Getting Work From Events and Late-Breaking News  

by Melanie Rockett  

There are a constant stream of news events that produce 

work for freelance writers, photographers, illustrators 

and web entrepreneurs. Fires, floods and hurricanes or 

other uncontrollable disasters are one category of news 

events. Accidents and police incidents are another. 

Announcements of all shapes and sizes are another. 

These events often fall under the category of bad news, 

which may lead many of you to react with, "I don't want 

to be an ambulance chaser." And you know what?  I agree 

on one level. However there are several things to 

consider before you totally reject this avenue as a way 

to find freelance work. 

First of all -- have YOU ever been in a fire, accident 

or disaster?  If you were you were probably HAPPY to 

have the infrastructure there that would help you. 

When I had a fire that gutted part of my house and 

created fire damage to the rest of the house, I was 

happy to have a disaster clean up company arrive on my 

doorstep virtually the next day! They were wonderful. 

They held my hand throughout the process and made it 

somewhat bearable.  When I was in an accident, MY 

insurance company -- the one I pay big bucks to every 

year to look after my interests -- treated me like 

dirt. I was HAPPY to have a lawyer to call.  All of 

these helpers provided me with services I wanted and 

needed. They all got paid, and I do not resent any 

penny of what they made. 

The second thing to understand is that someone is going 

to do the work and that someone could be you. 

What kinds of work am I talking about? 

I will give you an example that will hopefully help you 

think in terms of work possibilities.  Many years back, 

a oil processing plant I did occasional work for had a 

huge fire and explosion. As a freelance writer/ 

producer/ director I was asked to document the 

aftermath of the fire on video. This was for a number 

of purposes. The fire department, inspectors, and 

engineers put together a documentary of what happened. 

Some of the information was used for insurance 

purposes. The company also used the information to 

develop special emergency methods, strategies and 

procedures in the form of videos and manuals. As a 

freelancer I got over a year of ongoing contracts out 

of this disaster. I believe I performed a valuable 

service in helping to prevent accidents like this from 

ever happening again. 

You may be familiar with the Staten Island Ferry crash 

that happened not too long ago. What freelance work 

could come of that? There will undoubtedly be city and 

state government policy papers, new construction 

guidelines, and safety training programs for dock and 

ferry crews. 

In Vancouver, the Pinkerton Farm murders and East Side 

disappearances have generated hundreds of articles 

across North America. The trial(s) will generate at 

least one if not more books. The cases have already 

shown up in a TV series and will likely be made into 

one or more movies. Vancouver Police Department 

policies and procedures are being re-written as I write 

this article. Someone is being paid to do that. 

Though not nearly as spectacular, late breaking news 

also focuses on announcements of many kinds. For 

example -- that BIG company you've been trying to break 

into, announces that they have a new PR director. The 

old PR director kept on putting you off, maybe you will 

fair better with the change of personnel! 

Or -- the construction of a new hospital has been 

announced. Good news for freelancers who specialize in 

the construction industry.  Good news for freelancers 

who specialize in writing policy and procedures 

manuals.  This work will start well before the hospital 

construction has been completed.  Photographers -- the 

construction companies and hospital board will want to 

document construction from ground breaking to 

completion. Producers -- safety videos, construction 

documentation. Web designers, programmers, IT 

consultants  -- will the hospital have an internal 

communication system? Will the hospital have a website? 

Every day, newspapers and magazines are pointing to new 

work possibilities for you. Are you paying attention? 

Each of us has to be governed by our own morals and 

ethics in this matter. What kinds of work will we 

pursue and undertake? Where do we draw the line? 

Whatever your answer -- the fact is, "late breaking 

news" is a never-ending source of work for freelancers 

around the world. 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

The author, Melanie Rockett, coaches writers and 

freelance professionals who are struggling to attract 

more clients and increase the revenues in their 

businesses. http://www.proofpositive.com