Opportunities 07/06/2022

Jezebel, The Marshall Project, Paste 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 is not feeling very big slay lately. 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.

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

–Cosmopolitan is looking for pitches of deep-dive reported narratives, investigative projects, trend pieces, non-celeb profiles, photo essays, and other “unorthodox stories and formats” for their November print issue. The theme is “comebacks” but “all good ideas [are] welcome.” The rates range from $1.50-$2 per word. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Friday, July 8.

–Input is looking for pitches of “wild, ambitious, unexpected story ideas” on the intersection of technology and culture. The rates range from $0.50-$1 per word. Send feature pitches to [email protected].  

–WIRED is looking for pitches of stories on privacy, security, and surveillance related to post-Roe America. The rates start at $500 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. For more sensitive pitches, DM @AndrewCouts for their Signal number. There is “no set deadline [for pitches] as we’ll be covering this topic for the foreseeable future.”  

–Insider is looking for pitches of as-told-to pieces on virtual assistants, superyachts, cruise travel, Airbnb and vacation rentals, and lucrative summer jobs and side-hustles. Rates start at $200 for cruise-related pieces, and typically start at £250 ($297 USD) for personal essays and £270 ($321 USD) for single interviews and rise “depending on logistics.” See their pitch guide for more details and send cruise-related pitches to @crwillen and all other pitches to Jack at [email protected] and Kiera at [email protected]. 

–The Doe is looking for pitches of personal narrative stories on abortion and Roe v. Wade. The rates vary but their average is about $300 for a narrative piece. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Public Source is looking for pitches of first-person essays, event coverage, guides, enterprise stories, investigative features, and more on abortion and Roe v. Wade as it relates to the Pittsburgh region. The rates range from $300-$1,000 depending on the piece. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Frame is looking for pitches of underreported, data-backed stories on the environment, international politics, and other topics. They are also looking to assign stories to commissioned writers. The rate is $300 for 500-700 words. Send pitches and inquiries to [email protected]. 

–Underpinned is looking for pitches of stories on the DALL·E image generator from writers with experience covering AI. The rate is £250 ($298 USD) for 1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Friday, July 8. 

-Mattie Lacey-Davidson is looking for pitches of features for “an array of supplements going out with national papers,” including The Telegraph, Evening Standard, and The Guardian. The topics include: food and drink with strong links to the countryside or country lifestyle; education and schooling; higher education and careers “but NOT university”; and extracurricular activities, including Saturday schools for languages. The rate is £0.20 ($0.24) per word for articles of 500 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by 9AM this Monday, July 11. 

–Feet in 2 Worlds is looking for pitches of stories on “voting and political activism in immigrant communities, flash points in the culture wars, and efforts to bring together people from diverse communities and perspectives” for their upcoming series, “Immigrants in a Divided Country.” The rates range from $250-$1,000. See their pitch form for more info and send pitches by next Friday, July 15.

–Xtra Magazine is looking for pitches of op-eds, reported pieces, profiles, or personal essays on politics and activism “as they pertain to queer and trans people and communities.” They are particularly interested in pitches from “Black and Indigenous writers, trans women of colour, intersex people, and disabled people who are on the queer/trans spectrum.” The rates generally start at $300 CAD ($229 USD) for a straightforward Q+A,” and increase based on scope and research required, while “short aggregated news stories pay less but fall to another editor.” Send pitches to [email protected] with “pitch” in the subject line.

–The Bookseller is looking for pitches by disabled authors, agents, editors, publishing employees, and booksellers about the obstacles and lack of accessibility they’ve faced. The rate is £120 ($145 USD) for 500 words. Send a one-paragraph pitch to [email protected] by this Friday, July 8.

–Sliced is looking for pitches of thought-provoking, evidence-based takes on fast food, vegan food, the food industry, and other topics for its upcoming Insect and Fast Food issues. The rate is $0.15 CAD (USD $0.11) per word for about 1,200 words. Send pitches or questions to [email protected]. 

–Tribune is looking for pitches on politics, labor, history, and more. They’re looking for feature pieces and opinion pieces, and are especially keen on hearing from writers who are confident in economics and labor reporting. The rate starts at £100 ($119 USD). Send pitches to [email protected].  

–Paste Magazine is looking for pitches of stories, hot takes, lists, and other formats on food or drinks. They are particularly interested in pitches with “any culinary connections to crumbling American democracy :).” The rate is $100 for 800-1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Cleveland Review of Books is looking for pitches of reviews and essays on history, culture, and politics in the Rust Belt, Midwest, and wider US. The rates start at $100. See their pitch guide for more info. 

–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.” They are particularly interested in pitches from “Jews of Color, queer, disabled, single, divorced, non-Jewish parents raising Jewish kids, and more.” The rate is $100 for 700-1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected].  

–Nurall is looking for pitches of stories on finding community as a digital nomad, including “advice-packed stories about friendship, networking, and breaking out of your comfort zone while traveling and working remotely.” The rates start at $100 for 500 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Cake Zine is looking for pitches of historical deep dives, recipes accompanied by a short essay, fiction, poetry, unexpected interviews, and other formats on the theme of “wickedness” for their upcoming second issue, Wicked Cake. They are particularly interested in pitches from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers. The rates range from $75-$100 for 350 words or less; $150 for 500-1,000 words; and $250 for 2,000+ words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] with “WRITING PITCH” or “VISUAL PITCH” in the subject line by July 20.

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Business Insider is always looking for pitches of stories on tech, retail, transportation, media, healthcare, real estate, finance companies, leaders, and trends in the business world. They are particularly interested in pitches on “flight cancellations, summer jobs, worker shortages at big-name brands, Airbnb success stories, side hustles and ways to make passive income, and quitting diaries.” The rates start at $300 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Stylist Magazine is always looking for pitches on sleep, gut health, sexual wellbeing, hormones, “women’s health,” energy, mood, and other topics for their Strong Women section. They are not looking for pitches on diet culture. The rate is £150 ($178 USD). Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–A Good Movie to Watch is always looking for pitches of essays, lists, reports, and other formats on non-English, international cinema. The rate is $100 for 1,000 word essays. See their pitch form for more info.

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

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

–Input is hiring a freelance writer to produce how-to tech guides. Candidates should have some previous technology writing experience, and “must love tech (hardware and software).” The rates weren’t given, but previous rates have been $0.50-$1 per word. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–Health.com is hiring freelance writers to produce reproductive and sexual health content. Candidates should preferably have some sexual health education background, but it is not required. The rate is $300 for about 1,000 words. Send inquiries — including clips and “a few lines about what you are comfortable covering” — to [email protected]. 

–Lifewire is hiring multiple freelance reporters to cover consumer technology news. Candidates should have at least five years of “experience writing about consumer-facing technology,” as well as an ability to “write on a breadth of technology topics.” The rate is $175 for around 750 words, and writers are encouraged to send “several pitches a week, with a potential of one or more approvals per week.” 

–GameRevolution.com is hiring a lead guides writer on a freelance contract to lead their gaming guide coverage, including producing both reactive and proactive guides. Candidates must have SEO experience. The rate is $2,000 per month, and the writer is expected to write four guides per day. Send inquiries to @PaulTamburro.

-The Asian American Arts Alliance is hiring a New York-based editor on a part-time contract to manage writers and photographers, including soliciting, selecting, shaping, and assigning articles, for A4 Forward Magazine. Candidates should have at least three years of editorial experience, and a “demonstrated commitment to the arts or Asian American issues is preferred.” The position pays $40 per hour, and the editor is expected to work 20 hours per week. The deadline to apply is July 31 and the start date is August 2022. 

-Springboard, an education tech startup, is hiring a mid-senior copywriter to develop copy for its course landing pages, AB experiments, and paid social and SEO ads. The rate is $4,000 per month, and the copywriter is expected to work 20 hours per week on an ongoing contract basis. Send inquiries to [email protected] with a quick summary of your experience, your CV, and a link to your portfolio or work.

EVENTS

-Start:Empowerment is hosting a six-week summer school course, Redefine Justice in the Climate Movement. The course is curated by BIPOC organizers and includes guest lectures, workshops, and practical skill learning. The program runs through August 13, and includes one webinar and one workshop per week. The course is offered on a sliding scale from $0-$90, and attendees can sign up for specific weeks or for the entire program. 

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. 

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

NEW: -Second Chance Studios is accepting applications for their paid Digital Media Fellowship program in New York. The program offers six months of training — including one-to-one mentorship — to formerly incarcerated people seeking to start careers in the media industry. The fellowship pays $25 per hour, and fellows are expected to work at least 35 hours per week. The deadline to apply is this Friday, July 8. 

-WNYC Studios is accepting applications for their paid “Death, Sex & Money” internship program. Interns will give feedback in editorial meetings, gather research, track listener responses, prep interviews, and other tasks. The internship pays $17.50 per hour, and interns are expected to work 15 hours per week from September 12 through May 5. The position can be remote or based in New York. The deadline to apply is July 20. 

-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

–Jezebel is hiring a staff writer to cover “the way gender informs our daily lives, from politics to culture to celebrity.” Candidates should have at least three years of writing experience and a track record of reporting and breaking news. The position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement with the WGA-E.

–Stylecaster is hiring an entertainment editor to “produce coverage of both breaking celebrity news and original entertainment features.” Candidates should have “exceptional skills in editing and packaging stories with a pro-women, inclusive, and body positive tone.” The salary wasn’t publicly given. 

NORTHEAST

–Times Union is hiring an Albany-based news reporter to cover stories in the Hudson Valley. Candidates should have some experience handling daily news coverage, and a “finger on the pulse of the region.” No salary info was given for this role. Send inquiries about the role to managing editor Phillip Pantuso at [email protected]. 

SOUTHEAST

–Capital B is hiring an Atlanta, GA-based community engagement editor to “obsessively understand what Black people in Atlanta need and want to know about life in their neighborhood, city, and region.” Candidates must have a deep connection to Atlanta’s Black communities, and will be expected to attend weekly community meetings and events to meet face-to-face with residents. The starting salary is $70,000. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Capital B is hiring for multiple positions, including an audience development editor to craft and implement a growth strategy to reach Black audiences online, as well as two audience engagement producers to create original visual and written content for their social channels. The starting salary is $90,000 for the editor and $70,000 for the producers. The deadline to apply for both positions is this Friday, July 8.

–Fast Company is hiring a senior staff editor to shape and drive their design coverage, including working with staff writers and freelance contributors. Candidates should have at least five years of experience writing, assigning, or editing stories. The starting salary is $82,000. The position can be remote, but candidates based in New York are preferred. The position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement with the WGA-E.

-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 this Saturday, July 10.

–The Marshall Project is hiring a product manager to oversee the product team, as well as developing ideas for new products and improvements to existing products. Candidates should have strong organizational skills and a track record of simultaneously managing multiple projects. The starting salary is $85,000. The deadline to apply is next Friday, July 15.