-
Instagram for Freelance Journalism?
Posted by on May 16, 2026 at 1:34 pm[Posted on r/Journalism originally]
Got a pitch accepted at my city's major newspaper of my country and made a public Instagram account to contact someone whom I am interested in writing an article about their achievement in a niche field, atleast in my country. Also followed the very few editors I have worked in the past as well as currently with from that account (they haven't followed me back yet).
Not sure if I want to do this full time or about my future especially in this field but while I intend to make it a strictly "work only" account, besides using the Instagram as a means to contact sources, should I add acquaintances and non journalist friends on there for the sake of visibility? How do I use it to the best of my abilities especially to secure future gigs (not interested in making reels to promote myself though)?
(edited to make minor changes)
-
1 Reply
-
keeping it strictly work only is the right call early on. mixing personal connections into a professional account just muddies what you’re trying to signal to editors and sources.
for visibility without reels, posting your published pieces with a short context line works better than most people expect. not just “new article out” but something like what made the story interesting or a detail that didn’t make the final cut. that’s what gets journalists followed by other journalists.
editors notice accounts that look consistent and serious even with low follower counts. the follow-back will come slower but it means more when it does.
-
Definitely keep it strictly professional, and instead of reels, just use the grid to showcase your published clips and behind-the-scenes reporting insights.
Log in to reply.