Opportunities 03/30/2022

TIME, Jewish Currents, Mother Jones, 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 will be taking a two-week break from writing Opps in April to work at an art fair in Dusseldorf. 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***

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►Spend lunchtime with Desus Nice and The New York Times on Friday, April 8. Celebrate New York City’s resilience, learn about how the city’s restaurants are coming back, and get the lowdown on where to find the best knishes, Jamaican beef patties, and more. RSVP here.

►Nominations are now open for NYU’s American Journalism Online Awards! Nominate someone else or throw your own hat in the ring. Categories include: Best News-Based Twitter Thread, Best TikTok Explainer, Best Podcast, Best Debunking of Fake News, and many more. Send submissions by May 15.

****ANNOUNCEMENT: The Classified Ads will be on a break for the month of April, but we’ll be back soon. Want to learn more about promoting your job opening / pitch call / new project / ecommerce brand? Click through for rates, testimonials, and to get in touch.****

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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 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. 

NEW -The Who Published This Website Checklist by Columbia Journalism Review is an essential guide to help journalists and researchers unmask the owner of a website, and also includes tips of tracing the origins of social media accounts and images. 

-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 SpotlightDC Investigative Journalism Fund; United States Journalism Emergency Fund; 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

–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; or food and drink stories. The rates range from $800-$1,000 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Saturday, April 2. 

–High Country News is looking for pitches of reported features on environmental issues facing the western US. The rate is $1 per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Scalawag Magazine is commissioning photographers and photojournalists for a story on “the beautifully decorated community fridges located across [the southern US].” The rate is $800 per photographer, and will include multiple photographers from around the entire region to produce one collective story. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–Fast Company is commissioning a reported feature on “the relationship between insurance and abortion access.” They are specifically interested in “taking a closer look at how corporate silence on abortion impacts the workforce, and what the responsibility of businesses should be when it comes to abortion care and access.” The rate is $700 for a feature of 900-1,200 words. Send inquiries, including clips and “a few sentences about your experience covering abortion and/or healthcare,” to [email protected] with “Abortion Pitch” in the subject line by this Monday, April 4.

–Fast Company is also looking for pitches of reported features on smart urban design, climate resilience, housing solutions, and other topics for their Impact section. The starting rate wasn’t given, but goes “up to $0.50 per word.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-Hearst is commissioning lifestyle writers to produce content for their branded content studio. They are especially interested in writers who have experience covering travel, entertainment, finance, and tech, but are also interested in “incredible generalists.” The rate is $500 per piece (and was only revealed after many, many complaints). Post links to work in the thread.

–The Statesider is looking for pitches of stories, maps, infographics, photo essays, and other formats on U.S. travel and culture. The rate is $500 for stories of at least 1,200 words, but reach out if you “want to do something shorter, significantly longer, [or] add complexity in some other way.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by the end of April.

–Jewish Currents is looking for pitches of reported features, essays, book reviews, artist profiles, and other criticism on the theme of “rest,” including labor and anti-work politics; debt jubilees; mutual aid; and other topics. The rates start at $400 for reviews and essays, and are “up to $1 per word” for deeply reported print features. Send pitches to [email protected] with the subject line “REST: [description of pitch]” by April 30.

–TIME is commissioning writers to produce evergreen lists on topics that include: Best Books to Break a Reading Slump; Best Shows to Watch After Abbott Elementary; Best Sports Documentaries; and Best Road-Trip Podcasts. They are especially interested in writers with previous entertainment and culture writing experience. The rate is $400 for lists of 800 words. Send inquiries, including how you would approach the topic and some ideas on what you would include, to [email protected] by this Monday, April 4. 

–Chegg Life is looking for pitches of service journalism, explainers, personal essays, interviews, and reported stories on student debt that appeal to college students and recent graduates. They are especially interested in pitches that “intersect with mental health and personal finance, including guides, hacks, [and] tips for managing or canceling loans.” The rates start at $350 for pieces of 800 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Parliament Magazine is looking for pitches of reported features, interviews, and book reviews on the theme of “European defense” for their upcoming issue. The rate is €0.35 (USD $0.39) per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] or [email protected] by next Wednesday, April 6.

–BobVila.com is commissioning freelance writers to produce buying guides on home and garden topics. They are specifically looking to assign guides on grills, bird products, and lawn care. The rates range from $250-$600 per guide. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–i-D is looking for pitches on “pop cultural takes, internet stuff, [and] creative subcultures.” They are specifically not looking for pitches of straightforward profiles or personal essays. The rates range from £150-£200 (USD $200-$265). Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Life & Thyme is looking for pitches of reported features on “how food and culture travel through the people who carry it,” with a specific focus on the southern US. They are specifically not looking for restaurant or chef profiles. The rates range from $200-$500 per feature. See their pitch form for more info. 

–Episodes is looking for pitches of takes on “TV, film, trans stuff, fiction, and other oddities.” They are especially interested in pitches on non-English-language TV available to American audiences, as well as pitches from BIPOC and queer writers “even if you haven’t been published before.” The rate is $150 per post. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Sentient Media is looking for pitches of solutions journalism pieces and culture stories on “how humans use and treat nonhuman animals.” The rate is $150 per piece of 700-1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Fanbyte is looking for pitches of stories on WrestleMania, NXT, and Mania Week Indie for their wrestling section, FanFyte. They are specifically not looking for pitches on “Roman and Brock; Cody and Seth; Sami and Knoxville; or Bianca and Becky.” The rate is $150 for pieces under 1,000 words, and $200 for pieces of 1,000-2,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Greater Greater Washington is looking for pitches of explainers, reported features, historical pieces, and news articles on transportation, housing, land use, and sustainability in the Washington region. They are particularly interested in pitches focused on D.C. and the inner suburbs, and are also interested in ideas for ongoing series. The rate is $150 for news briefs of 250-450 words, and is $300 for pieces of 500-750 words. Send pitches to [email protected] with “GGWash Pitch/StudyHall” in the subject line.

–Pride Source is looking for pitches of essays, reported features, profiles, and stories on ideas related to Pride season. They are also looking for pitches on auto, home, and travel stories, and are especially interested in pitches with a Michigan angle. The rates range from $100-$150 for essays, and $150-$250 for features. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches and inquiries to [email protected] by the end of April. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Insider is always looking for analyses, reported pieces, and idea-driven explainers on tech, business, work, the economy, and the environment. The rates start at around $700 for pieces of 1,500 words, but vary based on scope and experience. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-Fifth Season is always looking for pitches of complete recipes (with ingredient list and steps) and a “well-told anecdote that gives the dish some life” for their blog, The Green Room. The rate is $500 per piece. See their pitch guide for more info. 

–Frame is always looking for pitches of pieces on “critical but underreported news stories” for their Undercovered series. They are especially interested in pitches on “the dark sides of digital culture, trans rights, climate change, mass incarceration, and conflict [and] peacebuilding.” The rate is $300 for pieces of 500-700 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Rwebel is always commissioning freelance writers to produce BIPOC-centered stories for their Culture Digest column. The rates range from $0.20-$0.50 per word, commensurate with experience. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–Antelope is always looking for pitches of evergreen content on “pet health and wellness,” including product recommendations, and personal essays on “the unique connections between humans and their pets.” They are especially interested in pitches from writers with a “demonstrated interest and knowledge about pets, animal behavior, and pet industry trends.” The rate is $100 for pieces of 700-800 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 New York Times is hiring a columnist to write a regular column for their Op-Ed Pages. Candidates should be well-versed in news, politics, business, and other topics, and must have extensive experience “presenting well-reasoned arguments and insightful observations to help shape debate on important public issues.”

–Greater Greater Washington is hiring a freelance editor to help produce two or three articles per week, plus their daily list of news articles, Breakfast Links. Candidates should have at least two years of writing or editing experience, and familiarity with the Washington region is preferred. “Familiarity with transportation, housing, and land use issues is a BIG plus.” The rate is $2,400 per month, and will require around 20-24 hours of work per week. The contract will run for three months with the possibility of extension. Send editing and writing samples to [email protected] with “GGWash contract editor/StudyHall” in the subject line.

–Democracy Now is hiring a part-time broadcast news producer to research, write and produce a global news roundup for their live TV and radio newscasts. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience, and live broadcast news experience is strongly preferred. The rate wasn’t given. The position requires working 20 hours per week, and can be remote or based in New York. There is no deadline to apply, but the position is available to start immediately. 

–Type Investigations is hiring a researcher and fact-checker on a one-year contract. Candidates should have at least one year of journalism experience and familiarity with research tools like Nexis or PACER. The rate is $25 per hour, plus a monthly technology stipend, and requires working full-time for one year. The position can be remote or based in New York. The deadline to apply is this Sunday, April 3.

–The Parliament Magazine is hiring for multiple, short-term positions, including an entry level reporter to lead their newsletter and social accounts, as well as a senior reporter to commission op-eds from politicians and “(probably) write the magazine’s cover interview feature.” Candidates for both positions should have a deep familiarity with the EU institutions, knowledge of French (fluency not required). Both positions will begin with two-month contracts, and the positions can be remote within the EU or based in Brussels. 

EVENTS AND COURSES

-The School of Visual Arts is hosting a paid Design Writing and Research summer intensive. The online course will allow participants to “experiment with essential techniques such as interviewing, archive research, close observation, analysis and critique, and then to develop and finesse several projects.” The tuition for the course is $1,800, and the course will run from June 6-17. The deadline to apply is this Friday, April 1.

-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 next Monday, April 4 through May 27.

NEW: -The National Critics Institute is hosting a two-week workshop on arts writing and criticism. The program is led by Chris Jones, critic and columnist at the Chicago Tribune. The 2022 conference has open slots only for candidates in Knight Foundation communities, but will be open to everyone again next year. The free workshop will take place July 12-23 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in New London, CT. The deadline to apply is next Thursday, April 7. 

-Sylveon Consulting is hosting a two-day virtual workshop on how to “competently and respectfully cover trans people and gender-related issues.” The workshop is taught by journalist and educator Tuck Woodstock. There is a fee of $175 for both sessions, but a sliding scale option starting at $50 exists for freelancers paying out of pocket. The workshop will run on April 13 and April 20 from 2 to 4PM EST. 

NEW: –Jewish Currents is hosting a discussion on the experience of writing from prison. The panel talk will include incarcerated writers and will focus on the challenges of writing in a restricted environment, their experiences with repression, and the support they’re seeking for their work. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, April 26 from 12PM to 1PM EST. 

-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 $300 for the lecture and workshops, however there are scholarships available to cover the costs for both the lecture and workshop. 

NEW: -NYU School of Professional Studies is hosting a paid summer program, How to Write Op-Eds and Personal Essays. The program will teach participants how to pitch a story to an editor and will conclude with a complete essay ready for publication. The tuition for the course is $829, and the course is led by instructor Jennifer Mattson and runs from June 13 to August 5.

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-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 tomorrow, March 31.

–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 this Friday, April 1.

-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 this Sunday, April 3.

-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 next Wednesday, April 6.

-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 next Wednesday, 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.

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–Insider is accepting applications for their paid Newsletter Editorial Fellowship program, which will start immediately once accepted. Fellows will help write and produce newsletters on finance, tech, markets, and other news. The rate is $20 per hour, and the fellow is expected to work 40 hours per week for six months. The fellowship can be remote or based in New York. 

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their paid 2023 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship program. The fellowship aims to advance the reporting skills of women, nonbinary or gender non-conforming journalists journalists who focus on human rights and social justice. Applicants should have at least three years of journalism experience. The fellowship will last for seven months and provides a monthly stipend to cover living costs, including arranging and covering the cost of housing in Cambridge and New York City, but does not include a salary. The deadline to apply is April 16.

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–The New York Times is hiring for multiple positions, including a senior staff editor for their “editing SWAT team” at the Flex desk, as well as a news assistant to support the digital rollout of their podcasts, including contributing to The Daily newsletter every week. Candidates for the senior staff editor position should have at least five years of experience. Both positions are represented by the News Guild of NY. 

–Wirecutter is hiring for multiple positions, including an staff writer to cover apparel and accessories; a reporter to test and write about large kitchen appliances; a lead editor to lead their seasonal gift guides and grow their beauty coverage; a lead editor to grow and bring consistency to their sustainability coverage; and an associate copy editor to read and edit content. All positions are union positions as classified by the News Guild of New York. All positions can be remote or based in New York.

–Gayming Magazine is hiring a deputy editor to lead their coverage of esports, streaming, video games, entertainment, and fandoms, with specific relation to LGBTQ+ issues. Candidates should have at least three years of journalism experience covering video games, and an “ability to nurture long-term relationships with key publication influencers.” The starting salary is $48,960, and the position can be remote or based in New York. 

-Daily Harvest is hiring for multiple positions, including a digital content editor to develop and manage their content strategy, as well as a managing editor to edit copy from in-house and freelance copywriters. Candidates for both positions should have at least five years of editing experience, and experience with food or agricultural-facing content is strongly preferred.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

–NPR is hiring for multiple positions, including an editor for their Morning Edition and Up First podcast teams; a reporter to cover how “disinformation is shaping the country’s politics and policies and culture”; a senior producer for their Weekend Edition and weekend version of their Up First podcasts; and a production assistant to represent NPR Music on social media platforms. All positions are covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA. The salaries are as follows: $95,000-$102,500 for the editor; at least $102,500 for the reporter; at least $120,000 for the senior producer; and at least $65,000 for the production assistant. 

–Mother Jones is hiring a politics reporter whose “beat will be shaped by [their] passions.” Candidates should have at least four years of experience reporting on politics or policy and a deep network of expert sources. The position can be remote, but candidates based in Washington, D.C. are preferred.

CALIFORNIA

-Stanford University is hiring a writer-in-residence to participate in the intellectual life of the institute, including hosting their artist salon and teaching one class per year for two years in their Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies program. Candidates should have an “extensive publication record and a national profile.” The position will begin in September 2022 and run for two years. The salary is $90,000. They began reviewing applications on Friday, March 25, but the position will remain open as long as the posting is up.

SOUTHEAST

–The New York Times is hiring a photo editor to provide New York Times News Service clients with photos, illustrations, and graphics. Candidates should have at least one year of newspaper or wire service experience, as well as proficiency with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. The position can be remote or based in Gainesville, FL. 

CENTRAL

–MinnPost is hiring a Minneapolis, MN-based editor to lead their newsroom’s coverage of “the politics, policies and people shaping [their] state.” Candidates should have at least five years of experience leading newsroom teams, including managing early-career journalists. The starting salary is $100,000. The deadline to apply is this Friday, April 1.

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Gayming Magazine is hiring a deputy editor to lead their coverage of esports, streaming, video games, entertainment, and fandoms, with specific relation to LGBTQ+ issues. Candidates should have at least three years of journalism experience covering video games, and an “ability to nurture long-term relationships with key publication influencers.” The starting salary is $48,960, and the position can be remote or based in New York. 

–Wirecutter is hiring for multiple positions, including an staff writer to cover apparel and accessories; a reporter to test and write about large kitchen appliances; a lead editor to lead their seasonal gift guides and grow their beauty coverage; a lead editor to grow and bring consistency to their sustainability coverage; and an associate copy editor to read and edit content. All positions are union positions as classified by the News Guild of New York. All positions can be remote or based in New York.

–Mother Jones is hiring a politics reporter whose “beat will be shaped by [their] passions.” Candidates should have at least four years of experience reporting on politics or policy and a deep network of expert sources. The position can be remote, but candidates based in Washington, D.C. are preferred.

–The New York Times is hiring a photo editor to provide New York Times News Service clients with photos, illustrations, and graphics. Candidates should have at least one year of newspaper or wire service experience, as well as proficiency with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. The position can be remote or based in Gainesville, FL. 

–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 began reviewing applications for both positions on Friday, March 11, but the positions will remain open as long as the postings are up.

–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 this Friday, April 1.