But what happens when you haven't got a big news organisation behind you? Or happen to be between contracts?
The plight of freelancers Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan, who were released after 15 months in captivity in Somalia, indicated the high risks involved for independent journalists. Even large news organisations are now struggling to find the money for insurance, reported the Guardian.
For freelancer Ben Bland, who was recently refused a working visa in Singapore, lack of news organisation support is the biggest concern for stringers and independent journalists abroad.
Even though Bland admits his own predicament did not risk his personal safety, he says he was surprised by the lack of support at times:
"I spoke to editors who said 'that's terrible' but ultimately they weren't going to help you out."
It's more worrying when a freelancer is working from a more dangerous location, he says: "A freelancer won't have any backing or money from news organisations for kit if anything goes wrong," he adds. "There's no support."
"Because of reduced funding for foreign reporting across the mainstream media, there's a growing reliance on freelancers who don't have the same kind of backing."
Bland, a former Telegraph reporter who is about to start working from Jakarta, says he forsees cuts becoming more widespread:
"I think you're going to see more serious problems elsewhere, [although] Asia is where my focus is."
He cites examples from Vietnam - when he ran into some trouble with the authorities - but says he is "sure the situation is replicated around the world".
"News organisations will take freelance coverage but they won't pay for their own people," he says. "I can only see mainstream media budgets getting smaller and I don't think it's great."
Al Jazeera or BBC provide lots of training and support for permanent staff, he says. But as a freelancer, "you don't get any of that," he adds.
Do newsrooms provide enough support for freelancers in the field? Share your thoughts below or email judith [at] journalism.co.uk.
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