How old do you have to be to work for your hometown newspaper and take pictures for them?

I am interested in a job and I like photography and I was wondering when can I get the job?

My guess is 18 with good transportation, clean driving record and a good portfolio of work (tear sheets compiled while shooting for your schools newspaper and as "perfect as you can get" photos).

I don't live in a town but I have two cities within 2 hours drive. I submit electronically (email) what happens away from town. They either use them or not. Generally, it is mostly car accidents and the occasional freak of nature.

My best was a flash flood coming down a wash and obliterating a campsite and a occupied RV. They used three images. (Everyone was unharmed.)

I get $15 each time they use one of my unrequested images.

Go check out the local paper's website. It most likely will have a Contact Us link on it somewhere where such inquiries can be made. Even if you don't get the right person straight away, they will probably be able to point you to the right people to answer the question. Most jobs require you to be at least 14 with certain waivers (where I'm from), but they don't hire usually until 16. All depends on what kind of jobs are available and what kind of skill sets you have.

Depends if you want to be hired as staff, or go at them as a stringer.

Get photos, as a stringer, that they need and can use, they will buy, and if your under 18, probably need your parents involvement.

Hired as staff, it depends on the paper, as there are no legal requirements specific to newspaper themselves. Whether you can get the job, has more to do with their requirements, and your abilitys, than just age.

You need to have a college degree in photography first... they don't just hire anyone. Most newspaper agencies only have a few photographers.