Expert: Don Wood - 6/4/2004

Question
IS IT DIFFICULT TO GET INTO FREE LANCE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES ETC?  HOW MUCH OF A BACKGROUND DO YOU NEED? WHAT COULD I EXPECT IN THE WAY OF MAKING MONEY AT IT. ANY ADVICE?
                     THANK YOU,
                          JEAN THOMAS
                 WWW.JCCHELMAN@AOL.COM

Answer
This would depend upon the size of your town or the size of the paper. Sometimes, there might be several assignments that need to be covered and they don't have enough reporters to cover. I would advise you to make yourself a small portfolio showing your picture expertise and start making the rounds of the editors.
An even better way would be to get into a college journalism program, this would demonstrate to the publishers you contact that you have some background training in the field. Most college journalism programs have an apprenticeship program during the summer. Ours here takes a student intern for 6 weeks during the summer. Several of the interns went on to be offered a job with the paper after they finished their training. Your training will be invaluable to you, it demonstrates that you are not in it just for a part-time income job.
The money you would earn is equal to the size of the paper. IE: Large papers with statewide circulation have more money than a local paper. Consequently they are also more stringent in their hiring practices. A small paper may have the philosophy of "why send two people out to cover the assignment when the cameras are so simple to use that they just point and shoot." The reporter takes a picture to illustrate his assignment. Generally, the small papers pay the lowest per hour wage. Perhaps you might be lucky to land a position but the more training you get the better off you will be. Generally, the small papers train the people who have the experience and training which the larger papers are looking for. IE, you start small and work your way up. Remember, if you are interested in only one area and plan to live the rest of your life in the area, then you must take the wages offered by the only player in town. It may not be a monopoly but to start a paper requires quite a capital investment, consequently, you would have to buy an existing paper.
Best of luck to you, please keep in touch. If you need further advice, please ask.
Don