Freelance foreign reporting often gets a bad rap; it can be low-paid and exploitative. But that doesn’t always have to be the case. This week, Aurora Almendral, an American freelance journalist based in Southeast Asia, joins us on the show to talk with Jenni about her freelance career path and how she makes foreign reporting work for her.

Aurora has been a reporter since 2013, and she’s currently a contributing writer for The New York Times and National Geographic Magazine. She’s also a producer-reporter for NBC News. Aurora has reported on disaster, climate change, human trafficking, migration, business, politics, crime and culture.

One of Aurora’s superpowers is negotiation, which she frequently discusses on Twitter; during this episode, Jenni and Aurora discuss the best ways to negotiate with new or old clients, the benefits of fellowships, and how to find mentorship even when you’re working for yourself.

This week, Writers’ Co-op Patreon members get access to info about Aurora’s business plan and a template you can use to negotiate with clients, plus an extra tip sheet with negotiation FAQs answered by Aurora.