Your options: Freelancers, Syndication, Staff Writers or Enex TestLab!
The three methods typically used by publishers to obtain content are:
Freelancers
Freelancers generally charge per-word so the temptation for them will always be to simply regurgitate press releases, technical specs and marketing material. Freelancers rarely do additional product photography; they simply don’t have the required skills, studio or equipment. Freelancers typically work from home so often lack sufficient resources, equipment, skills or the experience necessary for any kind of authoritative high-quality testing.
Syndication
News feeds and product “first looks” that come from syndicated sources are acceptable as “filler” content, but are certainly not acceptable as a centre piece articles.
Staff writers and (publisher owned) “test labs”
Staffing and maintaining your own internal lab can be expensive. In addition to the space and infrastructure required to test products properly, such writers may not hold suitable qualifications or be experienced test engineers.
Despite the very best intentions a staff writer or internal “test lab” cannot be truly independent for your audience. It cannot guarantee a robust, scientific, reproducible and independent test.