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News Stringer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

News Stringer information

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$10

$22

$39

How much do news stringer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for news stringer in the United States is $22.12, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.51 and $23.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a News Stringer job?

A News Stringer is a freelance journalist who contributes news reports, articles, or other content to media outlets on an assignment or per-piece basis. Unlike full-time reporters, stringers work independently and are typically paid per story or contribution. They often cover breaking news, local events, or specialized topics for newspapers, websites, TV, or radio stations. Since they are not on staff, their workload and income can vary depending on demand.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the News Stringer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a News Stringer, you need strong reporting skills, a keen sense of newsworthiness, proficiency in writing, and preferably a background in journalism or communications. Familiarity with digital cameras, audio recorders, editing software, and content management systems is crucial for producing timely and high-quality news content. Excellent networking, adaptability, and self-motivation help News Stringers build sources and secure exclusive stories under tight deadlines. These abilities are vital for quickly delivering relevant news that meets editorial standards and audience needs in a competitive media environment.

What are the typical work hours and expectations for a News Stringer?

News Stringers often work on a freelance or part-time basis, with highly variable schedules that depend on breaking news events and newsroom assignments. Flexibility is essential, as you might be expected to respond quickly to unfolding stories, sometimes outside traditional business hours or on weekends. Assignments can range from covering local events and press conferences to chasing urgent, unexpected news. Many News Stringers work independently, but they also collaborate closely with editors and newsroom staff to ensure their stories are accurate and aligned with editorial needs. This dynamic environment offers variety and quick-paced experience, making it a great entry point into the journalism industry.
Infographic showing various News Stringer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, and 15% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,013 per year, or $22.1 per hour.

$25/hr

Other

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

We day-drank with Willie Brown. We broke the Anna Wintour/Vogue World scoop. We were at the de Young gala when things got messy after midnight. San Francisco has secrets - and The Standard is hiring someone to help us find them.

The SF Standard is looking for an intern to split time between two of our most entertaining and important beats: The Waggle, our weekly gossip and society column, and The Moguls, our reporting on wealth and power in San Francisco. This is not a breaking-news internship. This is for the person who already knows which Pac Heights fundraiser to crash on a Tuesday, considers getting invited to a private after-party a professional accomplishment, and has strong opinions about who actually runs this city.

What you'll do

On The Waggle side: attend events, track the SF social calendar, and file sharp, dish-forward blurbs in the column's wry, insider voice. You are expected to work the room - not just observe it. Every conversation is a potential item; every introduction is a future source.

On The Moguls side: pitch story ideas, assist senior reporters with research and reporting, and write your own stories about the old money, tech money, and cultural power that shape San Francisco. Think board reshuffles, foundation dinners with agendas behind the agendas, and the philanthropist who is also a slumlord.

You might be right for this if:

  • You feel genuine FOMO when you miss a notable event - and you actually go to notable events
  • You understand that gossip, reported well, is a form of accountability journalism
  • You are comfortable talking to powerful people and not intimidated by wealth, status, or a door person with a clipboard
  • You can write with wit and economy - a good Waggle blurb is 80 words that earns a screenshot
  • You're more interested in who's in the room than what's on the press release

Journalism experience is welcome but not required. A track record as a good writer - essays, a newsletter, a sharp social presence, a college column - matters more than a resume full of wire service internships. We are not looking for an AP stringer in training.

This is an in-office position in our San Francisco office, with occasional remote work depending on the days/times of your shifts.

This internship pays $25 per hour, and may be part-time or full-time.

To apply for this position, please submit your resume along with 3 to 5 published work samples, a cover letter and contact information for at least two references. In your cover letter, pitch two gossip story ideas you'd be interested in pursuing as an intern-no subject matter is off limits, as long as it has some connection to San Francisco. Your pitches should explain why the stories would be relevant and interesting to readers, and how you would approach them. Your cover letter should also detail when you are available to start working, and what days and times you are regularly available for work.