Well, hello there to everyone in Acorn land. In this article, we are going to look at a new type of job that I literally found by accident and the pun is intended. You will encounter this job in just about every major urban environment, but hopefully you’re not the one being reported on.
Is your typical day one of boredom where you sit at a desk for hours on end, and your only interactions are with Billy and Sue at the water cooler or breakroom? Do you want to have some excitement in your day and look for that adrenaline rush that gets your heart going? Do you want to be your own boss and report to only yourself or maybe a few million viewers? Finally, are you that person who drives by an accident and look to see what’s going on or loves to watch NASCAR for the “mishaps”? If you have said yes to any of these questions, then maybe you have what it takes to be a Video Stringer.
You might be asking, what the hell is a Video Stringer and how have I never heard of them before? The ironic thing is, if you watch the news anytime then you’ve seen the work of a Video Stringer.
In journalism, a stringer is a freelance journalist, photographer, or videographer who contributes reports, photos, or videos to a news organization on an ongoing basis but is paid individually for each piece of published or broadcast work.
As freelancers, stringers do not receive a regular salary, and the amount and type of work is typically voluntary. However, stringers often have an ongoing relationship with one or more news organizations, to which they provide content on particular topics or locations when the opportunities arise.
The term is typically confined to news industry jargon. In print or broadcast terms, stringers are sometimes referred to as correspondents or contributors; at other times, they may not receive any public recognition for the work they have contributed.
A reporter or photographer can “string” for a news organization in a number of different capacities and with varying degrees of regularity so that the relationship between the organization and the stringer is typically very loose. When it is difficult for a staff reporter or photographer to reach a location quickly for breaking news stories, larger news organizations often rely on local stringers to provide rapid scene descriptions, quotations, or photos. In this capacity, stringers are used heavily by most television news organizations and some print publications for video footage, photos, and interviews. [1]
The way I heard about this job was I happened to be looking at Netflix and saw the title of a show called Shot in the Dark. When you firsthear this title, you mightthink, well, here is another crime series in which there are a thousand to choose between, but the show cover artwork looked intriguing. After watching the first episode, I was interested in getting more information about being a Stringer, and this is what I found.
To become a Video Stringer, here are some tips that will lead you to your goal. The first step should be to find out who your point of contact would be. As in call your local television channels and find out from whom they source out their stringer footages.
If the market is small, stringers directly sell stories or content to the TV stations, but big agencies supply footage to the stations if the market is enormous. If you are probing, the more extensive market gets associated with such agencies.
For a News Stringer, the only equipment he would require is a great quality camera. Get yourself a super dynamic Electronic News Gathering equipment set. As a stringer Journalism journalist, your work would involve going to places, at times even uninvited, stealthily and shoot videos and interviews. Some of them would be viral content.
So for perfection, you have to choose a camera that has a long lens or extender so you can get good images and videos even from a distance.
Moreover, you will be continuously on the move and doing many handheld shootings and interviews, so make sure you choose a camera that can be mounted on your shoulder for stability.
Also, ensure that your camera accepts external microphones as you would need a good quality mic for interviews. However, today smartphones and few apps have made the work of stringers a lot easier.
A great stringer gets not one but too many perfect shots under the hood. You will have to master the skill of being discreet all the time. The best way to be inconspicuous is by wearing ordinary clothes, being casual, and traveling in non-descriptive vehicles.
You will most likely get caught while shooting a crime scene if you go in a flashy car and wear anything but simple. Discretion in journalism is wealth. You have to definitely possess the art.
Since you are going to be a freelance news stringer, you may not be aware of what is brought and what is sold in the industry. You have to keep a tab on the trending news and see which gets the most likes and popularity.
Some of the most popular selling news includes celebrity weddings, death, disasters, earthquake or hurricanes, terrorist activities, murder, encounters with police, shootings, fatal accidents, wild animals, and rescues, etc.
Do we hope you have got the hook point? Unanticipated news involving political parties also gets a thumbs-up.
When you cover people in their most unexpected situations like scandals and drama, that’s when you rise as a stringer. Post an article about Meghan and Harry getting married and another one about a celebrity sex racquet scandal and wait to see which one gets the highest views.
You must overcome the sorry and guilt emotion. You have to barge into privacy or private affairs to get the answers. That’s your job, unfortunately. When interviewing witnesses and victims, don’t forget the basics: who, when, where, how, what, and why questions.
Make sure your interview subject spells their name on camera for proof. Make sure you record their permission for airing the content. Sometimes, especially in the case of celebrities, you have to sell stuff that is rated ‘beyond permission.’ Those contents are notoriously viral ones. You will be pleasantly commissioned for such shots.
Get clear audio and video clippings. Even if you manage some shots, make sure those pics tell something and not just face and limbs. If need be, you might have to climb a tree or crouch under the bullock cart, and you have to be bold in your story coverage.
Your camera and your eyes are your biggest assets; don’t let them go on a deep slumber when you get to work.
Also, write intriguing and catchy titles to hook your production house’s or news station’s interest. Here’s an example, ‘Wedding Feast turns into Death Poison for the Bride, and the Groom’ or ‘Two People Die in a Wedding’; which one would you prefer?
It’s not necessary that you have to excel in content writing or use exclusive vocabulary. Simple English with meaningful and humorous words can glue viewers to the TV or a report than words that twist our tongues in all directions.
You plan to make a career in the media industry; you should know that communication and interpersonal skills rank the highest amongst other essential skills needed in media. Make sure you treat interviewees, responders as well as agency people with respect and friendliness.
Everyone’s doing their job, respect theirs, and they will respect yours in return. If ever you encounter a hostile situation, don’t start getting abusive and hysterical. Instead, proceed with caution and politely leave the place.
If cops are involved, make sure you depart fast with the necessary content before they break your gear for trespassing. Don’t tamper with any evidence in crime scenes. [2]
Now for the critical question, how much does a Video Stringer make for a salary? It depends on what you get, how early you get it, who else shot it, what else happened that day, and want kind of a mood the news producer is in. If you get a plane crash and you are the only one with early shots (plane burning, rescuers pulling out victims), go for a four-figure amount. If someone shoots a cop and you are the only one with shots of the cop before EMS takes him away, go for a three-figure amount. If you shoot a single fatal MVA, be happy if they offer you $75. If you shoot someone famous in trouble, go for a five to six-figure amount. How much they pay all depends.
The average monthly income is- maybe – $75 or maybe $7,500. Really it depends on how much time you put in, how many people are working in your area, luck, and how hungry the news producers are. [3]
Now you have all the pertinent information to make an informed decision on whether a career as a Stringer is a good life for you. In this industry, you can make very good money, but you have lots of competition and the hours are very hard for a family person. Hitting the streets at 9 pm or so and ending your day at 5 or 6 am will test your resolve, and you will learn fast if this job is cut out for you.
So, if you thrive in a high-pressure environment and you need that adrenaline hit and love telling stories, then your dream job might be a Stringer. The show Shot in the Dark gives a good insight of what this profession is like but remember, this is a television show and so there will be some embellishments along with some added drama for effect. What I’m trying to say is take it with a grain of salt.
References
[1] Wikipedia.com. Retrieved September 7, 2021, from Wikipedia.com Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringer_(journalism)
[2] careerlancer.net. Retrieved September 7, 2021, from careerlancer.net Website: https://careerlancer.net/getting-started-as-a-freelance-tv-news-stringer
[3] staff writer. Retrieved September 7, 2021, from thedvshow.com. Website:https://thedvshow.com/thinking-of-becoming-a-tv-news-stringer