Tipsters find there's money in news

Printer-friendly version

Shenzhen Daily has an article named "Tipsters find there's money in news" by Wang Yuanyuan.

Providing news tips has become a career for a growing number of Shenzhen residents, with more than 200 professional tipsters providing tips to the media nearly every day, yesterday's Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

Tipsters scour the city daily to find interesting stories which they send to newspapers and TV stations for rewards ranging from 100 to 1,000 yuan (US$15-148). Some even had their own tip providers -- mainly security guards, cleaners and migrant workers in commercial and residential areas.

Many feel providing tips not only makes them money, but also gives them a sense of fulfillment. "This job has more freedom and I can manage my own time -- it's better than working for a company. And, if a problem you reported is solved, you will be proud of your contribution," said one news provider, identified as Liu.

However, the job can also be dangerous.

One tipster, identified as Yang, was beaten by the relatives of a young man who was threatening to jump from a building, after he took pictures of the relatives attempting to talk the man down.

"We have the same professional dedication as reporters, but society has not recognized us yet. Police often ask us to tone it down when we try to interview them," Yang said.

For full article reading, please click here.