Earn money from freelance journalism!

You may be suprised to read (if you don't come here very often) that journalism is among the worst-paid of all professions in the UK.

So here's a few ways to get the rent cheque sorted if you're a struggling journo/writer. All it takes is your talent, a few envelopes and a couple of stamps.*

Paul Foot Award
Deadline: 1 September 2008
Categories: Investigative journalism, published in print or online 1 Sept 07 - 31 Aug 08
Prize: 1st (£5000), Runners up (£1000)
Sponsors include: The Guardian, Private Eye
Contact: digby.halsby@midaspr.co.uk

Rory Peck Awards
Deadline: 2 September 2008
Categories: News; Features; Impact by freelance camera operators in TV news and current affairs.
Sponsor: Sony UK
Contact: awards@rorypecktrust.org

Eloquium COPD Award
Deadline: 21 September 2008 Categories: Consumer; Medical; Broadcast
Sponsor: Boehringer Ingelheim
Contact: www.eloquium.org

Plain English Campaign Awards
Deadline: 30 September 2008
Categories: National paper; Regional paper; TV programme
Contact: info@plainenglish.co.uk


*contacts are still everything, sadly. You may have a greater chance of winning the Paul Foot Award if your dad can pass your work onto Ian Hislop's desk, for example.