WASHINGTON, DC, Day 15 of 40 — Milton Martinez Estrada (R) is a quintessential journalism “fixer” based in the Mexican border city of Nogales. A correspondent for the Mexican magazine Proceso, he also provides logistical support, arranges interviews and advises visiting journalists on where they can safely work – and where they cannot. Milton’s services […]
WASHINGTON, DC, Day 14 of 40 — I interview freelance photojournalist Meghan Dhaliwal in her Mexico City apartment for the upcoming pilot of my series, FREELANCERS with Bill Gentile. While downing my first round of espresso coffee this morning, I was delighted to see Meghan’s images published in this VICE story about trans women in […]
WASHINGTON, DC. Day 13 of 40 — Janet Jarman (pictured here) is one of the freelance journalists featured in my upcoming documentary series, FREELANCERS with Bill Gentile. The global series is testament to the dedicated men and women who scour the earth — without the support or security that staff journalists typically enjoy — searching […]
WASHINGTON, DC, Day 10 of 40 — Still asleep, the War Room is strewn with remnants of our struggle to fund post-production of our documentary series, “FREELANCERS.” Computers, charts, calendars listing goals and deadlines, strategy, offensive and counter-offensive. It all takes place here. We scored a significant victory yesterday: We hit the 25 percent mark […]
WASHINGTON, DC, Day 9 of 40 — As this article points out, the craft of conflict coverage is more dangerous than ever before. Despite this, into the fray go many freelancers who, like myself four decades ago, seek to take part in the broad conversation that is journalism — and to establish themselves as protagonists […]
WASHINGTON, DC, Day 8 of 40 — This is what “freelancing” looked like in the 1980s. No body armor. No helmet. And moving with great freedom among combatants on each side of the conflict. We enjoyed relative immunity from intentional violence. I stress “relative immunity” from “intentional” violence. Too many of my friends and colleagues […]