Marc Saltzman has spent three decades as a freelance journalist covering technology and video games, but his path into the field was anything but planned.
Before writing about consumer electronics, Saltzman studied psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough, graduating in 1993. He worked odd jobs and eventually became a bill collector, a role he describes as emotionally draining and hostile.
“I knew it was a job and not my career, but it was all horrible,” he said, citing daily verbal abuse and threats during his time at the collection agency.
His entry into tech journalism began in 1994, when he started reviewing computer games part-time in exchange for free products. He soon expanded into coverage of the early internet and consumer electronics.
By early 1996, Saltzman launched a weekly radio segment focused on websites and emerging digital tools. That same year, he left drumming semi-professionally and stepped into broadcast journalism.
His major breakthrough came 30 years ago this month, when a U.S. book publisher invited him to co-author a directory of internet games. He left his collection job on July 31, 1996, to write the book.
From there, Saltzman built a freelance career contributing to major publications and launching a long-running tech radio show in 2000. The program remains on air nationally and is recognized as the country’s longest-running technology radio show.
“I still pinch myself every day,” he said. “This is a dream job. I’m my own boss, doing what I love.”
Saltzman said the transition out of collections felt like winning the lottery. Though his parents were concerned about the instability of freelance work, he held his ground after finishing the book.
He traces his interest in technology to the early 1990s birth of the world wide web. Not identifying as a “geek” early on, he says, helped him explain tech to general audiences.
What sustains his interest is how technology enhances everyday life. From e-readers to music streaming and accessibility tools, he points to tech’s quiet power to level the playing field.
For aspiring freelancers, Saltzman advises choosing a passion and becoming a recognized expert in it. He warns that finding work can be a grind, often requiring three to four hours of outreach for every hour spent writing.
Despite the challenges, he views the field as full of opportunity. With more platforms than ever, he says, the world remains wide open for self-driven journalists.
