issues
I talked about my use of Notion to organize both the personal and professional aspects of my life a few issues ago so I figured it would be helpful to show you all a glance at my business homepage. It features links to all of the pages I use for business, a t…
I hadn't taken any time off (outside of sick time) this year, so I gave myself three days off earlier this week and enjoyed a 5-day weekend. I'd like to tell you I went on a hike and cleaned my baseboards like I'd planned to do, but I honestly just stayed in …
I've talked in previous issues about how I organize my work as a freelancer, using tools such as Toggl, Google Drive and handwritten to do lists. Previously, I've used Google Sheets to track my pitches, assignments, press hits and branded work each year. This…
I've talked in previous issues about how I organize my work as a freelancer, using tools such as Toggl, Google Drive and handwritten to do lists. Previously, I've used Google Sheets to track my pitches, assignments, press hits and branded work each year. This…
Hi, friends. I hope y'all were able to enjoy some time with family and friends last week. (And, I hope y'all have thrown your leftovers out by now...I'm so sorry.) I had a pretty chill Thanksgiving that involved spending time playing games and attempting to m…
I don't really have much to say today, nor do I have any desire to take away from the meaningful words of those who personally and intimately knew and loved Jovita Moore. Mostly, I just want to say thank you to an Atlanta media legend who has been an inspirat…
If all the news is breaking all the time, then we are broken, too. - Sam SandersIf the first three years of working as a freelance reporter were about hurling myself at every possible opportunity, this past year has been about stepping back. Stepping into a n…
If you follow me on Twitter, you might already know I announced some major news this morning. Capital B, a non-profit news organization launched by Lauren Williams, former editor-in-chief of Vox, and Akoto Ofori-Atta, former managing editor of The Trace, will…
I sent a couple of tweets criticizing anonymous IG news accounts this week and people acted like they'd lost their entire minds – cussing me out, calling me names and leaving rat emojis under my posts for three days. For the record, I stand by saying these ac…
Here's a quick word of advice for any freelance reporters who want to know how to tell if an editor/client is going to be a nightmare to work with. If their call for pitches or initial email features wildly unrealistic expectations for freelancers but doesn't…
As of this month, it has officially been four years since I left the AJC to work as a freelance reporter and figure out if journalism was a career I wanted to continue to pursue. (Spoiler alert: I'm still a journalist and truly couldn't imagine doing anything…
I recently told one of my friends that I’m mostly interested in growing my social media following so I can gain more professional opportunities then deactivate my accounts. They thought I was being weird, but I was mostly being serious. I recognize that socia…
I’ve told this story on social media before but when I was in college, I went to a networking event and mentioned to a prominent broadcast reporter that I wanted to entertainment to be my beat. She offered me a piece of advice that has stuck with me in the ye…
Hello from runoff day here in Georgia! Sending a special issue of this newsletter with a few reminders about today:
Welcome to As Told To. I’m Jewel Wicker, a freelance entertainment and culture reporter whose work has appeared in Billboard, Atlanta Magazine, Pitchfork, GQ, Teen Vogue, etc. Every other Wednesday, I publish this newsletter, featuring my most recent work (as…
My family is going to be so upset when they read this…
Welcome back to As Told To where Georgia has always been the center of the universe. I took a break from publishing last week because if I, a reporter, needed a break from the influx of things being published, I can only assume you did, too.
I’ve been pretty vocal about the things that are lacking from the publications we have here in Atlanta and how much I miss Creative Loafing. I read the work of Gavin Godfrey, Maurice Garland and Rodney Carmichael in the alt-weekly when I was in college and th…
I don’t love popping up at people’s businesses unannounced or doing cold calls. But, doing so has sometimes helped me produce my favorite stories. (Granted, I cover entertainment so I am rarely surprising people with serious accusations, although I’ve certain…
For the most part, I liked MTV’s new series 16 & Recovering as much as I can like a show about teenagers struggling to navigate the struggles of substance abuse and mental illness. In general, I think it’s hard for most people to understand the implicatio…