Opportunities 03/09/2022

MIT Technology Review, The Prepared, The Independent, 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 currently having their body rocked by either an awful flu or yet another case of COVID (also: keep donating to Ukraine humanitarian aid efforts). 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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WE’RE HAVING A SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE!

Study Hall isn’t just the home of two wildly popular newsletters (the Digest and the one you’re currently reading). We also have Network and Listserv tiers that offer more resources and community with other media workers. We’re offering a 20 percent discount on all subscriptions for a limited time as we build our educational programming, update our databases, organize a digital media workers summit, and begin developing an app-based platform. Use the code BETTERMEDIA2022 for 20% off on upgrading your subscription until next Tuesday, March 15.

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STUDY HALL EVENTS PROGRAMMING

►ASK ME ANYTHING: A series of dialogues that will be hosted on our Slack channel covering topics that include: the politics of labor, racial dynamics in arts publishing, and managing stress while freelancing.

–AMA with sportswriter Britni de la Cruz will take place today, March 9 at 3PM EST. De la Cretaz was formerly the sports columnist for Longreads, as well as the former sports and culture columnist for Bitch Media. Participants are encouraged to ask questions about the intersection of sex, gender, queerness, sports, and the politics of labor. 

–AMA with art critic Rahel Aima will take place next Wednesday, March 16 at 5PM EST. Aima is an associate editor at Momus and has previously been associated with The New Inquiry, Ibraaz, Brownbook, and THE STATE, where she was the founding editor-in-chief. Participants are encouraged to ask questions about racial dynamics in arts publishing, white editorial blight, and the state of art criticism. 

–AMA with entertainment writer Rachel Simon will take place on April 13 at 3PM EST. Simon was previously deputy editor of HelloGiggles, entertainment news editor for Bustle, and wellbeing editor for Mic. Participants are encouraged to ask questions about managing stress while freelancing and the art of pitching and promoting your work. 

These hour-long conversations will be held in an AMA format in the #general channel on Slack (you’ll need a subscription with Slack access to attend). If you have requests — someone you’d like us to invite or a topic you’d like us to cover — feel free to shoot a note to [email protected]. If you need help updating your subscription, please email [email protected].

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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. 

-The Substance Use Reporting Guide by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction offers journalists an in-depth guide on how to improve reporting on substance use and the people it impacts, including terms to avoid and additional resources. 

-The Spring 2022 Fellowships and Residencies List by BOMB Magazine tracks all the current fellowships, residencies, and prizes accepting applications, including the location, deadline and residency period. 

-The NBCC Book Coverage Publication List by the National Book Critics Circle tracks over 80 publications that publish book coverage (reviews, interviews, essays, etc.). The list includes editor names, contracts, pay rates, and more. 

Want more resources? Check out the Transcription Tool Safety Guide; Labor Strike Action Tracker; 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

–MIT Technology Review is looking for pitches of features, news pieces, profiles, and other formats on “basically anything at the intersection between technology and the city.” The rates range from $1-$2 per word. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Friday, March 11. 

–The Gravy Podcast is looking for pitches of reported stories on barbecuing connected to the American South. The stories should fill a single episode of the podcast and you must possess your own recording equipment and audio editing software. The rate is $4,000 for a successfully completed episode, “inclusive of travel and any other expenses the reporter-producer may incur.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by this Tuesday, March 15.

–The Prepared is commissioning a feature on “physical remittances, specifically the practice of shipping 55 gallon drums, packed full of personal belongings, from the US to the Caribbean.” The rate is $1000 for a piece of 1,500-2,500 words. See their pitch guide for more info. 

–National Geographic is looking for pitches of timely stories on travel for spring. They are especially interested in travel stories in the Midwest and Great Plains regions, and are specifically not looking for pitches of people and company profiles; galleries and listicles; and food and drink stories. The rates range from $800-$1,000 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by April 2. 

-The Economic Hardship Reporting Project is looking for pitches of reported stories on the eviction crisis, foreclosure, and tenant protections in the US. The rate is around $1 per word. See their pitch guide for more info. 

–The Resolve is looking for pitches of features, reported news stories, explainers, profiles, interviews, analysis, and personal essays on “race and health, race and justice, and race and the environment.” The rate is CAD $0.50 (USD $0.39) per word for pieces of 800-1,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info. 

–Narratively is looking for pitches of reported stories or first-person pieces on “unique family-run businesses, think Succession or Six Feet Under but with a more inclusive angle.” They are particularly interested in “all-female family businesses, Black family businesses, and others run by people from underrepresented groups,” as well as stories from unusual or surprising industries. The rates start at $500 per piece, “with room to go up for more ambitious stories.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by this Tuesday, March 15.

–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 this Sunday, March 13. 

–African Arguments is looking for pitches of reviews, listicles, interviews, investigations, essays, features, analysis, and deep dives on African art, culture, creative industries, events, and issues. They are especially interested in pitches on the restitution of African artifacts, films, Afrobeats and Amapiano crossovers, queer Africans, and more. The rates are around $150 for op-eds and $200 for reported features, but can be more based on length and complexity. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Loupe Magazine is looking for pitches of reported pieces, essays, and other formats on the theme of “sustainability” for their upcoming issue. The rate is £0.12 (USD $0.16) per word. See their pitch form for more info, and send pitches to [email protected] by tomorrow, March 10. 

–BRICKS Magazine is looking for pitches of first-person pieces from writers who have “personal experience or expertise on events in Ukraine.” The rate is £100 (USD $131) per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Aislin Magazine is commissioning writers to produce event recaps, artist interviews, reviews, and essays on art, fashion, writing, and music for their upcoming issue. They are also commissioning photographers and illustrators. The rates range from $100-$250 per piece. See their pitch form for more info.

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Fortune Magazine is always looking for pitches of “feature stories, news analysis pieces, [and] interviews with investors and leaders in the sustainability space” for their Path to Zero series. They are particularly interested in pitches on “the future of transportation, energy, leadership and accountability within the sustainability space.” The rate is $1 per word for feature stories. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Wall Street Journal is always looking for pitches of stories, guides, and other formats on tech and lifestyle gear for the Gear & Gadgets vertical of their site and print paper. The rate is $1 per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Prepared is always looking for pitches of features on engineering, manufacturing, and infrastructure. The rate is $0.50 per word for pieces of 1,250-2,500 words. See their pitch guide for more info. 

–Refinery29 is always looking for pitches of personal essays on “the unique joys and challenges of being single right now” for their Single Files series. The rates range from $250-$500 per essay. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Input is always looking for pitches of tech reviews, guides, and stories for their Reviews & Guides and Gaming sections. The rates start at $325 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Xtra Magazine is always looking for pitches of reported features, personal essays, expert Q&As, explainers, and other formats on any topic related to LGBTQ2S+ health. They are especially interested in pitches of stories “with a queer or trans lens on drug use [and the] opiate crisis, trans health, disability, climate crisis, Indigenous health, labour, [and] patterns in healthcare legislation.” The rates start at CAD $300 (USD $237) for a “straightforward Q+A,” and increase based on scope and research required. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Refinery29 UK is always looking for pitches of reported features and first-person pieces that “entertain, challenge, [and] inform Black women and non-binary” people in the UK for their Unbothered vertical. They are especially interested in takes on Black British entertainment, internet culture, and health and wellness related to Black women. The rates weren’t publicly given, but have ranged from £150-£300 (USD $200-$400) according to the #FreelancerPayGap. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Loadout is always looking for pitches of features and guides on console gaming, live streaming, competitive gaming, and esports topics. The rate is £150 (USD $200) for pieces of 1,000 words. 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

–The River Newsroom is hiring a contributing reporter to cover housing in the Hudson Valley. Candidates should have some experience reporting in-depth stories, and must be familiar with the Hudson Valley. The rates range from $300-$700 per article, and the reporter would be expected to produce one to three articles per month. 

-The Cultures of Resistance Network is hiring a part-time communications and research assistant to create web content and manage their social media channels. Candidates should have excellent writing skills and a strong interest in international affairs, global justice movements, and the arts. The position pays $22 per hour, and requires working 7-10 hours per week. The position can be remote, but applicants based in New York or Philadelphia are preferred. Send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. 

EVENTS AND COURSES

-Joe Fassler, deputy editor of The Counter, is hosting an eight-week workshop on food and environmental nonfiction for Sterling College. The course will teach students to craft compelling stories, allow them to workshop their pieces and pitches, and includes multiple guest speakers. The tuition will be $1,250, but there are four fellowships available: three for BIPOC writers and one for a veteran. The course runs from April 4 through May 27.

-Meredith Talusan, a writer and contributing editor at them, is hosting a weekend workshop for “academics who want to transition to writing for the public.” The two-day bootcamp will include a lecture on May 21 and workshops on May 21 and May 22 that will cover op-eds, long-form essays, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and autobiographical fiction. Tickets are $125 for the lecture only, and are $300 for the lecture and workshops, however there are scholarships available to cover the costs for both the lecture and workshop. 

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

–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 this Tuesday, 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 next Friday, 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 McGraw Center for Business Journalism is accepting applications for their paid grant program. The program aims to support the production of deeply reported enterprise and investigative stories on critical economic, financial, or business issues across a wide array of subjects. The program provides editorial support and grants of up to $15,000. You do not need to be a business reporter to apply. The deadline to apply is March 31.

NEW: –The Atlantic is accepting applications for their paid 2022 Michael Kelly Award. The award recognizes work published in a U.S.-based print or online publication that exemplifies “the fearless pursuit and expression of truth.” The winning entry will be awarded $25,000, and each finalist will receive $3,000. The deadline to apply is April 1.

NEW: -The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine is accepting submissions for their paid Excellence in Science Communication awards program. The program aims to highlight work by science journalists and research scientists who have produced excellent work on science, engineering, or medicine. Submissions are accepted in six categories, including for freelance journalists and early career journalists. They will award six top prizes of $40,000 and 18 regular prizes of $20,000. The deadline to submit is April 3.

-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.

–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.

–Oxford American is accepting submissions for their Fall 2022 Fiction Contest. Submissions must be made by a “writer whose fiction has not yet been published in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000 copies.” They are especially interested in submissions with “ties to the South or a story that furthers our mission of exploring the complexity and vitality of the South.” The contest winner will receive a prize of $1,000 and be included in their Fall 2022 issue. The deadline to submit is May 15.

-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

-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 this Saturday, March 12.

NEW: -The Uproot Project is accepting applications for their paid Environmental Justice Fellowship program. The program offers funding to seven journalists of color to pursue reporting projects for one year. Fellows will receive up to $2,000 to cover travel and other reporting expenses. The program is only open to journalists of color who are part of The Uproot Project, but it is free to become a member. The deadline to apply is this Monday, March 15. 

–New York Public Radio is accepting applications for their paid Death, Sex & Money Internship program. Interns will work with staff to create content for their podcast feed, social media pages, and website. The rate is $15 per hour, and interns are expected to work 35 hours per week from June 6 through August 12. The deadline to apply is March 25. 

–MIT Technology Review is accepting applications for their paid Emerging Journalist Fellowship program. The program provides intense and rigorous training that aims to help journalists refine their chosen beat and produce content on that beat. The rate is $20 per hour and fellows are expected to work full-time for six months. The program can be remote or based in Cambridge, MA. The deadline to apply is March 31. 

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–The New Yorker is hiring a story editor to oversee their literary coverage online and in print, including reviews, ideas essays, and features reporting. Candidates should have at least three years of reporting or editing experience and be “deeply knowledgeable about books coverage and literary criticism.” The salary wasn’t shared but it is a guild position. 

–Slate is hiring a writer to cover politics, including how it relates to social movements, religion, pop culture, and other topics. Candidates should have at least five years of reporting experience. The starting salary is $60,000. The position can be remote but candidates based in New York or Washington, D.C. are preferred. The position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement between Slate and the Writers Guild of America East.

–The Dodo is hiring an editor to expand the type of animal stories they produce, including commissioning freelance pieces from vets, trainers, and pet parents. Candidates should have at least four years of writing and editing experience, and a love of animals and passion for pet wellness. 

-Storyline Media is hiring a program manager to create, run, and evaluate their programming, including co-designing and launching their apprenticeship program. Candidates should have at least five years of project management experience and a knowledge of and interest in art, cinema, and documentary. The salary range is $65,000-$69,000. The deadline to apply is March 31.  

-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.

TEXAS

–Glasstire is hiring an editor-in-chief to oversee all content and lead their editorial team. Candidates should have at least three years of writing and editorial experience, familiarity with contemporary art and art writing, and a track record of strong leadership. The position can be based anywhere in Texas, but preference will be given to candidates based in Houston. The deadline to apply is March 27. 

CALIFORNIA

–The Independent is hiring a Los Angeles-based reporter to cover politics, tech, social justice, crime, and the environment for their West Coast bureau. Candidates should have some experience  with breaking news and on-the-ground reporting. The starting salary wasn’t publicly given but was previously $60,000 in 2021.

–Getty Research Institute is hiring a Los Angeles-based associate editor to copyedit, proofread, and acquire images for their scholarly publications and manuscripts. Candidates should have at least three years of publishing experience, with experience in a museum or university press environment preferred. The salary range is $57,225-$71,531. 

–KZYX is hiring a Mendocino County-based news director to develop a new bilingual (Spanish and English) news magazine. Candidates must be bilingual in Spanish and English and have cultural competence with Latino culture and issues, including a history of reporting on Latino and immigrant communities and issues. The deadline to apply is this Tuesday, March 15.

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Vox is hiring a climate editor to manage their climate and biodiversity reporters. Candidates should have some experience managing editors and writers, and a “passion for climate policy, conservation, [and] environmental justice.”

–More Perfect Union is hiring a political reporter to cover “key economic issues pertaining to the working class in the context of U.S. elections.” Candidates should have a history of original reporting, and a “deep, documented knowledge of the U.S policy and political landscape.” The salary range is $75,000-$95,000, and the position will require some travel for field work. 

–Bolts is hiring for multiple positions, including a staff writer to cover politics, especially criminal justice and voting rights, as well as a story editor to develop, shape, and produce stories. Candidates for both positions should have a “broad interest in left politics and progressive policy, social movements, criminal justice, and voting rights.” The salary ranges are $70,000-$80,000 for the staff writer and $75,000-$82,000 for the story editor. They will begin reviewing applications for both positions this Friday, March 11, but the positions will remain open as long as the postings are up.

–Prison Journalism Project is hiring a director of development to manage all aspects of their fundraising, including crafting proposals and reports. Candidates should have at least five years of experience “working with development for nonprofit organizations with budgets of $5 million or more.” The salary range is $90,000-$110,000. The deadline to apply is March 20. 

-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.

–Mondoweiss is hiring for multiple positions, including a director of development to expand their fundraising program, as well as a managing editor to lead their editorial agenda. Candidates for both positions should have a demonstrated commitment to Palestinian human rights. The salary ranges are $75,000-$80,000 for the director of development and $54,000-$60,000 for the managing editor. The deadline to apply for both positions is April 1.

INTERNATIONAL

–The Associated Press is hiring a Havana-based reporter to cover Cuba and the Caribbean. Candidates must be able to speak and read English and Spanish, and should have a history of successful beat reporting and a broad and deep understanding of current issues in Cuba and the Caribbean. The deadline to apply is March 23.

-Hearst Magazines UK is hiring a London-based e-commerce tech editor to lead shopping-focused coverage at their publications, including Esquire, Good Housekeeping, and Cosmopolitan. Candidates should have some experience writing editorial e-commerce content and a strong knowledge of consumer tech. The deadline to apply is tomorrow, March 10. 

–loveFOOD.com is hiring for multiple, UK-based positions, including a features writer to produce gallery-style features, as well as a features editor to edit time-sensitive and evergreen content. Candidates for both positions should have some writing and editing experience. Both positions will “occasionally require travel to London.” The deadline to apply for both positions is this Monday, March 14.