Freelance Journalism

Freelance journalism requires an individual who is willing to put a story together without the backing of a news organization, resources or protection.  “We take journalists for granted, particularly freelancers,” said John Foley, father of James E. Foley.  (Bender, 2014)  Journalists who work outside the box gain exclusive interviews and coverage that traditional journalists often cannot afford or miss due to strict deadlines.  Whether freelancing should be encouraged is up to the person who is given the opportunity.  “Freelance journalism takes considerable courage.”  (Owen & Purdey, 2009, p. 60.)  Although many believe encouraging reckless behavior to get a story is not worth the risk of a journalists, but often those who risk the most are the citizens who need a voice to speak out.  In truth, it should be encouraged if the individual chooses it.  According to Vaughan Smith, “Journalists can choose to work on the outside and freelance journalism, unfiltered and unfettered, when conducted skillfully and with integrity, though its reach may be shorter, is journalism’s highest form.”  (Owen & Purdey, 2009, p. 61) 

            Still, is the story really worth the price of a freelancer’s life? Many people believe no story is worth the life of another because there is little to no protection for those would risk it their lives.  So where do these freelancers turn to for protection?  Responsibility falls on middle ground between the freelancer and news organizations.  According to Tala Basheer Ellsa of UrbanTimes (2013), “whether an organization offers the freelancers insurance or not really depends on the ethical code of that organization, and the individual agreement between the reporter and the institution.”  In truth, the cost to use a freelancer is cheaper on the organization than to send their own stuffing into dangerous situation.  As the number of freelancers loses their lives for the story, organizations are beginning to finally step up and begin to offer some type of insurance.  However, in order to gain this level of commitment for an organization, something must be done to insure the integrity of freelance journalists is at a high standard.

            Some people across the globe have post a little faith in traditional journalists and freelancers.  In some opinion polls, journalists have replaced lawyers and politicians as the least trusted of any profession.  (Cramer, 2010)  One way to repair the image of our integrity is to repairing the confidence with our audiences and readers.  By upholding the standards of providing information in truth and relying on creditable sources.  In order to ensure freelancers are upholding the standard, new organizations should inquire about the information before providing it to the general public.  In truth, bad reporting and poorly prepared can comprise the safety and the safety of those we are reporting on. 

Reference

Bender, B. (2014, August 28). Heavy reliance on freelancers for foreign coverage poses challenges for US media -- and greater dangers - The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 21, 2015, from http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/08/27/heavy-reliance-freelancers-for-foreign-coverage-poses-challenges-for-media-and-greater-dangers/eMqwRsnBvwsPYFauWZnbgP/story.html

Cramer, C. (2010). 1. What price freedom? Global reporting trends and journalistic integrity. Pacific Journalism Review, 16(1), 10-20.