Jason asks: I was the only one recording a historical, internationally known building burning down in my hometown. I know the news would love to have this video. I read your advice of how to sell video to the news and wondered if there was a quicker way to submit the footage to major outlets at the same time?
Answer: Breaking news can happen anywhere, anytime. But because most news agencies do not have reporters everywhere all the time, many depend on stringers or freelancers to capture and deliver footage they can use on air.
If it’s a fire, police chase, natural disaster, crime in progress or terrorist attack and you find yourself pulling out your camera phone in the right place at the right time, you now have the ability to document and send your photos or video footage directly to multiple, hungry news agencies all with one click thanks to any one of these four apps.
The basic concept behind these stringer apps is simple: download the app, create an account, submit your video, wait to get paid. But not all of these apps are the same.
Here are simple reviews of all five top stringer apps that make it easy to sell video to the news:
Ruptly Stringer
Ruptly Stringer is your opportunity to become part of their news team. Sell your footage and get rewarded for it.
What makes them different:
Once your video has been uploaded and accepted by our newsroom, you get paid as soon as the information has been verified.
Download:
Stringr
Stringr is a video platform that allows customers to source, edit, publish and monetize video. Stringr has more than 100,000 videographers who respond to custom video requests in near real time. Drop a pin on a map and ask for the video you want. From there, access a full suite of video capabilities that take you from concept, to creation to making money.
What makes them different:
News channels or any other party interested in requesting footage of a particular event and/or location can place the requests on their web site. The footage requests are then broadcasted to their network of independent professionals who will decide to respond to the request, collect, and upload the video right from their own phone. If your video is used, you get paid.
Download:
StringersHub
StringersHub is a marketplace that connects professional videographers and eyewitnesses with media producers and editors who needs video content.
Pros:
Different types of video licensing structures help you earn more cash.
What makes them different:
Shoot with smartphone or DSLR, helmet-cam or drone. No matter what device you use, a story is a key. From SD, HD to 4K. They accept any video quality to help you sell and show your story to the world.
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Newsflare
An online video news community and marketplace for user generated content.
Pros:
Users can upload newsworthy clips and get paid when they are sold. Newsflare specializes in covering news that is too breaking, too remote or too local for traditional news organizations.
What makes them different:
From BBC to Yahoo!, Newsflare has built connections with some of the world’s biggest buyers, and these buyers are looking for content.
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Sell News
They automated the photojournalism industry by removing time-consuming hurdles for media sellers and buyers. Their system even alerts buyers of license expiration with the option to renew for increased earnings.
Celebrities, professional and amateur photojournalist can protect and sell newsworthy photos and videos directly through their own social media in real-time, it also lands on their SellNews market place and thye notify their buyer network of best content.
Pros:
There’s no faster, easier way to sell news footage to more global media buyers with the option to donate all or partial proceeds for positive social and economic change.
What makes them different:
They pay 100% of market rate to news contributors. Other platforms take 40% to 85% of your earnings from each sale.
Their earnings calculator guarantees industry market rates for licensing your photo and video content
They’re the fastest way in the world to protect, get discovered and sell your news content without getting choked up in broker communication.
Post to multiple social media with one click to increase buyer visibility and sales. Posting to multiple social media is tedious and time consuming. We make it easy. Simply describe, use keyword hashtags and post to multiple social media with one push of a button..
The only news media platform in the world that tracks referrals and pays contributors a percentage of their earnings from your social media followers who choose to register and sell their high value photo or video media content.
Directly connected to almost 400 press, newspaper, digital media outlets who buy high quality news relevant content daily.
Protect and retain full ownership of your content. Earn many times from a single photo or video without losing control or ownership.
Photos and videos are often illegally stolen from social media for commercial purposes. They track if content is used illegally. Partner pursues copyright infringement.
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