Stock News Photos is an employee owned, start-up website focused on providing World Class, Award Winning photojournalism to media outlets of all sizes from Fortune 500 media conglomerates to independent small market publications. Our site is currently in the process of rolling out a new section that will contain editorial pieces, informative/ entertaining articles & stories, research papers, books and other publication materials. We are currently looking for both experienced and inexperienced writers from across the political spectrum to join our team. If you are interested in creatively and physically challenging work that has the potential to impact history, please read the Frequently Asked Questions and apply below.
I have no Writing, journalism, Copy Edit, Photography or Photojournalism experience. Can I still apply?
Absolutely. We encourage and welcome all
to apply. We are not focused on who you are or the skills you have today. We are focused on who you can become tomorrow if given the opportunity to thrive. If you can meet the job requirements, our internship is a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring Writer/Journalist/Photographer who will get paid to learn and master their art.
I have extensive Writing, Journalism, Photography or Photojournalism experience and/or I own a high quality camera. Where do I apply?
We know that you have worked very hard to learn the skills you have acquired. You are a highly trained professional, and we will treat you accordingly. As an Employee Owned company, we offer the very best compensation package in the Media Industry, hands down. Our requirements for immediate hire are simply the industry standard. Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:
- Two years professional experience as a Staff Writer
- Three years professional experience as a Freelance Writer
- Bachelors Degree or higher in the study of Writing/Creative Writing
- Three years professional experience as a photojournalist
- Bachelors Degree or higher in the study of Journalism
- Bachelors Degree or higher in the study of Photography
If you meet these qualifications, please click here
to submit your resume. Be sure to include your professional writing/photography/photojournalism portfolio and your salary requirements.
What are the requirements to join the training program?
For candidates with minimal or no previous writing/photojournalism experience, the option to join our team as a Freelance Writer is available for select candidates. The requirements for entry into our Understudy program, which are not only expected company wide of novice but of veteran Staff Writers/Photojournalists alike, are vital to achieving success within the industry. Candidates must be:
- 18 or older
- Strong work ethic
- Committed to learning & mastering your craft
- Able to be on your feet for long periods and physically fit enough to fulfill the job duties
- Able to handle the travel rigors & erratic shooting schedule that the writing/photography industry demands
- Able to work in all climates at any time of day or night
- Able to work calmly as a team in high risk environments
- Able to stay focused on a project long term despite extended periods with breaks in work
- Able to respect client privilege, protect all news sources identities, adhere to legal Non-Disclosure Agreements and refrain from social media while on duty
- Able to follow direction well
I have been told by some that my views or beliefs are "fringe", "conspiratorial" or "unconventional". I have even been ridiculed or ostracized for them. Can I still apply?
Yes! In fact, you just may be who we are looking for. We always
respect everyone we work with no matter their opinions, political views or beliefs. We completely understand your concerns, they are well founded. Our staff will treat you will nothing but kindness and respect.
What kind of compensation is included?
Our Freelance Writer program is a fantastic, unique opportunity for an entry level candidate individual looking to get into the writing/photography/photojournalism industry. It allows aspiring writers/photographers the ability to get paid for learning the business while simultaneously maintaining a portion of creative and copyright control of their work, an unheard of standard in the industry. Additionally, as an employee owner, successful candidates will be able to provide input towards future growth and the company direction. It is a three tier program specifically designed to provide a novice writer/photographer with the finest training experience possible. Once applicants complete the first two tiers, candidates are invited to begin the process of becoming fully vested by joining our team as an owner operator and completing the training process. Our compensation package is unlike any other package for entry level employees, hands down. We include:
- $250 cash signing bonus
- Candidates will earn an equal portion of net revenues earned from all media material!
- Travel to and from location included
- $5 cash food stipend when on location per day
- Complimentary premium coffee, tea, water & snacks during office hours
- Opportunity for tremendous financial and professional growth
What does "equal portion of revenues" mean?
It is exactly as the sentence seems, you receive the same share of profits as Stock News Photos, not a penny less. For a pair of crude examples, let us hypothesize that our team travels to cover a major event one morning in the month of July. We were able to use the article & photos to raise $1247 in total revenues over the course of our fiscal year. It costs the company a total of $495 in travel fees, equipment costs and the multitude of other various business expenses required to cover the event, plus production of merchandise expenses, shipping fees and marketing costs. This leaves $752 in total net revenues, which are then divided up equally by the writer or writing assistant and Stock News Photos thus each individual will receive about $376. Or, imagine perhaps that we have been contracted by a medium sized pet supply company to write an article about the fan experience at their grand opening event in a suburb of Indianapolis. They have paid a total of $700 for a 5000 word article with photos. It costs the company a total of $140 dollars in various expenses and overhead costs to travel to location for the afternoon and back, field research the event with photos, and then write the article. This leaves about $280 in net profits to be divided by employee owners. In total, the project took each person about 12 hours involved, averaging about $23 per hour.
It sounds like a great opportunity, but no job is perfect. What's the catch?
The catch is you will have to work hard to succeed. Yes, traveling around to different places and events researching, planning, scouting, documenting & photographing subjects can be extremely fun. Being early on the scene of a major newsworthy event or disaster & recovery effort and writing about it is exciting and full of adventure. However, anything worth doing is not often easy. In general, both writing and photography have many difficult aspects. It will take a significant amount of time to produce a body of work, promote it, build a following and turn it into profit. It will not happen over night. However, If you are able to set yourself apart from the crowd, the end result can be very rewarding. The topic of what to expect from working in the writing/photography industry and with Stock News Photos will be covered more thoroughly on the first two days of the internship program.
I have had legal/disciplinary issues or I have said some things or have videos about me online that stigmatize me. Will that prevent me from qualification?
No, not at all. You are a human. Humans make mistakes. We believe in second chances and in most cases, third or fourth ones too. It's O.K. to have said or done things that you regret, that have been misconstrued or are unpopular. We're really not concerned about the silly anti-Obama or anti-Bush tweet you made, the embarrassing whatever video or any other speech or action deemed offensive by some. Just be honest and tell us. Disclosure is key. We will address any concerns we may have with you and evaluate your situation fairly, on an individual basis. To error is a human quality, to forgive and accept does not seem to be.
I have strong political positions and refuse to work with, give a platform to or cover people who do not share my views. How will you be able accommodate me?
In short, we won't accommodate you. This is one of the most common questions among young applicants. We cannot accommodate such narrow thinking. Ultimately, if this is your stance it is advised against your applying with us as you are not likely a great fit for our organization, or for the integrity of Journalism in general. You will eventually cover something on this job that repulses you, makes you furious or simply offends you, no matter what your political position or affiliation. You will have to cover both Presidents Trump and Biden rallies at some point, they are popular, money making newsworthy events. You will cover both pro-life and pro-abortion rallies. You will be around people who have just lost everything or even a loved one, and to treat them less than or refuse to share their story because they voted differently than you is pure evil and at absolute odds with the essence of what journalism is.
What does the training process entail?
Truly the training process never ends. There is always something new and exciting to learn even after years on the job. Accepted candidates will begin by completing a three tier training program. The program consists of a total 240 hours including both classroom and practical application in the field. The first two tiers will be the most mentally & physically daunting and will last about 36 total hours which is meant to serve as an overall candidate evaluation. Successful candidates will progress to the the third tier, which will be a mixture of classroom, studio time and practical application in the field work, with candidates steadily progressing to a more advanced level. It also includes the candidates first forays into the professional and business side of the industry. Candidates are cross trained and will gain a vast knowledge that will encompass a multitude of topics such as writing, journalism, photography, photojournalism, editing, lighting, photojournalism, accounting, marketing, business administration, disaster & emergency environment training and much, much more. Depending on many factors in and outside of our control including candidate availability, frequency of news worthy events, weather conditions, the state of the economy and the social atmosphere of our nation among others, the training process will last between 12-20 Weeks. Upon successful completion of the program candidates will have absorbed a rich variety of vocational trainings and disciplines, earned numerous professional skills and become fully capable of running a successful small business.
What will I be writing about and what will I be photographing?
Without sharing too much vital trade protected information, accepted candidates will be covering and/or writing about a large variety of wide ranging topics. We will of course have an emphasis on journalism, however this will be only a portion of what we do. Our staff will write about topics including but certainly not limited to:
- Feature Articles
- Comment/Analysis pieces
- Opinion Column
- News Articles
- Non-Fiction articles & stories
- Fiction, Si-fi & Horror articles & short stories
- Creative writing short stories
- Coffee Table Books
- Calendars
- E-Books
- More
Additionally, twice per year candidates will be provided with a small working budget to explore, research and write about the topic of their choice.
