You've probably seen a lot of tweets from journalists recently, like "Hey I've been laid off! Please hmu with job offers and freelance work!"

It shouldn't be a surprise that the former is a scarcity right now.

Layoffs are rolling across much of the industry in North America, and very few new jobs aren't coming online to scoop up those who have been let go.

I think that much is obvious, and it is obviously very, very bad. But let's talk a second about the former: Freelance work.

A lot of the time when layoffs happen, those let go can rely on some freelance work to get by until they find something new. Freelance budgets have shrunk in recent years, but lots of places require freelance to fill the pages/hours/pixels.

It's been startling just how much freelance budgets have shrunk or disappeared during this pandemic.

I've been at this for awhile now. I write for an array of publications in Canada/America/abroad. I've been told by multiple editors that their freelance budget, right now, is $0.

Other places have had to cut back significantly.

Still other places have freelance budget, but are so short-staffed and over-worked right now that they don't even have the bandwidth to handle outside copy.

All-told, this is very bad. There is this huge wave of out-of-work journalists without that life raft; meanwhile long-term freelancers are seeing their work evaporate; and news outlets are just getting a less diverse source of news writing.

If you're a news outlet with a freelance budget, please reach out! If you're a new freelancer who is desperately looking for work, also reach out!

Maybe I can play matchmaker.

A good point I forgot: You don't qualify for the CERB if you've made more than $1,000 in the month prior. I imagine there's plenty of freelancers who have taken a huge hit but who are still earning more than that. https://twitter.com/kimhartmacneill/status/1263907014209671170

My DMs, as always, are open!