How do you carry your stuff - not only your photo gear, but your personal items - while shooting news?  I’ve seen shooters work stories carrying backpacks - but they sure aren’t easy to reach into for anything you suddenly need.  And a purse sure is inconvenient to get in and out of a car with when also carrying a dSLR with a nearly-foot-long lens like a 70-200; getting anything out of the purse is inconvenient even outside of the car.
   My suggestion is a photographer’s vest - full of very large pockets inside and out, most with covers keeping things in and weather out.  Sure, a fishing vest may also work - but it may not be as durable and may not have as many pockets or covers on as many.  While few shooters seem to be using them, the use of one by the federal marshal heading courthouse security at the John Edwards trial (below) clearly showed the potential.
   Leave the purse or backpack home.  Have the vest well-organized - both photo and first-aid essentials.  Before going, put your driver’s license, car registration, and insurance card in one pocket.  But keep the vest always set up with the things you might need for a shoot: coins for parking meters, multitool or Swiss Army knife, Band-Aids, cable ties, extra memory cards in a weatherproof carrier, business cards, reporter’s notebook, pens.  And - of course - pill box with several days of any prescriptions you depend on to stay functional.
   Before going to cover a story, put the driver’s license, registration, and insurance card in one pocket; take them out when you get home.  Also bring along a water bottle to keep you functional and able to take those prescriptions; State Farm insurance agents now are giving away a sturdy one - that won’t collapse as it’s emptied - with a push-pull valve; it will fit in one of the lens pockets on back of the vest.

Butch Moore, regional head of courthouse security, wearing such a vest 
at the John Edwards trial.