What does it take to build a career in journalism when the media landscape keeps shifting?
In this episode of Freelance Writing Direct, Estelle Erasmus talks with her former NYU High School Academy student Abigail Meyers, a digital and multimedia storyteller whose work spans journalism, creative services, social media, advocacy, and political communications.
Abigail shares how an early interest in storytelling grew into reporting, writing, and multimedia work, and asks Estelle for advice on navigating freelance journalism today. They discuss how to craft stronger pitches, avoid burnout, pivot from one reporting beat to another, and use your existing expertise to open doors in new areas. Estelle also shares her perspective on AI as a brainstorming and research tool, why journalists still need to verify primary sources, and why an individual writer's voice remains so important.
In this episode:
- How to create a strong, focused pitch that gives an editor confidence in you
- Why research and familiarity with a publication matter before you pitch
- How to pivot from one reporting beat or specialty to another
- Why primary-source research and fact-checking are more important than ever
- How curiosity and resourcefulness can strengthen your reporting
- Why journalism skills translate far beyond traditional newsroom jobs
- How personal storytelling can become a powerful tool for advocacy
- How young journalists can build visibility, expertise, and a platform
Watch on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFTCa-bJayU
About Abigail Meyers
Abigail Meyers is a digital and multimedia storyteller passionate about highlighting diverse perspectives and amplifying marginalized communities through storytelling. She graduated with high honors from Simmons University, where she studied journalism and political science. Her experience spans local community news, national policy, academic research, creative writing, social media, graphic design, and creative services. She is also a Platinum Ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation, where she uses storytelling and advocacy to help bring attention to the experiences of people living with arthritis, including young people.
Links
Instagram: https://instagram.com/abigailmmedia
X: https://twitter.com/abigailmmedia
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abigailmeyers3
Get More From Estelle Erasmus
My latest Substack post is the Substack Live I did with Aliza Licht on DKNY PR GIRL, the magazine world we both knew, branding and reinvention, and her Substack serial novel Off the Record, which brings that era vividly back to life.
My next Editor-on-Call event with NYU is on Wednesday, September 16, with Electric Literature Executive Editor and Publisher Denne Michele Norris. Sign up here: https://events.nyu.edu/event/400238-light-up-your-literary-life-with-electric-literatures
Private Small-Group Memoir/Essay Class
My next six-week session beginning in September 2026 is sold out. Please email me to be added to the waiting list for the next session. Contact freelancewritingdirect@gmail.com for details.
Meet Estelle at An Event
- Editor-on-Call event with NYU, Electric Literature, September 16, 12;30-1:30 pm ET (virtual)
- AALA's, People of Publishing (NYC), September 30, 2026 (attending as press)
- Women's Media Group panel (NYC), October 21, 2026 (info coming)
- Writer's Digest Webinar, October 29 (virtual, info coming)
- Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) ( Chicago), March 17-20, 2027
Watch
Estelle's TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond
Book
Writing That Gets Noticed — named a Poets & Writers "Best Book for Writers."
Listen/Watch
Freelance Writing Direct Podcast — 2026 Podcast of the Year, Business (American Writing Awards) https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast
About Estelle
Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, TEDx speaker, and author of Writing That Gets Noticed. She is the host, founder, and executive producer of Freelance Writing Direct, an adjunct professor at NYU, and the former editor-in-chief of five national magazines with a combined reach of 10 million readers.
Her work has appeared in more than 150 publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP The Magazine.
Follow Estelle
Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus
TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus
Twitter/X: @EstelleSErasmus
Bluesky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social
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