That's a citizen journalist. Freelancers make up much of the mainstream media. They are professional journalists (read: went to college for journalism) who either aren't hired by or don't want to work for one publication/news show. They can do what they like, when they like. I used to be a freelance videographer. I went to college for film/video production. I used to get called to do all sorts of video gigs before I changed my profession to advertising.

Citizen journalists don't go to college for journalism, and do exactly what you are suggesting.

Wrong word

most journalists don't have degrees in journalism, they are usually English majors but I've met people with degrees in just about everything and some that don't have formal college education. If you can get a good interview you can sell it just about anywhere because the nature of the internet now is that there ar so many sites starving for content.

I don't think you'll get close enough to ask a question.

Surely they live as we do.

Good luck with that and be wary of plain clothes security attempting to protect Congresscritters from crazy person attempting to get up in their face.

Certainly we haven't come to security for each elected rep?

I've actually done what the poster is suggesting, all you do is find the Committee press person and tell them you are press, and they have you sign a sheet and give you a press packet. Its a good way to interview celebrities and bureaucrats that are higher up the food chain, like say Podesta or somebody like him. After the hearings people are usually just milling about and the Chairman comes down and glad hands the witnesses. I interviewed Charles Bolden the administrator for NASA this way.

And I still think interviewing them off the cuff is the best story.

What good would that do?? Find any congressman walking the street, stick a camera and microphone in his face, and he's going to say "no comment" and politely hand you the card of his public affairs handler...

Is a good place to confront them because they cant run away. Just before a vote. You can tell when there is a vote because they have these bells that ring.

If you have a small camera and are asking them questions and they are just standing there not responding it makes them look like they are hiding something and they don't like that. Usually they will talk because deep down they are all narcissists.