How to Sell to Newspapers

Not like getting the perfect picture to sell is the easy part or anything, but how/who do you contact? What do you say/ask for?

I've been in New Orleans all weekend and would like to try to sell a few images. I've put up stories on Demotix and have contacted several local and national newspapers through email and I haven't had any response. The Photographer's Market isn't very helpful on this subject either.

They pay sod all so I don't bother any more.

Why would they pay a freelancer when they have subscriptions to agencies with experienced disaster related photographers? Answer is, unless you capture what NOBODY else has, they just won't.

you mean its not like the way Peter Parker does it?

tim wrote in post #10116768
They pay sod all so I don't bother any more.

what does 'sod' mean?

Same story around here; if you send anything in - even of one-off shots which make the news - they expect to be able to use them for free or give name credit or they're not interested.

Speaking to some of the staff photographers I know recently I discovered that the local papers have laid off half their staff recently and the rest of the positions are looking dodgy - they put it down to stock/agency photos and free shooters.

Sod all is slang for very little, so if you do sell, don't expect to get very much in return.

What kind of work are you trying to submit? Newspapers, even when they were selling ads and had extra space to fill, never really took 'over the transom' submissions. The only exception is if you have the only image of a newsworthy event. Other than that they, literally, have everything they need covered with staff and wire and regular stringers if need be.

If you're just trying to peddle some 'nice images', you're outta luck.
1. They got no space to run it.
2. 90% of the photos in a newspaper are made as illustrations for a story. Yours won't be.
3. If they do have space for wild art, they have paid staff -- who are major-league shooters -- to go get it.
4. They got no time to talk to every yahoo with a couple of nice images to sell.
5. Even if they were interested in looking at your stuff, they got no budget to pay you with.

You want in on a newspaper gig? Go cover some events on your own. It helps if you're in college and can work for the school newspaper. Put together a book. Make an appointment. Make several appointments with several newspapers and maybe the local wire bureau. If you get lucky and an editor likes you and likes your work, maybe he or she will throw you an assignment or two.

The way you don't do it is to drop in unannounced after a weekend of shooting in a strange city.

Keep in mind that your odds of landing a job and making any real money in the newspaper business are about the same as making real money in show business.

Hm, I had always wondered about how hard it is to get your shots into the newspapers but never got around to trying it myself. Apparently it's basically a fruitless endeavor...

Newspaper? Whats that?

Biffbradford wrote in post #10121809
Newspaper? Whats that?

That's actually a good point. Anyone who reads newspapers on a regular basis and knows what kind of shots they run probably wouldn't have asked this question in the first place.

Good advice for anybody trying to sell anything. Before you try to move your wares, get familiar with the market.

Thanks everyone...

Sarcastic eye roll...guess you wanted the "call them and they'll JUMP at your images with a big check because NOBODY ever calls asking to get photos published, it will be a fresh change for them" answer?!?!

drsilver wrote in post #10122129
That's actually a good point. Anyone who reads newspapers on a regular basis and knows what kind of shots they run probably wouldn't have asked this question in the first place.

Good advice for anybody trying to sell anything. Before you try to move your wares, get familiar with the market.

Hm, just read a blog of editors and guess what #1 was...do your research, so you sir are correct!

Back in the 70's I could sell pictures to a major daily paper 3-4 times a week freelancing. There were times they actually called me when their staff was busy covering another assignment. But back then I only shot B/W and most of the time processed my own film with a dark room set up in the bathroom.
And I was paid for each and every picture that ran.

Now everyone is shooting digital and all they want is to see their name with the picture. And the digital age is what is killing the papers.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #10122564
Sarcastic eye roll...guess you wanted the "call them and they'll JUMP at your images with a big check because NOBODY ever calls asking to get photos published, it will be a fresh change for them" answer?!?!

No, I was just looking for a real answer, maybe from someone who has actually sold image to a newspaper since the "digital age". I can find the newspapers are dead thing on the rest of the internet. I can find this answer for anyone looking to get into portraits and weddings all day long on here.