Okay, let’s calculate this. Melissa Zorkin has a strong background in technology and law, with experience as CIO at the American Bar Association. She’s also an author and frequent commentator on legal and technological issues. Location is Bellevue, WA, which is a hub for tech companies. Journalists and authors with her expertise and experience can charge higher rates. Let’s look at industry benchmarks. Technology journalists with similar experience can earn $100–$250 per hour. However, given her unique blend of technical and legal expertise, as well as her high-profile position, I’d estimate her rate to be on the higher end of this range. Considering her background and location, I’d estimate her hourly rate to be around $200.