In today's Freelancer in Focus, Peter Ranscombe looks back over a decade of freelance journalism and copywriting, from articles about the North of Scotland’s rural economy through to why chips must be cooked in beef dripping.

What do you freelance about?

I’m best known as a business journalist, yet I write about a wide variety of topics, ranging from food and drink through to renewable energy and life sciences. My week features a mix of freelance journalism and copywriting, including delivering media training.

Do you specialise in any particular areas?       

For me, the secret to freelance journalism is being able to turn your hand to anything, although it’s natural to end up specialising if you find a well-paid niche. In terms of business journalism, I write a lot about whisky distillers and other drinks companies, as well as tourism and the rural economy more broadly. Personal finance has become a more regular specialism for me in recent years. Away from business, some of my favourite topics include space, wine, and wildlife.

Are you happy doing corporate work?      

About half my week revolves around copywriting work. The vast majority comes as a subcontractor for public relations firms – penning the classic press releases, advertising features, and ghost-written comment and opinion pieces – although I also write directly for a small number of clients, including Baillie Gifford and Royal Bank of Scotland.

How can PRs help you with your work?              

The return of commonsense would be great. Please stop writing “I hope you are well” at the start of every email, especially those sent using a massive database without even the journalists’ names. It comes across as false and puts me in the wrong frame of mind to read a press release. Equally, please stop sending follow-up emails – if you know a journalist well enough to pick up the phone or go for a coffee then that’s fine, but chasing every freelancer on a database is a waste of everyone’s time and adds needlessly to carbon emissions.

Tell us about the pieces of work you’re most proud of, or any recent highlights?           

Winning a Wincott Award in 2023 for three business news-features published in The Press & Journal newspaper was a career highlight – the citation read: "Judges were impressed by his sharp eye for detail and vivid writing”. My work revolves around taking complicated ideas and explaining them in simple terms, and so I couldn’t have asked for more generous comments.

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of being freelance financial journalist?     

For me, the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages – after ten years of freelancing, I’d find it very hard to go back and work in an office now. Advantages include having the freedom to explore your own ideas, choosing to work with nice people, and being able to pop out to the dentist without needing to fill out 12 forms in triplicate. The disadvantages shouldn’t be underestimated though – late payment of invoices by big companies is simply cruel, putting money into a pension is a constant battle, and the need to diversify into copywriting, training, or other related fields has never been more acute.

What advice would you give to a new freelance journalist?     

Be open to new opportunities – whether that’s writing in a broader range of fields, taking on copywriting work, hosting events, presenting podcasts, delivering training… very few people will earn a living simply through freelance journalism.

When you’re telling a story, what’s the most important thing to remember?

You must be able to summarise your key message in a single sentence – whether you’re a freelance journalist pitching a story to a commissioning editor or a public relations consultant pitching an idea to a journalist, the skill is exactly the same.

What’s the commission you’d most like to undertake?

If I could find a commissioning editor with a freelance budget then I’d love to write more about Scotland’s incredible wildlife.

What was the last article you read that really shocked you?

Affordable housing in rural areas is such an important topic – to read that the Scottish Government has spent money earmarked for rural housing within two of Scotland’s cities simply beggars belief.

Have you won any awards/gained specific financial qualifications?

In addition to being named “Journalist of the Year: Nations & Regions” at the Wincott Awards in 2023, I was also named “Business Writer of the Year” at the Highlands & Islands Media Awards, and received a commendation at the Headlinemoney Awards. I gained my diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (the equivalent of a foundation degree) in 2015, which allowed me to expand beyond writing about the drinks industry from a business perspective to also start reviewing wines and spirits for consumers.

We’re now well into 2024, what are your predictions for the main stories that will dominate the rest of the year?

The fallout from the US presidential election will continue to dominate the headlines at the start of 2025. Exploring the third- and fourth-order implications of charging VAT on private school fees should be an interesting source of stories in 2025 too.

If you were up for an award for any hobbies/activities outside of work, what would you be likely to win, and why?

I’d love to get back to writing fiction again. If that led to an award then that would be wonderful too.

Sum up your time as a financial journalist in three words:

“What’s sequestration again…?”

Finally, if you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?    

Steak and chips – I’m so boring! Either a sirloin or rump steak certified as Scotch Beef or Orkney Beef –  so I know it’s sustainable and supporting local farmers – and chips cooked in beef dripping.