Opportunities 06/15/2022

High Country News, The Lighthouse, Vittles, 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. This week, it’s guest written by Marisa Clogher, who is dreading the itchy phase of their new tattoo. 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 webform.

►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***

►Apply to be Employee Number 1 for a PR agency founded and run by a Study Hall member. Mediator PR is hiring a publicist with the skillset and instincts of an investigative journalist. Clients include a whistleblower, activists, authors, an inventor, and a reality TV show. Apply here.

►Ready to manage gaming editorial for some of the biggest companies on the planet? We’re hiring an editorial manager at Twofivesix, a consultancy that helps brands engage gamers. Have a strong interest in games, play, and interactivity, plus a passion for telling stories that sway hearts and minds? Apply today.

>> The Classified Ads are back and better than ever. We’ve expanded our Ad model to include placement in ALL of our weekly newsletters, including Monday’s Digest, Wednesday’s Opportunities, and Friday’s Creative newsletters. Want to promote 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

►AMA SESSION WITH SHAMIRA IBRAHIM

-The “Ask Me Anything” discussion with critic and culture writer Shamira Ibrahim will take place tomorrow, June 16 at 2 PM EST. The event will focus on criticism, online culture, Blackness, and technology. Participants are encouraged to ask questions about reporting on digital life and viral trends, as well as the future of Black media and Black cultural output.

The hour-long AMA will be hosted over Zoom. Use this link to attend. If you have requests — including 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]. 

►SEMINAR WITH RAHEL AIMA

-The Soft Power of Art Writing, a 90-minute discussion on the subject of writing and soft power, will be led by art critic Rahel Aima on June 23 at 2 PM EST. The seminar will cover the role of critics in the modern era, including the intersection of international art markets and the publishing apparatuses they employ to legitimize their power. 

The tickets are $50 and will include access to a recording of the workshop. Study Hall subscribers may also use the promo code “FACTCHECK” for discounted access ($40). Purchase tickets at this link and contact [email protected] for more information or to discuss subsidized tickets.

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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 media workers. Have a resource you’d like to see included? Send it to [email protected] with “Resource:” in the subject line. 

-The Resources For Journalists Seeking Therapy guide from the Dart Center’s Journalist Trauma Support Network offers a number of resources, including a directory of therapists specifically trained to work with journalists; funding for mental health services; and self-help webinars, apps, and websites. 

–Accessible Social is a free resource hub that helps make your social media content more accessible to people with temporary or permanent disabilities, including vision and hearing impairments. 

-The Trans Journalists Association’s Style Guide is a tool for reporters, editors, and other media makers to improve coverage of transgender people and the various issues happening within the trans community. 

-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 Spring 2022 Fellowships and Residencies List; Who’s Behind This Website Checklist; SpotlightDC Investigative Journalism Fund; United States Journalism Emergency Fund; Transcription Tool Safety Guide; Labor Action Tracker; Rate Sharing Database; NPR Diverse Sources Database; Online Violence Response 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; Study Hall Fact Checkers 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

–High Country News is looking for pitches that “examine the nature of changing work in the Western US by profiling subjects whose jobs are adapting, emerging or fading.” Pitches should be framed as a profile of a worker and explore new angles and under-covered industries. The rate is $1,000 for 800-1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by next Wednesday, June 22. 

–The Lighthouse is looking for pitches about books, travel, sex and relationships, movies, TV, makeup social issues, and more. The rate is $0.50 per word. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Vittles is looking for pitches for their upcoming season “Food and the Arts.” They’re looking for essays that “explore the presence of food within different artistic media.” The base rate for a full newsletter is £600 ($725 USD) and £0.40 ($0.48 USD) per word for individual pieces. The deadline to pitch is early July, and pitches should be sent to [email protected]. See their pitch guide for more details.

-Jacopo della Quercia is looking for pitches of articles on “early hominids, economic inequality, African American farmers, the myth of race, evolution of chattel slavery, and Black political leaders” for an undisclosed educational magazine. The rate is $0.30 per word. Send pitches to @Jacopo_della_Q.

–InsideHook is looking for pitches of essays, think pieces, and other takes on TV shows and films that address or challenge masculinity and gender norms. They are specifically not looking for reviews or listicles. The rates range from $350-$400 for pieces of around 1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Slate is looking for pitches of essays and reported pieces on the intersection of tech, science, policy, and the future for their Future Tense section. The rates start at $350 for pieces of 800-1,500 words, and increase based on reporting. Send pitches to [email protected] by mid-June.

–Reader’s Digest UK is looking for pitches on music, books, sex, and relationships for their website, as well as inspiring human interest, health, and science stories for their print magazine. Rates for online pieces are £60-100 ($72-120 USD), and rates for print pieces are £300-400 ($362-483 USD). Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Business Insider is looking for pitches “​​about your Juneteenth traditions, how the holiday inspires your values, what you think folks misunderstand about Juneteenth.” The starting rate is $300, and the deadline to pitch is today, June 15. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Decidedly, a product recommendation site hosted by Daily Mail, is looking for pitches of product guides and reviews on tech, gaming, home, and lifestyle content. They are especially interested in “back-to-school content and articles with a celebrity angle,” as well as pitches from LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC writers. The rates range from $250-$500 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–No Depression is looking for pitches of longform stories “about the most exciting music, musicians, stories, topics, etc. in roots music today.” The rate is $0.20 per word, and the deadlines are “within a month or so.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Elite Daily is looking for pitches for Juneteenth 2022. They’re looking for essays, short reported pieces, and interviews. Their rates vary but begin around $200 for personal essays and simple reported pieces. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Catapult is looking for pitches of argument-driven essays that weave cultural criticism with personal narrative; they are not looking for meditations. The rates start at $200 per piece. See their pitch guide for more specific guidelines. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Nurall is looking for pitches from experts to write remote destination guides for the following Indian destinations: Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Rishikesh. The rate is $400 for a guide of 2,000 words. Send clips of relevant experience to j[email protected]. 

–Insider is looking for pitches of travel stories on cruises of three or more days, as well as long train or bus rides of over 10 hours. They specifically do not want pitches of sponsored or press trips. The rates start at $180 per piece. Send pitches to @nuclearunicorns. 

–Bricks Magazine is looking for pitches of opinion pieces, essays, and interviews for Pride. The rate is £100 (USD $121) per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Autostraddle is looking for pitches of personal essays, features, guides, and other formats on sex and dating from lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, as well as trans writers. They are particularly interested in pitches from BIPOC writers. The rates range from $80-$200 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Kveller is looking for pitches on “a wide range of JEWISH content — from how a Jewish TV character makes you feel seen to how a Jewish word or concept helps you parent.” The rate is $100 for 700-1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected].  

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Next City is always looking for pitches on economic justice, housing justice, environmental justice, sustainable and accessible transportation, tech for good, and arts and culture. The rate is around $400 for 800-1,200 words. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Vulture is always looking for pitches of medium-large scale recommendation lists, video game features, and big subject rankings or guides. The rates generally begin around $200 and vary depending on the type of piece. See their pitch guide for more details. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

***CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF 200+ EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.***

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

–Road.Travel is hiring a freelance travel writer to produce multiple road trip routes based out of Seattle, WA. The writer will need to make five 1-day routes, four 2-day routes, three 3-day routes, and one 4-day route. The rate is $1,975 for the entire package, and all routes must be finished by June 26. 

–Stateline is hiring a temporary copy editor for about four months beginning in late July. This person will be expected to edit the lead daily story, as well as send out daily newsletters. The rate is $40 per hour for about 30 hours of work per week. This is a remote position, but you are welcome to work in the D.C. office. 

–HuffPost Life is hiring freelance contributors to produce service journalism articles on “life online, whether it’s shopping, banking, dating, job-hunting, or simply browsing TikTok or using Slack at work.” The topics can include helpful advice, tips, warnings, explainers, investigations into viral trends, and more. The rates range from $350-$400 and “most assignments will be made monthly.” Send inquiries and clips to [email protected] by mid-June. 

–BOMB Magazine is hiring an online film and theater editor “to commission 1200-1500-word interviews in film and theater as well as other performing arts.” Candidates are expected to produce one piece — either interview or review — each week, and the position lasts six months. This position is remote, and the rate is $1,000 per month. To apply, email [email protected] with required material by July 4. 

EVENTS AND COURSES

-PEN America, the International Women’s Media Foundation, and the Online News Association have co-organized a series of workshops called Digital Safety Snacks to help writers defend themselves against online abuse, from de-doxing yourself, securing your social media accounts, and protecting yourself against hacking. The workshop dates are tomorrow, June 16, June 30, July 14, and July 28, and they all begin at 12 PM EST. Register for the webinars here. 

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their Reproductive Rights Reporting Fund program. The program supports reporting on reproductive rights that affect people across the U.S., including access to abortion and contraceptives, maternal health, health policy, and abortion bans. The grants will vary depending on need, “but the average grant size will be $5,000.” Applications will be accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. 

–Narratively is accepting submissions for their Spring 2022 Memoir Prize contest. The contest awards prizes to “revealing and emotional first-person nonfiction narratives from unique and overlooked points of view,” and also helps adapt stories into larger projects. The grand prize is $3,000, while two additional finalists will be awarded $1,000 each. The deadline to submit is June 27.

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

NEW: –Mother Jones is accepting applications for their Ben Bagdikian Fellowship program. Fellows fact-check for the magazine and website in addition to producing their own reporting. The fellowship pays a monthly stipend of $3,600, plus an additional $200 monthly health care stipend. It starts on August 8, 2022, and lasts until late May 2023. Mother Jones has offices in San Francisco, DC, and New York City, but most editorial staff are currently working remotely, and the fellowship will start remotely. The deadline to apply is July 5.

NEW: -UC Berkeley is accepting applications for their Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship. Fellows will be awarded $10,000 to report on “in-depth print and audio stories on the science, policy, business and culture of this new era of psychedelics.” The program aims to build and aid new journalists covering the “rapidly changing field.” The deadline to apply is July 31.

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–Well+Good is hiring a commerce writer to “pitch, write, produce, and/or optimize 2-4 pieces of commerce content daily.” Candidates should have two to four years experience in an editorial position in a commerce-oriented role. The salary is $65,000-$70,000 depending on experience.

–The Forward is hiring a news reporter to cover “Jewish institutions, antisemitism, and other urgent matters driving the American Jewish conversation.” They are looking for someone comfortable with covering breaking news, as well as social media trends. The salary is $48,000-$60,000 depending on experience. The job is based in New York, but remote candidates will be considered. Send a one-page pitch and five clips to [email protected] with the subject line “Reporter.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.

–The American Independent is hiring for multiple positions, including managing editor, politics reporters, senior editor, and associate editor. These are union positions and have a salary of at least $70,000, with the managing editor position starting at $120,000. The positions are remote, but candidates in D.C. are preferred. 

–TIME is hiring a politics staff writer to report on Congress, national politics, and campaigns. Candidates should have at least three years experience covering state or national politics, or another Washington beat. The salary was not listed, but this is a union position. 

–The Associated Press is hiring a reporter to cover the Pentagon and national security. Candidates must be willing to work any shift, including nights and weekends, and should have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, and at least five years experience working in a newsroom. The salary for this position was not publicly listed. The deadline to apply is July 2.

–The Washington Post is hiring for multiple positions, including an assistant technology editor, social media editor, and an open-source investigator. See individual job listings for specifics. 

CENTRAL

–Borderless Magazine is hiring a Chicago-based managing editor to work with reporters on stories, write social media copy, edit their weekly newsletter, and other tasks. Candidates should have at least five years of editing experience. The salary is $55,000 and the position requires both remote and in-person work. The deadline to apply is July 1. 

–Crain’s Detroit Business is hiring a reporter to cover general West Michigan business news. Candidates should have either professional or collegiate experience in a newsroom. This position is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the salary is $50,000 for 30 to 40 hours per week. 

CALIFORNIA

–The Los Angeles Times is hiring for multiple positions, including a multiplatform editor for their sports copy desk, a postpress supervisor, and sales executive. See individual job listings for more specifics.

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

-Chani is hiring for multiple positions, including social media and digital content manager and PR manager. Candidates should have at least four years experience in their respective field. The positions are remote, but candidates should be able to work standard business hours Pacific time. The minimum salary is $80,000 and includes a wide array of benefits. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis beginning June 6.

–Popular Science is hiring two news writers, one focused on tech and one focused on science, with a preference of overlap. Candidates should have at least one year of experience writing about their given field. This position is remote, and the salary is at least $60,000 plus benefits. See their application portal for more details.

–Decidedly is hiring an e-commerce staff writer to help readers “find a wide range of products at the very best price.” Candidates should have one to three years experience writing or editing for e-commerce product recommendation. The position is fully remote, and the salary is $60,000-$80,000.

–USA Today is hiring an audience editor to edit digital, mobile, and social media platforms, as well as write daily and create content as needed. Candidates should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in journalism or an equivalent level of experience. The salary for this position is $62,000.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is hiring a program coordinator and a program manager. The program coordinator will support their international programming and emergency assistance and enhance outreach efforts with the journalism community, and the salary is $55,000. The program manager will design, implement and monitor programming and emergency assistance, and the salary is $70,000. The deadline to apply is July 10.

NORTHWEST

–The Seattle Times is hiring for multiple positions, including a state government reporter, a weekend editor, and a multiplatform copy editor. See individual job listings for more specifics. Some of these are union positions.