Opportunities 02/02/2022

NPR, The New Republic, The Washington Post, and more.

The Study Hall Opportunities newsletter is a weekly compilation of pitch calls; freelance, part-time, and temporary gigs; events; fellowships, scholarships, awards, and grants; internships; and full-time jobs. It’s written by Chris Erik Thomas, who is staring out of the window of a cafe at the rainy streets of Berlin as they type this. The newsletter is released on Wednesdays. Once in a while, we take a day off for mental health breaks and holidays. 

►Have a job posting, gig, or fellowship you want to be included in the next Opps newsletter? Send them to [email protected] for approval with “Opportunity:” in the subject line. 

►Editors, submit your time-sensitive or evergreen pitch calls to our Typeform page.

►Let us know if you got a job or landed a pitch through the Opps newsletter! Send them to [email protected] with “Opps Success Story:” in the subject line.

►Tell us what resources have helped you in your freelancing so we can share with other Study Hall members. Send them to [email protected] with “Resource:” in the subject line.

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STUDY HALL EVENTS PROGRAMMING

►Facing the Budget Sheet with reporter and editor Alex Hazlett will take place on February 17 from 4-5:30 PM EST. The workshop will prepare participants to “transform their freelance practice into a stable small business.” The program will cover developing a financial plan, attracting anchor clients, cultivating an audience and beat. 

Tickets for the event are $75 and include access to a recording. Media workers with children are encouraged to participate and may use the promo code “GUARDIAN” for discounted tickets ($50). Study Hall subscribers may also use the promo code “FACTCHECK” for discounted access ($65).

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RESOURCES

Relying solely on, say, the Study Hall Opportunities newsletter to find work is like trying to do the “Y.M.C.A.” dance alone. It’s sad and please put your arms down. Just as that song takes a Village of People to perform, freelancing also takes a village… of resources. There’s no need to feel down, so pick yourself off the ground. It’s fun to read all the R.E.S.O.U.R.C.E.S.

NEW: -The Transcription Tool Safety Guide by the Global Investigative Journalism Network goes in-depth to find out which of the journalist’s favorite transcription tools are actually safe and secure to use. They have answers on what Otter, Rev, and other services are doing to protect your data, private recordings, and transcripts. 

-The Labor Action Tracker by Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations is a comprehensive database of strike and labor protest activity across the United States. The database should be a key asset for freelance and staff reporters on the labor beat. 

Want more resources? Check out the Rate Sharing Database, NPR Diverse Sources Database; Online Violence Research Hub; Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Journalists Therapy Relief Fund; Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund; Developing An Investigative Pitch Guide; Britany Robinson’s Big List of Writing Deadlines; Study Hall Transcriber Database; Freelancing Guide/Editorial Contacts spreadsheet; #FreelancerPayGap spreadsheet; Pitch Guide Database; Chelsea’s Guide to Freelancing doc; PACER; Priya Krishna’s resources for food writing; Election SOS Report; and the Extremism Coverage Prep Guide.

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CALLS FOR PITCHES 

Please note that we are not endorsing every publication or company that is listed here. The decision of whether to engage with a publication or company is entirely up to the reader. In regards to pitch calls, we try to only share opportunities that have fair rates based on publicly available information. While we currently define “fair rates” as being above $100 USD for around 700-800 words and above $0.10 per word for longer pieces, we cannot guarantee that every publication pays this rate. If you have more information on a rate or exploitative business practices from a publication posted, email [email protected].***

TIME-SENSITIVE PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

-The Economic Hardship Reporting Project is looking for pitches of idea-driven features and op-eds on the theme of “re-envisioning capitalism.” They are especially interested in pitches on radical, possible economic shifts. The rate is $1 per word for features up to 2,500 words, or somewhat less for op-eds. Send pitches to @lisquart. 

–Friends With Benefits is looking for pitches of reported pieces and essays on “how technology and crypto are impacting art, music, food, and creative economies.” Crypto skeptics are welcome and they are also looking to assign stories to writers. The rate is around $800 for “written-through pieces,” but they will be publishing more info soon. Send pitches and inquiries to [email protected]. 

–Input is looking for pitches of longform features on the great outdoors for an upcoming content package for May. The pitches must have a tech hook. The rates range from $0.75-$1 per word. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Friday, February 4. 

–Prism is commissioning BIPOC freelance reporters and op-ed writers to cover news “in a way that centers [BIPOC] communities and other marginalized folks.” They are particularly interested in expanding coverage of education, housing, disability, and climate change from an Indigenous perspective. The rate is $0.40 per word. See their pitch guide for more info, and send inquiries about contributing to [email protected]. 

–POPSUGAR Australia is looking for pitches of Valentine’s Day content for their gaming section. They are particularly interested in pitches on being horny for video game characters, games helping you explore your sexulaity, or dating simulators. The rate is AUS $250 (USD $178) for pieces of 600 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Huck Magazine is looking for pitches of profiles, Q&As, and reported features on emerging global subcultures; the intersection between sport and activism; photo projects that demand to be seen; and words of affirmation. The rates start at £130 (USD $176) for profiles and Q&As and start at £200 (USD $271) for reported features. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Monitor Magazine is looking for pitches of features, investigative pieces, and book reviews on the theme of “what the future of growth could look like” for their upcoming issue. They are especially interested in pitches on “degrowth, post-capitalist futures, [and] nowtopias against feminist, disabled, and decolonial principles.” The rates are CAD $200 (USD $160) for book reviews; CAD $300 (USD $240) for pieces of up to 750 words; CAD $500 (USD $400) for pieces of up to 1,500 words; and CAD $800 (USD $635) for longer features. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by February 20. 

–Fansided is looking for pitches of stories on the intersection of sports and climate change for a special series. They are particularly interested in stories that “focus on both macro and micro, any sports at any level of competition.” The rates start at $150 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Mildew Magazine is looking for pitches of stories that inspire readers to think about old clothes in new ways. They are particularly interested in pitches on creative reuse, fashion history, and vintage and secondhand fashion. The rates start at $0.20 per word, but will “vary based on the length and the amount of reporting necessary.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by this Sunday, February 6. 

–Maisonneuve Magazine is looking for pitches of reported features, essays, and memoir with “some kind of Canadian connection” for their upcoming issue. The rates range from CAD $0.15-$0.20 (USD $0.12-$0.16) per word, depending on the amount of research and reporting involved. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by February 14. 

–Boulder Weekly is looking for pitches of news and reported features on Boulder County and Colorado. The rates start at $0.10 per word for reported features, and increase based on the scope of reporting and project. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–The New Republic is always looking for pitches of analysis pieces, longform reporting, essays, as-told-to guides, and photo essays on inequality for their Sold Short vertical. The rates start at $400 and vary based on the difficulty of reporting. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Fast Company is always looking for pitches of reported stories and personal essays on workplace culture, caregiving, and disability in the workplace for their Work Life section. The rates start at $350 for personal essays, and start at $400 for reported pieces of about 700-800 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Washington Post is always looking for pitches of opinion pieces from diverse perspectives on all topics. The rate wasn’t publicly given by an employee, but is reportedly $400 for pieces of 800 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Boston Globe Magazine is always looking for pitches of reported features and essays on stories with a New England connection. The rate is $300 per essay for their Connections column, and usually $1 per word for reported features. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–River Newsrooms is always looking for pitches on housing, justice, and labor or “anything enterprising or feature-y.” The pitches must be set in or relevant to the Hudson Valley or Catskills. They are also looking to commission writers for a few pieces. The rates start at $0.25 per word. Send pitches and inquiries to [email protected]. 

–SFGate is always looking for pitches of culture stories on “hidden SF subcultures, new or old TV or movies with Bay Area ties, viral local trends, forgotten histories, and tech industry stuff.” The rates range from $150-$300. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Narcity Media is always looking for pitches of opinions, essays, and reviews from Gen Z and Millennial writers. The rates range from $100-$200, depending on length and type of piece. Send pitches to [email protected] with the story type and proposed headline in the subject line. 

–Apartment Therapy is always looking for pitches on home projects, real estate, style, home tours, and news and culture. The rates vary based on the vertical, but the range for Style is $100-$500 per assignment, depending on the length, research, and sources involved. See their pitch guide for more info. 

***CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.***

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

–The Guardian is hiring a Kenya correspondent on a nine-month contract to report on the region, “with special emphasis on development and health.” Candidates should have a strong track record of reporting and feature writing, and an excellent knowledge and understanding of Kenya and east Africa. The deadline to apply is next Thursday, February 10. 

–The RepresentASIAN Project is hiring a part-time assistant editor to help research and write posts for their website and social channels. Candidates should have some previous writing and content creation experience, and should be passionate about Asian representation and supporting the Asian community. The rate is $20 per hour, and the editor is expected to work five hours per week. 

–The Appeal is hiring two freelance writers to contribute reported commentary on the criminal legal system for their weekly newsletter. Candidates must be able to contribute one piece of 800 words per month. “BIPOC writers and those directly affected by the criminal legal system are especially encouraged to apply.” The rate is $1 per word and the position is remote. 

–Eater is hiring for multiple, part-time positions, including a Detroit-based editor; a Twin Cities, MN-based editor; and a Dallas-based editor. Candidates for all positions should have diverse journalism experience, particularly with breaking news, and a knowledge of the local restaurant scenes in their respective cities. All positions are part of the Vox Media Union, represented by the Writers Guild of America, East.

-Van Alen Institute is hiring a New York-based writer to document their pandemic response initiative, Neighborhoods Now, in the following neighborhoods: Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn; Chinatown, Manhattan; Jackson Heights, Queens; Kingsbridge, Bronx; Lower East Side, Manhattan; and Washington Heights, Manhattan. The contract will pay up to $30,000, but budgets “will be finalized during [the] scoping process.” The deadline to apply is February 17. 

–TIME is hiring for multiple freelance positions at their TIME for Kids magazine, including a curriculum writer to design and write lesson plans, as well as a digital operations manager to assist with expanding their digital presence. Both positions are remote and require working 30 hours per week. 

–Electric Literature is hiring a part-time, remote social media editor to schedule posts, interact with followers, and establish a “consistent, informed, and appealing social media voice.” Candidates must be able to work on a maximum of three hour time difference from east coast business hours. The position pays $20 per hour on a monthly stipend, and requires working 20-25 hours per week. The deadline to apply is this Monday, February 7.

EVENTS AND COURSES

-The Association of LGBTQ Journalists is hosting their virtual 2022 Student Conference on February 25 and 26. The event will include networking sessions, informational breakouts, and an internship and career fair. The event is free for members and $25 for non-members. 

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

NEW: -Roy Bahat is accepting applications for his paid Labor Movement Storytelling Grant program. The program will provide a grant of $1,800 every month to fund stories about the labor movement and the collective power of workers. They will “close submissions for each month on the 15th of that month, and announce by the end of that month,” which means the deadline to apply for a grant this month is February 15. 

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award. The award is open to women, non-binary, and gender nonconforming journalists around the world. They accept both third-party and self-nominations. The winner will receive a prize of $20,000. The deadline to apply is February 24.

–NPR is accepting submissions for their paid Student Podcast Challenge program. The program asks students who are either pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to create a podcast that is three to eight minutes in length on any topic they want to explore. The winner will be awarded a grant of $5,000 and other finalists will receive $500 each. The deadline to submit is February 28.

–Sports Illustrated is accepting applications for their paid copy desk summer internship program. Interns will copyedit magazine stories for style, grammar, and editorial consistency. Applicants must be rising juniors, rising seniors, or recent graduates, and should have some copy editing experience. The internship pays $17.39 per hour, and interns are expected to work 35 hours per week for 10 weeks. No application deadline was given, but candidates chosen for interviews will be notified of their application status by March 15.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their annual Courage in Journalism Awards. The award honors full-time staff or freelance reporters, writers, editors, photographers or producers who identify as women, non-binary, and gender nonconforming. Self-nominations are not accepted. The deadline to nominate is March 18.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their Gwen Ifill Award. The award is given to a woman, non-binary, or gender nonconforming journalist of color in the U.S. with “a track record of mentorship, leadership, and a commitment to diversity in journalism.” They accept both third-party and self-nominations. The deadline to nominate is March 26.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their United States Journalism Emergency Fund program. The program provides financial assistance to US-based journalists of any gender (including men) who have been “targeted as a result of [their] reporting at events related to the highly charged political unrest and polarization in the US.” The fund covers medical aid, mental health and legal services, and destroyed or stolen equipment or protective gear. Requests will be reviewed in the order they were received.

–SpotlightDC is accepting applications for its investigative journalism grant. The grant awards up to $10,000 for investigative or explanatory journalism projects focused on health care, crime, transportation, corruption, and other matters of public interest in the Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia regions. Grant applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis.

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–Variable West is accepting applications for their paid Editorial Apprenticeship program. The program includes weekly reading or writing assignments, including managing their Love Letters column. The program pays $20 per hour, and requires working seven hours per week for ten months. The program can be remote, but applications must be based in California, Oregon, or Washington. The deadline to apply is this Sunday, February 6. 

NEW: -Democracy SOS is accepting applications for their paid fellowship program for U.S.-based news organizations. The nine-month program provides coaching and training from Election SOS, the Citizen’s Agenda, Solutions Journalism Network, and other organizations, as well as stipends of up to $5,000. The deadline to apply is this Monday, February 7. 

-Substack and Roxane Gay are accepting applications for their paid Joel Gay Creative Fellowship program. The fellowship includes monthly support meetings with Gay for one year and a stipend of $25,000 (paid in monthly installments) for three emerging writers to develop and publish a newsletter. The program will also include up to $15,000 in services from Substack, including editorial and other business support services. The deadline to apply is next Thursday, February 10. 

NEW: -The Yale School of the Environment is accepting applications for their 2022 Public Voices Fellowship on the Climate Crisis program. The program aims to bring “new, diverse voices into the national climate conversation.” The fellowship includes workshops and one-on-one coaching by leading journalists and editors, and fellows will publish at least two written pieces during their fellowship. Attendance of all workshops is required. The workshops are free and “a limited number of travel and lodging stipends” will be available if in-person meetings become possible. No deadline to apply was given. 

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–Documented is hiring a Caribbean community correspondent to design and build a vertical that cover’s New York’s Caribbean community. Candidates should have at least two years of writing and reporting experience. The salary range is $60,000-$75,000, commensurate with experience. The deadline to apply is this Monday, February 7. 

–Literary Hub is hiring an assistant editor to write blog posts, assist with social media management, and develop editorial strategies. Candidates should have at least two years of media publishing experience, and a deep familiarity with the online world of books, literary journals, and magazines. The salary is $46,000. The position can be remote or based in New York. The deadline to apply is this Monday, February 7. 

-Futuro Newsroom is hiring an editorial director to lead their editorial teams at Latino USA, In The Thick, and Latino Rebels. Candidates should have at least a decade of experience in audio or digital journalism and at least seven years of newsroom leadership experience. Spanish language fluency and proficiency is strongly preferred, but not required. The salary range is $130,000-$145,000, commensurate with experience. The position can be remote but will require occasionally working out of their office in Harlem, New York. The deadline to apply is March 31.

–The Verge is hiring a video journalist to script, film, and host at least one to two videos per month for their YouTube channel. Candidates should have a “natural and relatable on-camera presence” and background in nonfiction storytelling or journalism with emphasis on tech and science. The position is part of the Vox Media Union, represented by the Writers Guild of America, East. 

–Kotaku is hiring a staff writer to produce gaming guides, tools, advice, and product recommendations. Candidates should have at least one year of writing experience, and video capping skills are preferred. The starting salary is around $58,000. 

–TIME is hiring for multiple positions at their TIME for Kids magazine, including a writer to produce news and reported features of up to 600 words, as well as an associate editor to manage the workflow of TIME for Kids and TIME Edge. Candidates for the writer position should have at least one year of writing experience, and candidates for the editor position should have at least three years of editing experience. The position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement with the WGA-E.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

–Eater D.C. is hiring a reporter and editor to lead their food and restaurant coverage, including daily news, maps and service content, features, and other reporting. Candidates should have diverse journalism experience, particularly with breaking news, and a knowledge of the local restaurant scene. The position is part of the Vox Media Union, represented by the Writers Guild of America, East. 

TEXAS

–Texas Monthly is hiring for multiple positions, including an Austin-based senior engagement editor to oversee the distribution of their editorial content on social media, newsletters, and other sources; as well as an Austin- or Texas-based senior editor to lead their coverage of business and innovation across the state. The deadline to apply is February 14 for the senior engagement editor position and February 21 for the senior editor position. 

NORTHEAST

–WHYY is hiring a Philadelphia-based assistant news director to develop story ideas, track issues and events, assign reporters for coverage, and fact check features. Candidates should have extensive editing and fact checking experience, and must be able to work evenings and one weekend day per week.

-Local reporter positions are available in Setauket, NY for a reporter and editor at Times Beacon Record News Media. 

CENTRAL

–Hyde Park Herald is hiring a Chicago-based editor-in-chief to lead their newsroom’s coverage of the “Hyde Park-Kenwood area and surrounding neighborhoods on the mid-South Side.” Candidates should have at least one year of editorial experience, one year of reporting experience, and a deep knowledge of Hyde Park-Kenwood and the South Side. The salary range is $40,000-$45,000. The deadline to apply is February 13.

–Kaiser Health News is hiring for multiple positions, including an editor and correspondent to lead and coordinate coverage of rural health care; a regional editor to lead their coverage of health care policy; and local reporters to cover rural health care. Candidates for the editor and correspondent position should preferably have ties to news media in the “Upper Midwest or Nevada,” but they are willing to pay to relocate you.

SOUTHWEST

–Eater Las Vegas is hiring a reporter and editor to oversee their food and restaurant coverage, including daily news, maps and service content, features, and other reporting. Candidates should have diverse journalism experience, particularly with breaking news, and a knowledge of the local restaurant scene. The position is part of the Vox Media Union, represented by the Writers Guild of America, East. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–NPR is hiring a producer and reporter to perform all levels of production tasks for their Throughline podcast. Candidates should have at least five years of podcasting experience, including at least three years of experience producing on “Pro Tools, Adobe Audition, or similar professional digital audio workstations.” The starting salary is $102,500. The position is covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA. 

–The Verge is hiring a copy editor to edit stories, video graphics, captions, podcast transcripts, and social media copy. Candidates should have at least one year of copy editing experience, and a background in fact-checking is preferred, but not required. The position is part of the Vox Media Union, represented by the Writers Guild of America, East. 

–Literary Hub is hiring an assistant editor to write blog posts, assist with social media management, and develop editorial strategies. Candidates should have at least two years of media publishing experience, and a deep familiarity with the online world of books, literary journals, and magazines. The salary is $46,000. The position can be remote or based in New York. The deadline to apply is this Monday, February 7. 

-Futuro Newsroom is hiring an editorial director to lead their editorial teams at Latino USA, In The Thick, and Latino Rebels. Candidates should have at least a decade of experience in audio or digital journalism and at least seven years of newsroom leadership experience. Spanish language fluency and proficiency is strongly preferred, but not required. The salary range is $130,000-$145,000, commensurate with experience. The position can be remote but will require occasionally working out of their office in Harlem, New York. The deadline to apply is March 31.

INTERNATIONAL

–rabble.ca is hiring a Canada-based editor to assign and edit daily news features and analysis pieces. Candidates should have at least two years of journalism editing experience, and a “knowledge of and demonstrated interest in progressive politics, social and labor movements, and current national affairs, including Indigenous-led activism.” The salary range is CAD $50,700-$58,500 (USD $40,420-$46,640), based on experience. The deadline to apply is this Friday, February 4.