Opportunities 12/08/2022

Inverse, Game Informer, HuffPost Personal, and more.

The Study Hall Opportunities newsletter is a weekly compilation of pitch calls; freelance, part-time, and temporary gigs; events; fellowships, scholarships, awards, and grants; internships; and full-time jobs. It’s written by Chris Erik Thomas, who is currently in the midst of renovating and setting up their new home. The newsletter is released on Thursdays. Once in a while, we take a day off for mental health breaks and holidays, which is what we did last week. 

►To help make the Opps better for all of our members, we introduced an Opps Feedback Form. Let us know what we can do to improve the newsletter.

►Editors, submit your time-sensitive or evergreen pitch calls to our Pitch Webform.

►Work at a publication that’s hiring or found a job we should see? Send it to our new Jobs Webform.

►Need more info on Study Hall or want to check out our resources? Head to our new Linktree.

►Have any other freelance gig, grant, internship, fellowship, or other opp you want to be included in the next Opps newsletter? Send them to [email protected] for approval with “Opportunity:” in the subject line. 

►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 them with other Study Hall members. Send them to [email protected] with “Resource:” in the subject line.

---

THE MEDIA CLASSIFIED ADS

►Ambrook Research is sharing stories about modern agriculture with a strong, data-backed foundation. We’re bringing fresh perspectives to farming, food, and climate coverage you won’t find anywhere else. Subscribe now to get our free (and very stylish) newsletter in your inbox every week!

>> The Classified Ads are back and better than ever. We’ve expanded our Ad model to include placement in our two weekly newsletters: Thursday’s Opportunities and our Digest newsletters. We also offer add-on placement for Slack and Listserv posts. Want to promote your job opening / pitch call / new project / ecommerce brand? Click through for rates, testimonials, and to get in touch. <<

---

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 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. 

NEW: -The Reporting Job Board by Investigative Reporters and Editors is a continually updated website for jobs in reporting, editing, academia, and more. 

-“Knowing the News” is a new study by the American Press Institute about how Gen Z and Millennials get information on essential topics. The study focuses on six topics: national politics and government; social issues; crime and public safety; traffic, transportation, and weather; COVID-19 information; and health or mental health.

–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. 

Want more resources? Check out Resources For Journalists Seeking Therapy;Trans Journalists Association’s Style Guide; NBCC Book Coverage Publication 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.

---

CALLS FOR PITCHES 

Please note that we are not endorsing every publication or company listed here. Engaging with a publication or company is entirely up to the reader. Regarding pitch calls, we try to only share opportunities with 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 

–Inverse is looking for pitches of “ambitious features [on] TV, movies, gaming, science, and tech.” International pitches and stories that would run in 2023 are welcome. The rates are $1,000 for reported features and “less $ for less ambitious work.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–MIT Technology Review is looking for pitches of features, profiles, and essays “at the general intersection of education, science, and technology” for an upcoming issue on education. The rates range from $1-$2 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by this Monday, December 12.  

–Game Informer is looking for pitches of reported features for their print magazine. They are particularly interested in “a behind-the-scenes look at a game or studio, a profile of an interesting developer, a personal story, [and a] report about an explored part of the industry.” The rates range from $600-$700. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Inverse is looking for pitches of features, essays, roundups, and other formats on trends in tech as part of their end of the year series. The rates start at $0.50 per word. Send pitches to [email protected] through December.

–Oregon Humanities is looking for pitches of personal essays and reported features on the theme of “joy and pain” specifically from Oregon-based writers. The rates range from $500-$1,000, “depending on the length and complexity of the piece.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by December 21.

-Dotdash Meredith is commissioning writers to produce print stories on interior design and homes for Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, Dream Kitchens & Baths, and Better Homes & Gardens Cottage Style. The rates range from $400-$500 per story. Send inquiries, including an intro and clips, to [email protected]. 

-NYU’s LatinxProject is looking for pitches of essays on algorithms, AI, Web3, and other topics for their spring exhibition. Pitches are welcome from all freelance writers, not only NYU students. The rate is $300 for up to 1,500 words, and goes up to $500 for longer pieces. Send pitches to [email protected] by January 30.  

–Nonprofit Quarterly is looking for pitches of stories on “movements, active democracy, [and] equity.” The publication doesn’t share rates publicly, but we do. The rate is $300 per piece according to a DM from their senior editor, Iris M. Crawford. Send pitches to [email protected] or [email protected]. 

–Ars Technica is looking for pitches of stories on video games that “would be a good fit for [their] heavily tech-literate audience.” They are especially interested in takes or trend pieces on the industry and culture, gaming tech and development, unseen gaming history, interesting groups of players, and more. The rates range from $200-$300 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] with “Freelance Pitch” in the subject line by the end of 2022. 

–GamesRadar+ is looking for pitches of features, interviews, op-eds, deep dives, and more on comics and manga. They are particularly interested in DC and Marvel content, “but open to not just that.” The rates start at $125. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–HuffPost Personal is looking for pitches of holiday-related personal essays on any topic (from parenting to dating to identity) that ties into “December holidays in some way.” The rate is typically $125 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by the end of 2022. 

–Autostraddle is looking for pitches of sex and dating content from lesbian, bisexual, and queer women and trans writers. They are especially interested in pitches from BIPOC writers. The rates range from $125-$175 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by TOMORROW, December 9.

–Alternative Press is looking for pitches of profiles, interviews, deep dives, and other formats on movies, TV, style, art, internet culture, and subcultures. The rates range from $150-$450. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] and [email protected]. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–BioScience is always looking for pitches of features on the study of biology and experiences of biologists. “Science writers from underrepresented groups [are] particularly encouraged to pitch.” The rate is $3,000 for 3,000 words, and “writers retain the rights to their story.” See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch. 

–Comstock Magazine is always looking for pitches of stories on “business, trend stories, and quality of life in the 10 counties around Sacramento.” The rates range from $200-$300 depending on complexity. See their pitch guide for more info, including which editors to pitch to. 

–Mental Floss is always looking for pitches of short news posts, lists, features, and other content on history, science, pop culture, and other topics. The rates start at $75-$100 for short posts of 250-300 words, and increase for other content. See their pitch guide for more info, including additional rates and which editors to pitch to. 

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

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

-Checkly is hiring freelance writers to do copy-editing work on technical content for their blog. Candidates with “knowledge of and experience with software monitoring” are preferred. The rates range from $250-$400 for blog posts of 1,000 words. Send inquiries to @jeffjames3 on Twitter. 

-Static Media is hiring a freelance editor to assist with editing and producing articles, coordinating coverage, and other tasks. Candidates should have at least one year of editing and writing experience, including experience building content in CMS. The rate is $23 per hour. “US and international candidates are encouraged to apply.”

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their Kim Wall Memorial Fund. The grant program provides grants of $5,000 to women and non-binary reporters covering subculture (broadly defined) and what Kim liked to call “the undercurrents of rebellion.” The deadline to apply is December 15. 

-GALECA is accepting submissions for their Crimson Honors Scholarship contest. The contest requires submitting “up to [three] reviews or essays” on film or TV, and contestants must be “LGBTQ women and nonbinary students of color in Southern California pursuing a career in journalism or entertainment criticism.” The grand prize winner will receive $3,000, with two finalists each collecting $1,500. The deadline to submit is December 31. 

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–More Perfect Union is accepting applications for their paid Social Media and Distribution Internship program. Interns will build new distribution networks, monitor analytics, and other tasks. The internship is remote, pays $20 per hour, and interns are expected to work full-time for three months. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

–FRONTLINE is accepting applications for their Investigative Journalist Equity Initiative program. The program is remote and there is no deadline to apply, but the first cohort will begin in early December.

–Grist is accepting applications for their paid Climate Reporting Fellowship program. Six fellows will be chosen for one of each of the following tracks: environmental justice, news and politics, food and agriculture, climate solutions, data, and Indigenous affairs. The program is remote, lasts for one year, pays $50,000, and includes full medical benefits for employees and eligible dependents. The deadline to apply is December 19. 

-The Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics is accepting applications for their two-week fellowship program, which requires spending two weeks in Berlin and Poland. The program is fully-funded and cost-free for participants. Send inquiries to program director Rebecca Scott at [email protected]. The deadline to apply is January 3. 

–The Philadelphia Inquirer is accepting applications for their paid summer internship program. The program can be done in one of the following tracks: features, business, news, health, opinion, Now desk reporting, audience development, or visuals and photography. The internship pays $18 per hour and interns are expected to work 30 hours per week for nine weeks (from June through August). The deadline to apply is February 1.

JOBS 

NORTHEAST

–Popular Mechanics is hiring an Easton, PA-based associate news editor to oversee content on their Service and News team. Candidates should have at least one year of editing, writing, or content creation experience, “with a bonus for background in science, tech, machines, games, the outdoors, DIY, repair, maker culture, or any place curiosity leads.” The salary range is $50,000-$54,000.

SOUTHEAST

–The Baltimore Sun is hiring an emerging news reporter to cover crime, fire, accidents, and other breaking news. Candidates should have at least one year of reporting experience and a familiarity with and interest in the Baltimore area. No salary information was given for this role. 

WASHINGTON, DC

–The Intercept is hiring a story editor to work with staff reporters, handle freelance pitches, and commission assignments on the politics team. Candidates should have at least three years of experience and “a familiarity with the contours of political debates in Washington.” No salary information was given for the role. The position is covered under a union with the WGA-East.

-Hearst Television is hiring an investigative photojournalist to join their National Investigative Unit. Candidates must have computer and software experience with modern journalistic tools and be able to carry up to 50 pounds of equipment. No salary info was given for this role. 

TEXAS

–Texas Monthly is hiring a fact checker to ensure the accuracy of all articles in the print magazine, in addition to checking some web-only features and narrative podcasts. Candidates should have some reporting, research, or fact-checking experience. The position can be  remote within Texas or based in Austin. The deadline to apply is this Monday, December 12.

CHICAGO

–Injustice Watch is hiring multiple senior reporters and multiple reporters to cover the court system in Cook County and Illinois. Candidates for both positions should have some experience “wrangling large datasets using Excel or programming languages like SQL, R, or Python,” and knowledge about Chicago’s history, politics, institutions, and communities. The salary ranges are $80,000-$90,000 and $65,000-$85,000, commensurate with experience. “Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.”

CALIFORNIA

–CalMatters is hiring a reporter to join the higher education team covering community colleges across the state. Candidates should be familiar with California and higher education issues, and  the ability to report and write in both Spanish and English is preferred. The minimum salary is $70,000. The position can be remote within California or based in Sacramento, CA. 

–The Los Angeles Times is hiring a community editor for their new Latino Initiatives project. Candidates should have at least seven years of journalism experience and must be able to “work with existing organizations within the Latino community.” No salary information was given for the role, but it is part of the Los Angeles Times Guild. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Queerty is hiring a senior editor to write three to six stories per day, coordinate their daily newsletter and social media posts, and other tasks. Candidates should have at least five years of media experience and a “deep understanding and curiosity for stories about the LGBTQ and queer-adjacent issues of the day.” The position can be remote across the US and Europe or be based in San Francisco, CA.