Storyhunter launches beta site, offers insurance, goes beyond video

There have been a lot of updates to Storyhunter’s offerings since we first covered the Dumbo company last year. It now offers media companies access to freelancer work in text and photos, not just video. It has also started covering the insurance for journalists working in dangerous areas, according to the Columbia Journalism Review.

Storyhunter’s beta site, tested by Fusion, msnbc.com, Al Jazeera Plus, and others, looks like Airbnb, which Gilinsky counts as an inspiration. Vetted correspondents — “storyhunters,” in company parlance — create free profiles with their location, past work, and open pitches. More than 3,500 journalists spanning 130 countries have already joined the network.

News organizations either solicit story ideas or filter available correspondents by skillset and location. “They can say, ‘I only want Africa stories, or Morocco stories, or Tangiers stories,’” Gilinsky added. That precision is likely the key for breaking news coverage.