Dan Shepherd

"Six Digits in a Good Year"
By Alex Barrett

ORLANDO, FL - "Whatever the client wants to make them happy, you do it."
That's how Dan Shepherd has grown to be such a successful Freelance Producer. Living by that simple quote, and falling back on work well done. Since 1994, Shepherd has been a freelance field producer and remote coordinator for many aspects of the media world, including NBC, ABC, and CBS News and their affiliates, and has done work for the Oprah Winfrey show, Mohegan Sun Casino, FOX Sports and Clear Channel Communications, just to name a few. Throughout his career, Shepherd has covered some excellent stories, such as the September 11 attacks on the United States, and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, garnering Emmy award nominations for these two stories.

Shepherd shared his freelance journalism knowledge and experience on Thursday afternoon at Valencia's West Campus.

Shepherd wasn't always a freelance worker; he started his career in 1984 as a photographer and tape editor for NBC, and in 1987 took those talents to CBS here in Orlando. His coverage of events and microwave truck operations eventually led him to Tampa for a brief 4 year stint, and then back to Orlando to begin his freelance work in 1994. he has been freelance ever since then.

Shepherd says there are many things you have to do to be a successful freelance worker, including taking somewhat less than glamorous jobs, being available at beck and call, and always being prepared for just about anything. Shepherd's stories have taken him as high as being in a P51 Mustang Fighter Plane, to as low as a submarine dive, and to be a freelancer, you must be willing to do the same when the news organizations call your number; you may not get a second chance. With freelance work comes some instability, however, in the monetary department. Dan stated that one could make "Six Digits in a good year," but also added that you could just as easily have a bad year and make next to nothing since you have no steady income.

Shepherd said the key to being successful, besides being prepared, was pitching good stories. Finding anything news-worthy and getting a broadcast company to bite on it is what keeps Shepherd hopefully close to that six figure range. Among the stories he has pitched include one of a dolphin with a prosthetic fin, one of his favorite stories, and a story of a small football team in Alaska that had been playing on gravel and flying everywhere to play their high school games. the porpoise prosthesis was picked up, unfortunately, the Alaskan football team wasn't; even though ESPN covered the team in detail after Shepherd had pitched the story unsuccessfully.

His eye for noteworthy news also plays a part in Shepherd's freelance work, and he uses it to his advantage, gathering knowledge any way he can. "Jump on the internet and let it be your friend," Says Shepherd, and "always be ready for the news, it can happen anywhere."

Shepherd established his own freelance company in 1998, named Soundbite Productions, and keeps his stories on time and under budget. he works effectively with National News networks, and encourages others who may want to do freelance work to be efficient and learn quickly, always be on your heels, and to "prepare yourself for anything, because it can happen at any time."