Laura Williams is a freelance journalist, editor and communications and campaigns lead. She works with not-for-profits to uncover and share their stories, reach new audiences and secure change – from policy to people’s behaviour.
Role: Freelance journalist, editor and communications and campaigns lead
Organisation: Freelance
Sector: Charity
Studied: Politics and Sociology (BA)
Laura Williams
How did you get to where you are now?
I always wanted to be a journalist, and my fast track National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) course was a vital step in that journey. I entered print journalism as it was struggling to compete against online journalism, which resulted with me taking redundancy just five years into my career. Social media was in its infancy and I side stepped into that, and digital comms, knowing that’s where the future was heading. I fell into environmental charity work after spotting a part-time job in a local National Trust deer park shortly after having my first child, and I’ve specialised in that area – and social justice (women’s rights, diversity and inclusion etc) – ever since. This has led me to working mostly in the third and public sector, including for an MP and then Shadow Minister (now a Minister) and volunteering lots, including helping set up a charity, running a fundraising festival and sitting on a National Park Authority Board.
What do you do in your current role?
I’ve had a portfolio career for 15 years, meaning I do a range of roles at any one time – sometimes working part-time and freelancing around that. I’m currently working two days a week for an MP and have a range of freelance clients I work with including: a regional arts and culture magazine which I am helping to grow; a nature engagement charity which I’m supporting to build capacity for citizen science projects; an Icelandic author who I’m helping secure press coverage for her new book; and a regional women’s commission for which I lead communications and campaigns for (website, social media, PR and internal comms).
“I know that I am making a difference in my jobs – and that my role leading communications and campaigns, and as a journalist highlighting issues that matter, leads to real change.”
What skills do you need for this role?
You need to be a competent multitasker with impeccable organisation skills. A strategic thinker, and fast doer. Collaboration and creativity are a must, and you need to be unafraid to try new things – to test and learn.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I know that I am making a difference in my jobs – and that my role leading communications and campaigns, and as a journalist highlighting issues that matter, leads to real change. I’ve worked on projects and stories including getting the police to start collecting data about road traffic collisions involving trailers to getting corporate businesses to invest thousands of pounds in restoring nature in national parks and promoting a Women in Business Charter to get more employers to support women in work.
As a freelancer, I’m always learning and sharing my learnings with others. I often dip in and out due to the short-term nature of the contracts, but know I leave people better equipped to do things themselves too. The journalistic elements of my communications jobs are what I enjoy the most – writing, creating magazines and in-depth storytelling.
I also love supporting the next generation of communicators and change makers and this has played out in many of my roles – from launching the National Parks: New Perspectives programme, to mentoring the volunteer team with Pier Journal.
Why did you choose to study social science?
A naturally curious person, I absolutely loved social sciences and humanities at school – way more than STEM subjects and languages. It answered many questions I had about the world and nurtured a relentless thirst for knowledge. I had an incredible history and politics teacher, and loved the range of topics we covered in sociology – from counter culture and social contagion to conversation analysis and the art of protest. Truth be told, I started off doing philosophy (and sociology) at university but found it too abstract for my interests so swapped in the first term to politics (and sociology).
“Social science gives you a great base in which to work in communications and campaigns, as well as a wealth of other areas. The curiosity and methodology you learn – and the breadth of subject areas you take in – makes for a great foundation for accurate and compelling storytelling and creating reports to change the world.”
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I want to continue along my freelance journey, working with even more incredible organisations to help them with their strategic communications and campaigns. I also want to have made Pier Journal a success! We’re hoping to launch editions beyond Dorset in Devon, Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and further afield, so I’m excited to see where that goes.
There’s no linear progression plan with freelance, you seize the opportunities and see where they take you. In this election year, I’ve found myself doing more political engagement and advocacy work than what I might usually do, but next year it could be that I’m editing more members’ magazines. Who knows?!
What would you say to someone considering studying or pursuing a career in the social sciences?
Social science gives you a great base in which to work in communications and campaigns, as well as a wealth of other areas. The curiosity and methodology you learn – and the breadth of subject areas you take in – makes for a great foundation for accurate and compelling storytelling and creating reports to change the world. It often won’t feel like learning, and will help you understand yourself and the world on a personal level as well as a professional one.
For practical advice I would say, do as much work experience as you can during your studies. I volunteered with three to four newspapers and magazines and it solidified my desire to be a journalist and gave me some solid contacts for starting out with too.
