hand.

Chicago, late September. Singing protests against planned cyanide mining at Rosia Montana, supposedly the largest gold deposit in Europe. 

For audio, click here.

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Fiona Apple - Anything we want

Social Media Week in Chicago

© Emma Kvennberg

The other month I attended Social Media Week in Chicago. Pretty inspiring talks and uplifting networking. We talked about the importance of getting offline in order to mobilize online and how to make big data social and turn it into fabulous journalism. I managed to get my hands on two Michael Kors bags, pitch an idea to the UK consulate, attend mass and stroll at Grant Park remembering 2008.

Some pics below.

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Mogwai - Take me somewhere nice

The End of an Era - A Tribute to David Moyes

Photo: Somewhere of Google, I can't find the source. Is it yours? Sue me. But how could you, given the state I'm in. 

In 2002, in the very north of Sweden, I set my teenage heart on fire every Sunday. I loudly followed every single Premier League game shown in front of the TV. As much as I’d like to think I was ”born an Evertonian” this was the year I fell for the club. The year I fell for manager David Moyes who, by little means, created magic on the pitch.

I also discovered how much I kind of didn't likw a certain team - Manchester United. Oftentimes I argued with their fans at school and got genuinely upset by their lack of knowledge of what English football "really" was about. I'm sure there are exceptions but these particular lads were born in the 80s, grew up during United's successful years in the 90s, had never heard of people like Brian Clough or the workers at the docks of Liverpool who no longer could afford season tickets. They rarely cared about my outbursts. After all, I was a girl. 

With tunes of that fantastic debut album by The Streets in my ears, inspired by the football I've seen directed by David Moyes and movies by Ken Loach, I moved to the UK. (With style. This was before that film "This is England" turned other Swedes into sudden anglo fashionistas. By the way, don't you just hate it when "your" particular things become mainstream? Like Converse shoes and Scottish indiepop?)  

One of many trainrides across Yorkshire. Photo: Emma Kvennberg/Happy Songs

Once enrolled at university I made sure every essay that was to be written was somehow connected to England and/or the supporter culture of its glorious Premier League. 

Two Evertonians take a picture of Dixie Dean. Photo: Emma Kvennberg/Happy Songs

At college in Illinois my fellow class mates studying political science taught me everything there ever was about American politics and campaigns. In return I would like to believe I inspired at least a handful of people to watch a game by Moyes' boys. As pictured below, my Everton shirt made it to the Rocky Mountains, Colorado. And David Moyes, whose team was the reason why I brought the shirt, made it to Happy Songs' "Best of 2008" list.

At The Beaver Lake close to Aspen, Colorado. Photo: By some nice classmate 

At grad school I went to Liverpool in order to investigate the (lack of) diversity in British regional media while being close to my team. After cold January evenings having watched Everton (Toffees-Hammers below) I had plenty of conversations with fellow fans in the pubs about how, despite the tough times, Moyes was still the one to steer us through the difficulties. We were rest assured that we'd always be "the people's club" and that our manager, or players like Tony Hibbert, wouldn't leave us. Especially not for a team like Manchester United.

Toffees 2-2 Hammers, January 2011. Photo: Emma Kvennberg/Happy Songs

Located in Brussels last year I followed some of the games. Thankfully, but hardly surprising given his greatness, sometimes Moyes also showed up on BBC World News, brightening up my tiny but cute flat.

King Moyes on BBC. Photo: Emma Kvennberg/Happy Songs

On Tuesday earlier this week the rumours started on Twitter. I was heartbroken but refused to believe what I read. On Thursday afternoon at around 3 pm it was official. Everyone with the EFC app got a message - David Moyes to leave Everton for Man United.

Today, May 12, we played against Hammers. We won the match, of course (sixth home win in a row now...), but lost someone who's far more important than three points (even at this crucial time of the season) - the captain of our ship. This was the very last game at Goodison Park with David Moyes as our manager.

Photo: Screenshot, Viaplay.com

What hurts me the most, apart from not being there in person, is the fact he’s leaving us for Manchester United. Any other team would have been OK. Even Liverpool. I can't even begin to imagine what he will look like all dressed up in Man U gear. It must be like being married for eleven years (that's for how long he was our manager) and suddenly watch your hubby kiss your not so friendly but good looking neighbor. 

Having that said I sincerely would like to thank David Moyes for giving me the best 11 years of my life. Apart from naming any future sons after him I'd like to pay tribute to his legacy by also embracing the idea of what his move to Man United illustrates - that things do change, life is short and what ever ambitions one might have, even if it is to be the manager of Man United, one has to fulfill them. Don't let anyone, not even hundred thousands of Evertonians worldwide, stand in your way. It's your life, your dreams.

Best wishes for the future and thanks for everything, My Man Moysey!

Photo: Screenshot, Viaplay.com

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All Good Things (Come to an End) – Nelly Furtado

"Tweets about food prices tends to rise and fall with inflation rates"

Photo: Screenshot, twitter.com

In a previous post I mentioned the innovative UN Global Pulse project. I heard about it for the very first time at a TED event in Brooklyn last year and its tech completely blew my mind.

Today I came across this blog post in the Harvard Business Review by Robert Kirkpatrick in which he focuses on "a new type of philantrophy":

"Online chatter on blogs and forums can foreshadow imminent unemployment spikes. The volume of tweets mentioning food prices tends to rise and fall with inflation rates, and calling patterns through mobile phone networks shift in response to the prices of specific commodities."

Read the full blog post here

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The Thrills - No more empty words

The read of the week: Is your web content accessible by all?

This is such an important read about fellow Europeans who feel excluded from web services, published on Public Service Europe's website. It's a reminder of the tremendous amount of work that still needs to be done and the importance of prioritizing all and every single one of the audience. Click here to read the full article.

"The internet is great but I cannot access my bank account online because it is too complicated to log on to the bank website."

"On the radio, I heard an advertisement informing listeners of how to check electricity invoices online. I was interested and went to the mentioned website. However, it was a Flash animation and I am blind so my screen-reader could not read anything and I could not pay my bills online like anyone else."

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The Strokes - Vision of Division

DC Drama: House of Cards

Picture: Netflix.com

I rarely get "thinking about it all the time" kind of super hooked on series. Mad Men and The West Wing a couple of years back are exceptions. So are Midsomer Murder and Little Britain before that. However, David Fincher's Netflix serie House of Cards plays in a league of its own. It's outstandingly amazing. I can't get it out of my head. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

And probably the reason why Netflix suddenly got a couple of million new users. Clever.

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Belle and Sebastian - If you're feeling sinister

Thanks! Merci! Dakujem! Tack! Dziekuje! Tak! Danke!

© Emma Kvennberg

What a year. Not just for the world but also for this Swede personally. I'd really like to say thanks to those I've worked with these last twelve months. I learned a lot. 

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PJ Harvey - All and Everyone

Tech Talk Tips

Earlier this year I learned a tremendous amount about campaigning following Republican as well as Democrat net- and grassroots. The use of social media to increase voting, participatory strategies, how to plan phone banking/canvassing and the importance of free donuts at long lines before events etc. Something that also taught me and other election junkies plenty was a set of seminars - two talks in particular.

I attended my very first NY Tech Meetup and a TED Talk on the topic Technology, Media and Society at NYU's PolyTech Institute in Brooklyn. The United Nation's innovative Global Pulse project combines development and data-driven mapping through social media, you can read more about them here..

© Emma Kvennberg

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Swedish House Mafia - Save the World

Seven tips for successful blogging about a US election

© Emma Kvennberg

For a month I ran a blog about the US presidential election on the website of a Swedish newspaper. With the election now over I hereby sum up some tips.

1. Don't take sides. Seems like an obvious thing for a journalist not to do but some European newsroom are clearly biased towards the Democrats.

2. Embrace the idea of "participatory journalism". Don't just ask volunteers what it's like to canvass in a swing state - knock on some doors yourself. 

3. This is important - never ever lie about the purpose of your presence. Make it clear that you're not just a random tourist. If you take a picture of someone you intend to publish on a blog, ask that person if it's OK. As much as we see mainstream media occasionally fail at the latter while reporting from distant locations, media ethics is an international thing.

4. View your blog as a complement to the main stream media's coverage. Don't try to deliver the latest polls. You could do that from a news desk in whatever country you are from and besides - unless you're a pro your graphics probably wont attract many readers who are used to CNN:s outstanding reports. 

5. Having that said - don't miss the online aspects of the election. When you get updates through your Obama app on Facebook that reveals exactly who on your friend list that still aren't registered to vote, bring up the old but mega important discussion of Internet and the right to some kind of privacy.

6. Network. Make sure you bring your business cards and, as much as you think it damages your soul, network like crazy.

7. Listen to your heart. The timing to go covering an election abroad might be lousy for various reasons. But put everything on hold and just go!


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Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Election Night @ The White House

© Emma Kvennberg

No rules apply on Election Night. Cool college kids in the trees outside the White House above. Below is a slice of the enthusiasm. Needless to say I'm pretty pleased that I traveled west to experience this election. Full coverage of the Election day can be found on my blog for Swedish newspaper Norrbottens-Kuriren. Some highlights from my stay below: President Obama, Governor Romney, former minister Elaine Chao and the fabulous net roots.

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Emma Kvennberg

Emma Kvennberg

Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg

Photo: Emma Kvennberg