November 2008

Q People: Steve Friess
Ultimate Freelancer

By Laura Davis

Steve Friess has more than a few accomplishments under his belt. Since moving to Las Vegas in 1996, he has made a name for himself in the media world as not just a journalist, but one of the leading freelance writers in the area. According to Mary Hausch, an Associate Professor in Greenspun School of Journalism at UNLV, “He’s the ultimate freelancer in Las Vegas. He’s gone from being a traditional journalist to a new media professional. He’s embraced all forms of internet journalism and is doing it well.”

What makes Friess so successful is his combination of both talent and work ethic. “He has a wonderful news sense,” said Hausch, “He knows how to market both the story and himself to turn them into pay checks. He sees the stories that other people don’t see.”

While Friess collects kudos from the professional world, his partner, Miles Smith, a news producer for KVBC, agrees as well. “[Friess is] someone who is incredibly smart, who’s dedicated to his work, someone who works non-stop to make sure he gets every angle of a story. He’s super high energy; I’ll leave in the morning and he’ll be writing, and I’ll come home at night and he’s still writing.”

Friess himself has sa id that some of his success in the field comes from just being in the right place at the right time. “I do have a very lucky streak,” said Friess, “I find myself in the middle of very historic stories.” He lived in China for over a year working as a copy editor at an English written newspaper; this turned out to be the same year that the Chinese were finalizing plans to hold the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Before that, he lived in Florida, where he just happened to be assigned to a would-be dull story: voting problems for the 2000 presidential election. Friess himself was responsible for breaking the story on the ballot mishaps. “People called and said, ‘I don’t think I voted right,’” said Friess.

As a freelancer, Friess is well known not only locally, but nationally. He has a by-line in The New York Times where, according to Hausch, “He’s in it so often he appears to be a staff writer.” This could be because out of all the publications he has been in—Newsweek, USA Today, Time and Esquire to name a few—The New York Times happens to be one of his favorites. “They’re really good to me,” said Friess, “They allow me to offer a great variety of story ideas.” And then of course, there’s the notoriety The New York Times offers. “The impact is more substantial then anything else I do. They’re reading it in the White House…whether or=2 0not they admit it,” said Friess.

Friess is also the author of the book, Gay Vegas: A Guide to the Other Side of Sin City, a work that helped earn him editor’s choice for Vegas person of the year in 2007 by the Web site Vegas Tripping. And together, Friess and his partner run a podcast titled The Strip, where they interview celebrities on both a local and national level. They have welcomed everyone from Jerry Springer to Jay Leno, as well as Carrot Top and Rita Rudner to their program. Friess’ podcast is somewhat of a revolution to many journalists who haven’t yet made the leap to new media. “I’ve really taught a lot of the Las Vegas media about podcasting,” said Friess. “I’ve spent a lot of time explaining to other journalists what a podcast is and why I think it has so much pull.” Another benefit to doing the online version of talk radio is spending time with one another. “It’s just so great we get to do it together,” said Friess in reference to his and Smith’s show, “It serves me well. I have a very good opinion of myself and my own partner can loving deflate me from time to time.”

In his personal life, Friess is just as successful. After a fairy-tale proposal, he and Smith married in 2007. “Married life is great, I clearly found in him my soul mate the day that we met,” said Smith of Friess, “He’s in credible and giving, he takes great care of me. And he’s interested in my work, we’re so connected and on the same level.” For Smith, it was love at first sight with Friess. “Our eyes met and that was it…I was done,” said Smith. They now live happily with their two Chihuahuas, Black and Jack.

With all of his accomplishments, Friess somehow manages to stay humble. “I still get excited when I get a story to cover,” said Friess, “and I get nervous about if the editor will like it…I’m glad of that, I’m glad I’m not jaded.”