#206 How to Build a Journalism Career in a Changing Media Landscape

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Abigail Meyers

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What does it take to build a career in journalism when the media landscape keeps shifting?

In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, I talk with my former NYU High School Academy student Abigail Meyers, a digital and multimedia storyteller whose work spans journalism, creative services, social media, advocacy, and political communications.

Abigail shares how an early interest in storytelling grew into reporting, writing, and multimedia work, and asks me for advice on navigating freelance journalism today. We discuss how to craft stronger pitches, avoid burnout, pivot from one reporting beat to another, and use your existing expertise to open doors in new areas. I  also share my perspective on AI as a brainstorming and research tool, why journalists still need to verify primary sources, and why an individual writer’s voice remains so important.

In this episode:

  • How to create a strong, focused pitch that gives an editor confidence in you
  • Why research and familiarity with a publication matter before you pitch
  • How to pivot from one reporting beat or specialty to another
  • Why primary-source research and fact-checking are more important than ever
  • How curiosity and resourcefulness can strengthen your reporting
  • Why journalism skills translate far beyond traditional newsroom jobs
  • How personal storytelling can become a powerful tool for advocacy
  • How young journalists can build visibility, expertise, and a platform

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About Abigail Meyers

Abigail Meyers is a digital and multimedia storyteller passionate about highlighting diverse perspectives and amplifying marginalized communities through storytelling. She graduated with high honors from Simmons University, where she studied journalism and political science. Her experience spans local community news, national policy, academic research, creative writing, social media, graphic design, and creative services. She is also a Platinum Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation, where she uses storytelling and advocacy to help bring attention to the experiences of people living with arthritis, including young people.

Don’t miss episode #205  The Art of Crafting the Self in Memoir with Hyeseung Song (Docile)

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Get More From Estelle Erasmus

  • Loved speaking with Book Notions about Writing That Gets Noticed, finding your voice, pitching editors, getting published and more. Read the interview here.
  • My latest Substack post is the Substack Live I did with Aliza Licht on DKNY PR GIRL, the magazine world we both knew, branding and reinvention, and her Substack serial novel Off the Record, which brings that era vividly back to life.

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Estelle’s TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond

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Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers “Best Book for Writers.”

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Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026  Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast

About Estelle
Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers.

Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine.

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