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Topic: Stringers
| Author | Message |
| Jen480 | Posted – 12/15/2005 11:39:27 PM | show profile How does one become a stringer for a magazine? Do you need to be in the mag industry for a long time to do this or can someone who has less than a year exp. plus internships become one? I never see postings for these positions & I know that they're out there. Are they more by word of mouth? |
| netmon | Posted – 12/16/2005 4:41:22 PM | show profile | email poster re Stringers Opportunities for stringers seem to be by word of mouth. If you have particular publications in mind, you can check the masthead and see if they have anyone on staff reporting for them from your location. As for the level of qualifications, it is of course good to have them. But you could suggest to the publication that they try you out for a couple of articles and judge you on your work, rather than your pedigree. Hiring for a full-time position is an investment, but hiring a stringer is not, so lesser qualifications may not be an absolute barrier. |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 12/16/2005 5:14:12 PM | show profile | email poster If you have a friend who is a stringer, you can ask them. Me, I string and saw an opening mentioned on a job site for a stringer for a pub--I had a friend who also stringed (?) for them and dropped her name when I applied. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| veteranjournalist | Posted – 12/19/2005 11:35:08 PM | show profile Stringer positions for top media outlets are rarely advertised. I've done freelance/stringer work for top media outlets and I usually got the work because the hiring editor knew someone who recommended me. And even then, I still had to give references and not just my resume and clips. If it's for long-term freelance work, then you'll probably have to do an interview as well. Freelancers and stringers come from all levels of experience. I've seen people right out of college get the same kind of freelance assignment as someone with more than 10 years of experience. The person with more experience might get paid a little more, but the assignment could still be the same type of assignment and a lot of places pay every freelancer the same rates, regardless of your experience. For stringer work, experience is less of a factor in getting the assignment than what kind of salary you're asking for and what they're willing to pay. |
| abel tasman | Posted – 12/20/2005 11:46:20 AM | show profile While we're on the subject... ...can somebody clarify for me the difference between a freelancer and a stringer? I identify as the former but not the latter. But I don't really understand the distinction. And I remember an editor telling me once when I was just starting out that I *could* get work as a stringer, but I probably shouldn't because it was sort of a second-class citizen type of position. Thoughts? |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 12/20/2005 2:52:13 PM | show profile | email poster As a stringer, I get sources and brief anecdotes for the reporter to integrate into her story. I don't do actual writing, just material-gathering. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 12/20/2005 2:52:39 PM | show profile | email poster And stringers do not get bylines, also. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| veteranjournalist | Posted – 12/20/2005 7:19:39 PM | show profile The titles stringer and freelancer are used interchangably because they're essentially the same thing: a freelance position. Outlets that use the word stringer tend to be those who have a team of people work on one article, as opposed to one person who does all the writing and reporting for the article. Stringer assignments tend to involve more reporting than writing, and are more likely to get contracts. I disagree that with clairezulkey about stringers not getting bylines. I've gotten plenty of bylines at places where I've been a stringer, even when a bunch of other people also worked on the article. A byline is never guaranteed if you're a stringer, but it can happen, depending on the media outlet's policies. |
| Jen480 | Posted – 12/20/2005 8:22:06 PM | show profile If you look at the end of some magazine articles, it'll often say something like ''additional reporting was done by...'' or ''so-and-so contributed to this story.'' I know that Time magazine does this. |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 12/21/2005 1:40:28 AM | show profile | email poster Interesting...I didn't nkow that you guys (that's why I don't have 'veteran' in front of my name.) I wonder when publications choose to include 'additional reporting' and when not, because I've done research for major features for some major publications but didn't have my name included. I didn't mind but I wonder if there is a policy on it or if it is random. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| SFElisaW | Posted – 12/21/2005 3:06:28 PM | show profile I hired stringers when I was on staff with a newsmagazine, and was a stringer for the same mag a few years ago. Yes, stringers do sometimes get bylines. As for the difference between a freelancer and a stringer, freelancers usually write a story on their of a defined length for a set amount of money as a one-time contract. Stringers often have an ongoing relationship with a publication, because of their locale or their area of expertise. They often contribute reporting (paid on a day rate) but they may also do specific assignments, written to length (which is more of a freelance model.) Stringers can suggest stories, but they are often called when the bureau is short staffed. They often have long-term relationships with the bureau. Stringing assignments usually pay horribly, but the reporting can be interesting and a good way to get some high circ clips. |
| veteranjournalist | Posted – 12/21/2005 5:56:12 PM | show profile Reply to clairezulkey As I said before, if a stringer gets a byline, it depends on the media outlet and the type of work you did. It can be totally random, even when dealing with the same media outlet. They may give you a byline for one article but not for another article, for various reasons. You just have to take it on a case-by-case basis. A stringer byline is almost never guaranteed. |
