Opportunities 08/24/2022

Insider, SFGate, The Los Angeles Times, 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 preparing to return to the United States for their first visit since December 2019. 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***

>> 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 and Wednesday’s Opportunities 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 EVENT PROGRAMMING

►SUMMER READING WITH STUDY HALL CREATIVE 

There’s just over a week of summer reading with Study Hall Creative left — August 31st is the last day of the program (but you have until September 30th to claim your prizes). This week’s new prize comes from Hannah Kirshner, author of “Water, Wood, and Wild Things.” The story is “an immersive journey through the culture and cuisine of one Japanese town,” that’s “an ode to a place and its people, as well as a profound examination of what it means to sustain traditions and find purpose in cultivation and craft.” Hannah is giving away three copies of her book.

►NEWSLETTER ADVICE THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

Study Hall is excited to announce Newsletter Advice That Could Save Your Life, a conversation with newsletter veterans Alex Hazlett and Dan Oshinsky on September 14, 2022 at 3pm EST. Alex and Dan have led newsletter strategy and execution at media outlets including The New Yorker, BuzzFeed, and Mashable. In this conversation, they will help freelancers attempt to answer the most important question that arises when starting a newsletter project: Will my newsletter ever become profitable? Tickets are free for Study Hall Network subscribers (promo codes will be posted to Slack) and $5 for everyone else. You can register here.

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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 

–Narratively is looking for pitches of longform deep-dives or in-depth stories on “times when failure in one area turned out to be positive in another, or when failure taught you an important lesson that helped shape you” for their new series, Turning Failure on its Head. The rates start at $1,000 for 3,000-6,000 words and they also “develop TV, film, and podcast projects inspired by the stories that run on [their] site.” Send pitches to [email protected] by September 15. 

–The Food Section is looking for pitches of reported stories on anything related to food that takes place in the American South. The rate is $1,000 for a story of 1,200 words. See their pitch guide for more info. 

-Drizly is looking for pitches of “entertaining, educational, and all-around fascinating stories” on “the big, beautiful world of booze” for their new editorial site. They are particularly interested in “stories about drinking culture with a behind-the-bottle lens” in the realm of “PunchDrink x Food & Wine + VinePair.” The rates range from $1-$1.50 per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Ambrook Research is looking for pitches of data-driven stories on any modern agriculture-related topic. The rates start at $0.50 per word, commensurate with experience and difficulty of the piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Majuscule is looking for pitches of nonfiction essays on literature, pop culture, sociology, education, film, music, and politics for their upcoming print issue. They are specifically not looking for reviews of specific books, films, or other content, and are “very interested in BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers, as well as writers from outside of NYC.” The rate is $750 for 3,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by September 23. 

–Hearst is commissioning a profile writer who is also an army veteran for a very specific assignment. The rate is $600 per piece. Send inquiries to @strassbooger by this Friday, August 26. 

–Verywell is commissioning BIPOC and trans or nonbinary writers to report on health and parenting. The rates start at $250 per piece. Send inquiries, including clips and an intro, to [email protected]. 

–Insider is looking for pitches of travel features from freelancers based in Mexico, including “Cancún, Cabo, Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, and beyond.” The rates start at $225 per piece. Send pitches to @crwillen. 

–SFGate is looking for pitches of reported stories on cultural phenomenons at Burning Man and “generally really cool stuff” at the festival. They are specifically not looking for pitches of diaries or personal essays. The rate ranges from $200-$400 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Women’s Health UK is looking for pitches of stories and long read features on health, fitness, and nutrition. They are only looking for pitches from UK-based writers. The rates start at £150 ($176 USD) for digital features. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Vulture is looking for pitches of TV recaps for the following shows (with series start dates in parentheses): “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” (9/2); “Monarch” (9/11); “The Serpent Queen” (9/11); “The Handmaid’s Tale” S5 (9/14); “Los Espookys” S2 (9/16); “Abbott Elementary” S2 (9/21); “Bachelor in Paradise” S8 (9/27); “Star Wars: The Bad Batch”; “Ramy” S3 (9/30). The rates range from $150-$250 per episode recap. Send pitches — including “why you think the series would make for a good recap, why you’re the right person to recap it, and if given the assignment, how would you approach recapping the series” — to [email protected]. 

–HuffPost Personal is looking for pitches of first-person essays by members of the Hispanic community on “everything from identity to family to sex and relationships and more” for Hispanic Heritage Month. The rate is $125 per essay. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Broccoli Magazine is looking for pitches of stories (weedy or not) on “intriguing people, places, objects, ideas, etc. that show compelling thinking, perspective, and voice.” They are particularly interested in pitches on “frogs, lace, puppetry, artists inspired by spiritual encounters, and stories that explore or illuminate little-known corners of cannabis culture.” The rate is $100 for shorter pieces of 300 words or less, and ranges from $0.40-$0.50 per word for longer pieces. They are also commissioning a Vietnamese-speaking arts writer to interview a Vietnamese ceramicist, which would pay $500 for 800 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by 9AM EST this Friday, August 26. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

-Western Landowners Alliance is always looking for pitches of stories on “landowner-driven water conservation and riparian restoration work in the Colorado River Basin” for their magazine, On Land. The rate is generally $1 per word, but can sometimes include reporting travel expenses. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Los Angeles Times is always looking for pitches of stories on “what to do, where to go, who to know, and how to best experience SoCal with an emphasis on LA.” They are particularly interested in pitches on wellness, relationships, outdoors, cannabis, plants, alternative living, and other experiences. The rate is about $0.50 per word and “goes up based on travel or driving, extensive reporting, photo coordination, etc.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Paper Gown is always looking for pitches of personal essays on navigating healthcare, chronic illness, mental health, and more. They are also always commissioning BIPOC writers for assignments. As of January 2022, the rates were flat but “end up being minimum $0.50 per word.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Guardian UK is always looking for pitches of reported features, trend or scene pieces, clever sideways angles into news stories or things we take for granted, and analytical essays on music. They are specifically not interested in interviews, profiles (unless you have truly unbelievable access to an A-list star), reviews, live reviews, anniversary pieces, or personal essays. The rate is £0.31 ($0.37 USD) per word for print features, and is a “changing flat rate for web-only pieces depending on workload and length.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] and [email protected]. 

–Pipe Wrench is always looking for pitches of shorter “conversation pieces” and longform feature stories on a variety of topics. The rates start at $250 for short pieces and $1,800 for longform pieces. See their pitch guide for more info.  

–Insider is always looking for pitches of stories and articles on health and parenting, including disability, sex and relationships, mental health, queerness, healthcare, and other topics. The pitch can have a timely news peg or be evergreen. The rates start at about $250 for 600-700 words, but vary based on scope. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Architectural Digest is always looking for pitches of reported features, profiles, personal essays, and market and commerce roundups on decoration, renovation, conversation, and shopping for their design advice vertical, Clever. The rates start at $200 and “the majority of commissioned stories” are pieces of 700 words, and the rate is $300 for home tours of 600 words, including “body copy, photo captions, and two lists at the end.” See their pitch guide 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 

–The New York Times is hiring a New York-based contract puzzle editor to go through puzzle submissions and select puzzles for consideration, including doing an initial edit of at least two puzzles a week. Candidates should have at least one year of crossword editing experience and an appreciation for word games and puzzles. The position pays $45 per hour, and the editor is expected to work 35 hours per week. 

-Kathryn Aragon Media is hiring contract writers to produce content on marketing SaaS, ecommerce, and business services. The rates range from $200-$400 for articles of 1,500-2,000 words, but “pay depends on the type of project and the scope.” Send inquiries to @KathrynAragon.

–City Cast is hiring a roving newsletter editor to fill in for newsletter writers and editors across “any and all City Cast cities as needed.” Candidates should have at least three years of writing or editing experience, including copy editing experience, and some experience writing and editing newsletter products. The salary range is $60,000-$80,000. The deadline to apply is this Friday, August 26. 

–The Point is hiring a Chicago-based business manager on a part-time basis to oversee the daily operations and finances of their magazine. Candidates should have some ​​experience with grant-writing or cultivating donor relationships, as well as an interest in literary magazines and general knowledge of the print and digital literary landscape. The expected yearly salary is $25,000, contingent on experience, and the position requires working 20 hours per week. The deadline to apply is next Wednesday, August 31. 

EVENTS

-The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas is hosting a paid four-week Big Online Course (BOC) titled “Advanced Data Journalism — Doing More with R.” The course will teach students how to “obtain, analyze, and visualize data using the statistical programming language R.” The course fee is $95 and the program will run from September 5 through October 2. 

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-The McGraw Center for Business Journalism is accepting applications for their paid McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism grant program. The program provides editorial support and grants of up to $15,000 for freelance or staff journalists to produce “deeply reported enterprise and investigative stories that delve into critical economic, financial, or business issues across a wide array of subjects.” The deadline to apply is September 30. 

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

-The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is accepting applications for their paid editorial fellowship program. Fellows will either cover climate change or biosecurity during the one-year program, which will include writing four articles or columns (one per quarter). The rate is $750 per piece, for a total of $3,000. The fellowship is remote from anywhere in the world and renewable after the one-year contract, “upon excellent performance.” The deadline to apply is next Wednesday, August 31. 

–Texas Observer is accepting applications for their paid David McHam Fellowship for Investigative Reporting program in Austin, TX. The program aims to allow journalists to pursue investigative projects and enterprise stories about Texas politics, policy, and social issues. Applicants should have at least five years of reporting experience, and “experience reporting on Texas is a plus, but not required.” The fellowship pays a stipend of $60,000, and fellows are expected to work full-time for one year. Fellows “must be based in or willing to move to Texas.” The deadline to apply is September 12. 

NEW: –Vox is accepting applications for their paid Future Perfect fellowship program. The three fellows will produce content for the Future Perfect section, including receiving extensive training and mentorship. The fellowship is remote, pays $72,000, and fellows are expected to work full-time for one year. The position is union-eligible and the deadline to apply is September 16. 

–The American Prospect is accepting applications for their paid editorial internship program. The interns will “assist with research, fact-checking, social media, data entry, and library services for both the print magazine and the daily website,” as well as contributing editorially. The rate is $100 per day, and interns can work full- or part-time from September through December 2022. The fellowship can be remote or based in Washington, D.C. The deadline to apply is September 16. 

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–Architectural Digest is hiring an associate digital entertainment editor to pitch and write features — as well as assign daily features and news pieces — on entertainment and celebrities. Candidates should have at least two years of editing experience and a “strong grasp on pop culture, celebrities, and design-industry stars, in the US and on a global scale.” The salary wasn’t publicly given, but is in the $65,000 range.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

-The Associated Press is hiring for multiple positions, including a US Congress reporter and a video output producer. Candidates for both positions should have at least three years of relevant experience, and must be willing to “work at night and on weekends, as coverage demands.” The video output producer can be based in Washington, DC or in New York, while the reporter must be based in Washington, DC. The deadline to apply for both positions is next Wednesday, August 31. 

NEVADA

-The Associated Press is hiring a Las Vegas-based sports reporter to cover “professional teams in the NFL, NHL and WNBA, as well as weekly combat, auto racing, and golf events.” The beats will include the Raiders, Golden Knights and Aces. Candidates should have at least three years of journalism experience and a “proven track record of building reliable sources with players, leagues, teams, agents and officials.” The deadline to apply is September 11. 

CALIFORNIA

-The Associated Press is hiring a Los Angeles-based videojournalist to report from red carpet events, courthouses, and junkets for their entertainment news team. Candidates should have strong knowledge of entertainment beats and the ability to communicate and produce stories in both English and Spanish is strongly preferred. The deadline to apply is September 11. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Wirecutter is hiring a fact checker to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of their reviews, articles, and other content. Candidates should have at least two years of fact checking experience and a familiarity with major research databases, government sources, and news outlets. The position can be remote or based in New York. The position is a union position as classified by the News Guild of New York.

–The Verge is hiring a space reporter to cover “developments in spaceflight, science missions and research, and new discoveries related to space.” Candidates should have at least three years of experience reporting on space, including a “proven track record covering the science and business of space, particularly on news or breaking stories.” The salary is at least $66,000. The position is part of the Vox Media Union, represented by the WGA-East. 

–Coda Story is hiring an assistant editor to “carry out essential daily publishing tasks while marrying rigorous copy editing skills with a passion for social media storytelling.” Candidates should have at least two years of newsroom experience, including copy editing experience and knowledge of AP Style. The position is remote but candidates must be based within the eastern and central time zones. 

–Rest of World is hiring a US tech editor to oversee coverage of how US-based tech companies operate outside of the West, including managing their team of US-based reporters. Candidates should have at least six years of editing or reporting experience, and a solid list of sources in Silicon Valley. No salary information was given for this role. The deadline to apply is next Wednesday, August 31.