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Topic: Do people hire freelance researchers?
| Author | Message |
| scheherazade | Posted – 7/17/2007 9:24:05 PM | show profile Is freelance research actually a viable service to offer? I mean, assuming you're not a librarian but perhaps have some journalism or research experience - do people ever farm out research work to freelancers? |
| maphop | Posted – 7/17/2007 10:37:52 PM | show profile I do, on occassion. I use someone who's genuinely knowledgable about online research (and that does NOT mean "Googling" something and thinking that's research), who's brilliant at library research and who's the closest thing to an old-fashioned librarian that I know of. I pay $20/hour (cheap!) and she's worth every dime. |
| aj | Posted – 7/18/2007 11:21:49 AM | show profile Yes I've hired several research assistants for books, especially those who are well versed in certain areas. I usually pay by project. I'll be looking for more research assistants in the near future (new books in the works), as well as sales reps and bulletin board moderators for a enhanced Web site about 'making it' in big and expensive cities across the nation. Feel free to submit your resume if you're interested. We'll keep it on file. see www.makingitinthecity.com for more info. |
| ejlyman | Posted – 7/18/2007 11:48:39 AM | show profile | email poster staff I have a freelance researcher who has seen her job morph into a regular part-time job, averaging 20 hours per week. Over the last six months or so I've begun to wonder how I ever worked without her help! ------ Italy-based freelancer www.ericjlyman.com |
| SPF 30 | Posted – 7/18/2007 1:44:19 PM | show profile Sure! If you're good at it, it's a viable service to offer -- and invaluable to those of us who need it. |
| reporterwriter | Posted – 7/18/2007 4:53:07 PM | show profile Rick Bragg used one. |
| JCB | Posted – 7/18/2007 9:52:41 PM | show profile You do know that magazines and newpapers use the regularly, especially monthlies, who really only need them for about 2 weeks a month. Contact the research chief of the mag you're interested in and find out s/he's hiring new freelancers. |
| scheherazade | Posted – 7/18/2007 11:17:33 PM | show profile Thanks for your responses! So what kind of background would make a good freelance researcher? Short of getting a degree in library studies or building my resume with other freelance research work, are there any things I can do proactively to make myself more attractive as a freelance researcher? (eg, taking a professional development course, or doing related work like fact checking, working in academic research, etc.) Any suggestions? |
| ejlyman | Posted – 7/19/2007 5:46:21 AM | show profile | email poster resourceful What I like about the researcher I use is that she is very resourceful, very thorough, and she seems to look for new solutions whenever she runs into a brick wall. She's just good at tracking stuff down, whether it's through a research library, online, via phone calls, etc. I can't speak to the academic background one ought to have, but as far as I'm concerned being a good researcher is a matter of attitude coupled with a skill certain skill set. ------ Italy-based freelancer www.ericjlyman.com |
| aj | Posted – 7/19/2007 8:50:15 PM | show profile Know your subject well and be incredibly organized It's as simple as that. Being able to identify reliable sources, get quotes and verify if necessary, find unique information that will help the writer craft his/her story, be thorough in your findings (phone, fax, address, etc.) so that there are no holes in your research, and subsequently, the story. Some research is heavier than others and requires advanced degrees. Science or Medicine for instance is one where you probably can't just start sending out your resume. A great way to get in is to start by working as a fact checker at a mag or newspaper. It's also a good thing to put on your resume when you're looking for research assistant positions. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 7/19/2007 8:51:52 PM | show profile | email poster If anyone is interested, I do informational interviews and library as well as Internet research. The key thing about Internet research is knowing what is valid and how to verify statements. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 7/19/2007 8:55:16 PM | show profile | email poster If anyone is interested, I do informational interviews as well as library and Internet research. The key thing about Internet research is knowing what?s valid and how to verify something you?re not sure about, even if it seems plausible. |
