Opportunities 02/09/2022

The Guardian, The Nation, Backpacker Magazine, 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 has been 30 for less than one month and already threw out their back. 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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***THE MEDIA CLASSIFIED ADS***

►What if we fund artists the way we fund startups? Patronage allowed Michelangelo to paint a ceiling for four years. The creator economy now allows artists to earn a living from ongoing art. What if we get the rich involved in the creator economy and fund the next Renaissance?

►Spr1tz is a new IRL/URL startup: Perfume ketchup. Odorous NFT’s. Smelly DAO. Access to the product – perfume gel in ketchup packets – is exclusive to Spr1tz NFT holders, who will also act as DAO members, navigating the brand’s next steps. Click to sniff HERE.

►The Brick House Cooperative is 100% ad-free, journalist-owned media. “It’s like no other website and absolutely a wild and diverse landscape… I just think it’s great,” says David Roth. 100% experimental. 100% independent. 100% not what you’re used to.

►Engage with top media executives and content creators from Google, Conde Nast, and Advance Publications. Enroll in “Growing Your Content Business,” a new 10-week live online course from Univ of Oregon and media industry journalist Simon Owens. Sign up before February 20 and get the early discount!

>> Want to promote your job opening / pitch call / new project / ecommerce brand? Consider a Classified Ad. Thanks to partnerships with both Links I Would Gchat You and Words of Mouth, we have three tiers of placement that will get your ad in front of 4K+, 16K+, or 40K+ hyper-engaged readers depending on your needs. Interested? Click through for rates, testimonials, and to get in touch.

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WE’RE HIRING!

►Study Hall is hiring a writer to produce our weekly Digest newsletter. Candidates should have at least three years of journalism experience, a strong voice, and must be comfortable reporting on a weekly basis, breaking news, adapting to fast-moving stories, and filing clear, consistent copy on time. The rate is $2,000 per month ($500 per newsletter), paid monthly. The position is fully remote anywhere within the United States. The deadline to apply is February 28.

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STUDY HALL EVENTS PROGRAMMING

►Copy Editing and Book Writing AMA with Sports Illustrated copy chief Julie Kliegman will take place on our Slack channel TODAY, February 9 at 5PM EST. Participants are encouraged to ask questions about working the copy desk, writing a book, finding a publisher, and representations of asexuality in the media.

►Art and Cultural Criticism AMA with writer, performer, and editor Claudia La Rocco will take place on our Slack channel next Wednesday, February 16 at 3PM EST. Participants are encouraged to ask questions about writing as performance art, cultural criticism, and overseeing an online writing platform.

►Facing the Budget Sheet with reporter and editor Alex Hazlett will take place next Thursday, 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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OPPS SUCCESS STORIES

Did you turn a pitch call into paid work or land a job, fellowship, internship, or some other gig you found in the Study Hall Opps newsletter? Let us know and we’ll give you a shoutout. Send the details to [email protected] with “Opps Success Story” in the subject line.

–Mai Tran was paid $0.40 per word to write about commissary shortages in the Illinois Dept of Corrections for Prism. They sold the pitch after seeing a call for pitches in a previous Opps newsletter, and they reported the story with support from Just Media.

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RESOURCES

Mastering the art of freelancing requires more than just perusing the Study Hall Opps newsletter every week. To help you get the most bang for your buck, we keep track of the many, many resources designed to help journalists. Have a resource you’d like to see included? Send it to [email protected] with “Resource:” in the subject line. 

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

–Pioneer Works is looking for pitches of reported features, personal essays, Q&As, and other formats on dark matter for a special themed package for their publication, Broadcast. They are particularly interested in narrative or character-driven angles on scientists or artists engaging with this research. The rates are $1 per word. Send pitches to [email protected] by February 21.

–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]. 

–Nexus Media News is looking for pitches of reported features on the intersection of climate and health or climate and food. The rate is $500 for features of 1,000-1,200 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by February 21. 

–Healthy Rich is looking for pitches of essays, advice, and other formats on the intersection of money and disability from writers with disability, chronic illness, or neurodivergence. They are also looking for writers for future personal finance assignments. The rate is $300 for stories of 1,000-1,500 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by next Friday, February 18. 

–NBC News is looking for pitches of everything from “short and simple personal recommendations to reported guides” on tech and wellness for their Select vertical. They are also interested in recommendations “that reflect realities for BIPOC shoppers that may not fit neatly” into a recommendation or reported guide. The rates start at $250 per piece. See their pitch form for more info. 

–Backpacker Magazine is looking for pitches of reported stories, short news items, and other formats on science, safety, stories, travel, and more for Bearpacker, their annual celebration of bears (the animal, not the gay). The rates range from $200-$250 for stories of 800-900 words, depending on the research it requires. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Tuesday, February 15. 

–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]. 

–SyriaUntold is looking for pitches of features and personal essays on culture and society. They are especially interested in “pieces that are offbeat and storytelling-driven, [especially] stories about Syrian communities in the diaspora.” The rates range from €150-€200 (USD $172-$230) per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Rogue Collectiv is looking for pitches of interviews, essays, reported pieces, and other formats on the self, business, relationships, pop culture, current affairs and other topics. They are particularly interested in pitches from “BAME writers and new voices.” The rate is £120 (USD $163) for pieces of 800-1,000 words. 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 next Sunday, February 20. 

–Studio Magazine is looking for pitches of essays, reported pieces, profiles, reviews, and interviews on “how makers and artists challenge, adapt, replace, and confront existing paradigms, techniques, and conventions.” The rate is around CAD $0.35 (USD $0.28) per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by March 13. 

–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]. 

–Bellacaledonia is looking for pitches of stories on the “cost of living” crisis; Platinum Jubilee propaganda; police collusion with loyalist paramilitary groups; a future for women’s football; and Scotland’s housing crisis. The rate is £90 (USD $122) for pieces of 900 words. See their pitch form for more info.

–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 this Monday, February 14. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Nexus Media News is always looking for pitches of reported features on climate justice. The rate is $500 for features of 1,000-1,200 words. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Belt Magazine is always looking for pitches of reported features, commentary, essays, and photo essays on politics, culture, architecture, housing and urban development, history, and the environment. They are especially interested in pitches from writers in Rust Belt cities and BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers. The rates start at $200 for essays and commentary, and start at $300 for features. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Boulder Weekly is always 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]. 

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

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

-Study Hall is hiring a writer to produce our weekly Digest newsletter. Candidates should have at least three years of journalism experience, a strong voice, and must be comfortable reporting on a weekly basis, breaking news, adapting to fast-moving stories, and filing clear, consistent copy on time. The rate is $2,000 per month ($500 per newsletter), paid monthly. The position is fully remote anywhere within the United States. The deadline to apply is February 28.

–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 tomorrow, February 10. 

–Belt Magazine is hiring a part-time creative director to develop their editorial and brand image. Candidates should have some experience creating graphics and illustrations, and some web design or journalism experience is preferred. The position pays $25 per hour, and requires working 5-6 hours per week, “with the potential to grow along with the organization.” They will begin reviewing applications this Friday, February 11 until the position is filled. 

-The Queens Memory Project is hiring an interviewer to conduct life history interviews of 60-120 minutes with ten activists who identify as female and whose work benefits Queens residents. Candidates must live or work in Queens and have previous longform interviewing experience. The rate is $6,000 for the entire project. The deadline to apply is this Sunday, February 13. 

-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 next Thursday, February 17. 

–The 19th is hiring a part-time marketing consultant to create, publish, and measure social media and search ads that promote their journalism, social media, newsletters, and membership program. Candidates should have at least three years of experience producing social or search ads for a newsroom or nonprofit organization. The position pays “roughly $1,500 per month ($75 per hour),” requires working five hours per week, and can be based anywhere in the US. The deadline to apply is February 25.

–Popular Science is hiring freelance writers with product review experience to produce product roundups, explainers, and reviews. Candidates should have reviewing experience in TV, home theater, kitchen, home, apparel, or other categories. The rate is $500 per roundup or review. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–The Mary Sue is hiring a freelance editor to lead their SEO-focused content, including copyediting and fact checking. Candidates should have some previous freelance experience, knowledge of SEO best practices, and the ability to write and edit quick and clean copy. The position pays $2,000 per month, requires working 25 hours per week, and can be based anywhere in the US. 

-Future PLC is hiring freelance health writers to produce reviews and features across a few of their sites. They are particularly interested in writers “with experience in health, and not just fitness.” The rates vary, but are generally £0.15 (USD $0.20) per word. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

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

-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 this Tuesday, 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.

NEW: -The Carter Center is accepting applications for their Benjamin von Sternenfels Rosenthal Grant for Mental Health Investigative Journalism program. The program provides training from behavioral health and journalism experts and a grant of $10,000 for a journalist to produce an in-depth investigation into a mental health topic of their choice. Applicants must have at least three years of journalism experience. The deadline to apply is April 6.

NEW: –Truthout is accepting submissions for their paid Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize program. The content will highlight original, first-person essays of 1,500 words or less on the topic of prisons, policing or a related subject. The contest is only open to people who are currently or formerly incarcerated. The two winners will be awarded a prize of $3,000 each, and their essays will be published on Truthout. The deadline to submit is May 1.

-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

-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 tomorrow, February 10. 

-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. The deadline to apply is this Monday, February 14. 

NEW: -The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting is accepting applications for their paid 2022 Investigative Internship program. The program will assist in placing 10 interns of color at nine newsrooms, including The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times. The rates vary depending on the publication, but interns will be expected to work full-time for 10-12 weeks. The internships will be remote or in-person depending on the publication, but a stipend will be available for travel and housing costs. The deadline to apply is March 4.

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–The Nation is hiring for multiple positions, including an executive editor to direct and manage their editorial strategy; a senior editor and an associate editor to assist with print and digital content; and a multimedia editor to produce visual and audio journalism. The starting salaries are $82,000 for the senior editor, $70,386.83 for the associate editor, and $70,386 for the multimedia editor; no salary was specified for the executive editor position. The senior editor, associate editor, and multimedia editor positions are covered by the collective-bargaining agreement between The Nation and The NewsGuild of NY.

–The Week is hiring a fact-checker to ensure the accuracy of all content in their magazine. Candidates must have “previous experience fact-checking news articles and working in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment.” The position requires working a few days per week in their Midtown Manhattan office. The salary is $50,000. Send inquiries with a resume and “a little about yourself” to [email protected] and [email protected]. 

-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.

–LendingTree is hiring a staff writer to write new content or refresh existing content on personal finance topics related to student loans and consumer debt. Candidates should have at least two years of experience as a personal finance journalist or content marketing writer. The position can be remote or based in New York or Charlotte, NC. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.

–Grid is hiring a general assignment reporter to cover science, economics, misinformation, politics, the law, technology, identity, and global news. Candidates should have strong writing skills and must have a “willingness to shift from long-term to short-term to breaking-news reporting in the course of a week.” The starting salary is $70,000. The position can be remote, but candidates based in Washington, D.C. are preferred. 

–Indian Country Today is hiring a political correspondent to build and lead coverage of “national elections, politics, public policy, and its impact on Indigenous communities.” Candidates should have at least three years of relevant experience, and must have a valid driver’s license. The starting salary is $80,000. 

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 this Monday, February 14 for the senior engagement editor position and February 21 for the senior editor position. 

CALIFORNIA

–The San Francisco Examiner is hiring for multiple positions, including a senior political reporter to lead their political coverage of the city and region; a senior story editor to manage and mentor their team of reporters; and multiple reporters to provide coverage of the city and region. The salary ranges are $85,000-$100,000 for the senior positions and $60,000-$90,000 for the reporters. Send applications directly to [email protected]. 

SOUTHEAST

–LendingTree is hiring a staff writer to write new content or refresh existing content on personal finance topics related to student loans and consumer debt. Candidates should have at least two years of experience as a personal finance journalist or content marketing writer. The position can be remote or based in New York or Charlotte, NC. 

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 this Sunday, February 13.

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Prism is hiring a senior reporter to cover climate and environmental justice, “particularly on issues like housing, health, access to green space and clean water, and the impact on sectors of the economy primarily staffed by BIPOC.” Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to covering climate and environmental justice. The salary range is $60,000-$70,000. The deadline to apply is this Tuesday, February 15. 

–Grid is hiring a general assignment reporter to cover science, economics, misinformation, politics, the law, technology, identity, and global news. Candidates should have strong writing skills and must have a “willingness to shift from long-term to short-term to breaking-news reporting in the course of a week.” The starting salary is $70,000. The position can be remote, but candidates based in Washington, D.C. are preferred. 

–The 19th is hiring a story editor to manage a team of three to five reporters. Candidates should have at least five years of newsroom experience, including at least two years of editing experience, and must be able to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The starting salary is $115,000. The deadline to apply is February 28. 

–LendingTree is hiring a staff writer to write new content or refresh existing content on personal finance topics related to student loans and consumer debt. Candidates should have at least two years of experience as a personal finance journalist or content marketing writer. The position can be remote or based in New York or Charlotte, NC. 

-Justice Democrats is hiring a podcast producer to pitch guests and episodes, lead pre-production, and edit content for their podcast, Bloc Party. Candidates should have some audio production experience, including proficiency in ProTools, but “still [be] early in their radio careers.” The starting salary is $63,000. 

-AIGA, the professional association for design, is hiring a marketing and communications associate to manage their social media campaigns and content. Candidates should have at least three years of writing and editing experience, and experience with paid social media platforms is preferred. The salary range is $50,000-$65,000. The position is remote but will require occasionally traveling to their New York office or other locations. 

-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.