We now live in a world where people choose to get their news from their iPhones, Blackberrys, and online, and the newspapers taking big financial losses. Newspaper subscriptions and advertising revenues are way down and some newspapers are even closing up shop altogether. For those newspaper that is still operational upper-level management are cutting back staff at a remarkable rate. Many professional photojournalists, coventrypost editors, and reporters are being laid off or forced to do twice the amount of work they were originally hired to do. However, the demand for quality news photos and videos remains high. With a reduced amount of staff and photographers, newspapers must still provide photos for their newspaper daily, but it isn’t always that easy.
As newspapers continue to struggle to provide the best news coverage with their reduced staff they often turn to freelance photographers also known as Stringers to fill the pages with breaking news photos as well as video clips for their website. These newspaper Stringers earn anywhere from $75-200 per photo and sometimes even more for video content that is used on a national television show. newsfromtechtoday
Breaking into the news photo business isn’t as hard as it may sound and you can get started today if you have the proper equipment and motivation.
What are some of the things you will need to get started?
- Digital SLR camera
- Police Scanner
- Cellphone techautomates
- Laptop with wireless access
- Reliable vehicle
- Long zoom lens of 70-200mm is fine
As a Stringer, you will be spending a majority of your time monitoring your police scanner and listening for major car crashes, fires, shootings, gadgetpieces SWAT standoffs, and even severe weather such as brush fires and tornadoes happening in your town.
The objective is to get to the scene and make dramatic photos of the scene before newspaper or television photographers get there. The best time to hunt for news is late at night from 12 am-4 am as this is when most of the news staff is off, meaning no competition for you. It is possible to get exclusive content during the day but is usually more difficult because of the increased competition and traffic.
A reliable stringer with proven results can also accept photo assignments from newspapers, magazines, and TV stations around the world adding to the money you make nightly chasing spot news. roboticsforyou