Freelancer Dan Shepherd at Valencia

By Rachel Masri
Oct. 20, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. ­– Journalism students at Valencia Community College were in for a treat on Thursday, Oct. 16, when Emmy nominated freelance field producer, Dan Shepherd, came to speak to news reporting students about his unusual career.

Having graduated from Oklahoma University in 1986, Shepherd started small with a job in Tulsa, OK, working for KJRH (NBC), but eventually ended up in Orlando in 1994, marching to the beat of his own drum as a freelancer.

“You have to be ready to go do anything,” Shepherd says regarding freelancing. “It can change on a dime, for the good or the bad.”

Shepherd is a man of many talents, having worked as not only a producer, but a photographer,
tape editor, remote coordinator and camera man. His clients have included NBC News, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, ESPN, Discovery Channel Canada and many more.

Shepherd’s relationship with the networks he works with can be a tricky one. Nothing is set in stone. Sometimes the networks will call on him to cover a story specifically, but the rest of the time it is up to him to unearth and pitch the stories to the networks, trying to find just the right angle to catch a client’s attention..

“It’s a tricky business pitching stories,” Shepherd admits. “When you are talking to guys in they’re air-conditioned offices in New York, it can be difficult to get them to understand when a real news story comes along.”

So how do you get started as a successful freelancer? It’s not easy. “It takes time,” Shepherd says. “Getting your foot in the door is half the battle.” He admits that much of the success of a freelancer is based on word of mouth. “It’s a very small business and people tend to stay in the business for a while. You will find that the longer you’re in it, the more often you will run into people who know who you know. A lot of it is just relationships.”

According to Shepherd, the world of freelancing can be incredibly exclusive, much of it depending on your location. “In Orlando there aren’t a lot of freelance news producers. It’s a good little nitch to have.” He says that the networks tend to have a list of freelancers in each state that they know and trust and will call for photography, producing, or whatever else they are looking for at the time. “Once you get your foot in the door they will call again.”

Shepherd has been nominated for two Emmys in the category of “Coverage of Breaking News during a Regularly Scheduled Newscast”, once for his work on Hurricane Katrina, and the other for his coverage of the 9-11 Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Centers.

Shepherd’s experience in his field of work is evident as encourages his audience. He gives them the highs and lows of his work, attempting to inspire the students while not allowing any false expectations about the challenges of freelancing. “When you get your chance, don’t screw it up,” says Shepherd with a smile. “Just keep pitching; eventually you will get your foot in the door.”