Opportunities 05/04/2023

Polygon, Vox Media, Fortune, More Perfect Union, 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 yet again by Chris Erik Thomas, who has returned from their two-month break as tired as before. The newsletter is (usually) released on Thursdays. Once in a while, we take a day off or publish late for mental health breaks and holidays.

►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 Jobs Webform.

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

>> The Classified Ads will return later this month. When we’re back, you’ll be able to place your Ad in our two weekly newsletters: Thursday’s Opportunities and our Digest. 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. <<

---

OPPS SUCCESS STORY

Did you turn a pitch call into paid work or land a job, fellowship, internship, or some other gig you found in the Study Hall Opps newsletter? Let us know and we’ll give you a shoutout. Send the details to [email protected] with “Opps Success Story” in the subject line.

–David Blumenstein was paid $2,000 to produce a piece of graphic reportage (or “a big-arse comic”) discussing AI generative art with other cartoonists for Friends With Benefits, an artists’ DAO with an editorial arm. He reports that its editor, Emilie Friedlander, was excellent to work with, and he was able to retain the copyright to the work. 

–Anna Selle was paid $250 to write an 800-word piece on their hometown, Kansas City, as a travel destination for music lovers for Fifty Grande. They report that the team “was easy to work with and super responsive,” and they were paid within 24 hours of invoicing. 

–Courtney E. Smith was paid $1,250 to publish a researched narrative non-fiction piece on the song “Delia’s Gone” for Majuscule. She had been shopping the piece around for two years after originally researching the song for a podcast script that came out in 2021. 

---

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. 

-The Fund for Investigative Journalism provides emergency grants of up to $10,000 for stories on threats to democracy in the US. The fund reviews proposals on a rolling basis and ends on December 31st, 2023.

-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 November, 2022 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.

 -“Funding News” is a new study by the American Press Institute about how news media can create content that Gen Z and Millennial consumers are willing to pay for or donate to directly. The study outlines the Americans ages 16 to 40 who pay for or donate to news in some fashion and compares those who pay for news to those who pay for independent creators. 

–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. 

–Trusting News has launched a series of “trust kits” that are designed to help journalists build trust with their readership. 

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 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 

-Narrative Initiative is looking for pitches of stories that are “about organizers, cultural producers, activists, and other changemakers whose work is shifting harmful, dominant narratives.” The rate is $1 per word. Submit pitches here by May 15.

–The Dial is looking for pitches from writers outside the US upcoming for issues organized around the themes of “drugs” and “weapons.” The rate is $800 to $1,000 for pieces of about 2,000 to 2,500 words; the magazine is also open to hearing from translators about worthy nonfiction to bring into English. Send pitches and questions to [email protected]. 

–KneeDeep Times is looking for pitches of reported features on “how specific cities or towns in the San Francisco Bay Area are adapting to climate change, as well as profiles of Bay Area climate adaptation activists and leaders.” The rate is $1 per word for pieces of 500-1,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by July 1. 

-Shutterstock is looking for pitches of marketing tips and advice, photography tutorials, and other content for its blog. The pitches should be aimed at an audience of small businesses, solopreneurs, and marketing and creative teams at large businesses. The rate is $350 for around 1,000 words. Submit pitches through their pitch form. 

-Food & Wine’s Commerce team is looking for pitches of first-person reviews and roundups. The rate is $300 per article. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected].  

–Polygon is looking for pitches of features, personal essays, and curated lists for the reprisal of its themed Video Game Fashion Week. “Send ideas on your fav in-game looks, including hair/makeup/mods, OR interview a fashion designer about Hyrule chic, OR share your cosplay tips, OR surprise me.” The rates start at $300. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by TOMORROW, May 5. 

–Going Places is looking for pitches of travel stories for its weekly newsletter, “Places.” They are specifically looking for pitches on Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Botswana, or Zimbabwe from writers who have lived in or visited the cities multiple times. The rate starts at $300. See their pitch form for more info and to pitch. 

–Viator is looking for pitches of personal essays “on the meaning and significance of Juneteenth,” and they MUST have a travel hook. The rates start at $250 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Monday, May 8, ideally, or no later than next Friday, May 12. 

–Adventure Uncovered is looking for pitches of stories on “the intersection of adventure/the outdoor community and social/environmental issues through the lens of transitions” for their next and final Edition. The rate is £100 ($126 USD) per piece. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by next Wednesday, May 10. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–New Lines Magazine is always looking for pitches of essays and long-form reporting on the people, places, culture, and politics of the North Africa and Sahel regions. They are especially interested in pitches from women and local writers. The rates start at $800 for reported pieces, and can increase for stories that “require exceptional amounts of reporting/access.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Prism is always looking for pitches of reported news stories, features, profiles, op-eds, commentaries, and short personal essays on racial justice, mass incarceration and policing, workers’ rights, and other topics. They “especially encourage pitches from BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+ people, and others from communities who are historically oppressed.” The rate is $0.50 per word. See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch.

-The Century Foundation is always looking for pitches of op-eds and personal narratives on “the economic disparities that disabled people experience” for their Voices of Disability Economic Justice Project. The rate is $500 for stories of 750 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Slate is always looking for pitches of opinion pieces and reported features on exercise for its Good Fit column. They are specifically not looking for personal essays. The rates range from $400-$750, depending on scope. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-Long Now Foundation is always looking for pitches of essays, reported features, interviews, book reviews, fiction, and poetry for Ideas, their “living archive of long-term thinking.” The rate varies for the type of piece, but starts at $600 for features, and ranges between $300 to $600 for essays, interviews, book reviews, and news articles. Find more information on what they’re looking for in their pitch guide. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Time Out New York is always looking for pitches of trend pieces, features covering arts, lifestyle, theater, food and drink, and more. The rate is up to $500, depending on effort. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–InsideHook is always looking for pitches on culture, especially music and TV, as well as beer. The rate typically starts at $350. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Daily Dot is always looking for pitches of reported features on “anything related to tech and politics on the internet.” The rates start at $350. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Food & Wine is always looking for pitches of first-person sale round-ups and first-person reviews of products, cookware, appliances, and more. You can find more info in their pitch guide. The rate is $300 per article. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Objective is always looking for pitches of stories on systemic biases in reporting and newsroom practices. The rates range from $200-$600 per piece, depending on the length and story type. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Observer is always looking for pitches of features, including reported pieces with first-person elements, on the arts. They are specifically not looking for pitches of film or TV reviews. The rates range from $200-$300 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Knock LA is always looking for pitches of reported features and other stories on LA, but they will “occasionally consider articles on Southern California or the state as a whole.” The rates range from $200-$500 depending on length. They also pay $50 per hour for live tweeters. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches and inquiries 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 

–Fortune is hiring an associate newsletter producer to maintain and grow their slate of newsletters on a part-time, temporary contract. Candidates should have some relevant experience producing high-performing newsletters, including experience using an email service provider (Iterable preferred). The rate wasn’t publicly disclosed, but the role will require working 25 hours per week. “Location is flexible across the US, but most of the work will be during morning hours Eastern time.”

-Vox Media is hiring a part-time reporter or writer to help create a Religion section for its Language, Please development tool. Candidates should have at least three years of experience covering or researching religion, spirituality, and related areas. The rate is $33-$40 per hour, and the position requires working 20 hours per week until August 2023. The deadline to apply is May 12. 

---

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

–Ploughshares is now accepting submissions for its Emerging Writer’s Contest, which is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. Candidates should not be affiliated with Emerson College or with Ploughshares. The winners of each genre will receive $2,000, publication, and a 1-year subscription to Ploughshares. The deadline to submit is May 15. 

–Grist is now accepting submissions for Imagine 2200, a “climate fiction short story contest.” It is looking for stories that are 3,000 to 5,000 words that “envision the next 180 years of climate progress” and that imagine “intersectional worlds of abundance, adaptation, reform, and hope.” The first-place winner will receive $3,000, second place will receive $2,000, third place will receive $1,000, and nine finalists will receive $300. The deadline to submit is June 13. 

---

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–The Nation is accepting applications for its annual internship. The internship is full-time, five days a week, and 35 hours per week. It lasts six months, from June to December. Interns are paid $18 per hour. Remote candidates will be considered, but preference will be given to candidates in New York who can come into the office. The deadline to apply is May 12.

-MIT Technology Review is accepting applications for its emerging journalist fellowship. Fellows will spend half of their time “searching for story ideas, pitching to your editor, reporting out your ideas, and writing and revising drafts” and the other half of their time “fact checking stories written by other reporters,” as well as attending three meetings a week. Fellows can work remotely or from the Review’s offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This is a full-time position that lasts six months, and the pay is $20 per hour. The deadline to apply is May 15.

–The 19th is accepting applications for its yearlong Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Fellowship, which provides “graduates and mid-career alums of Historically Black Colleges and Universities with full-year, salaried fellowships in editorial, audience engagement, and product and technology.” Fellows will receive a minimum salary of $70,000, as well as benefits. This is a fully remote fellowship. The deadline to apply is May 15.  

-MIT Technology Review is accepting applications for its six-month emerging journalist fellowship for “emerging journalists, and especially women, non-binary or trans people, and people of color, to come and develop their skills.” Candidates can work remotely or from its offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The rate is $20 per hour. Send a resume, cover letter, and three clips to [email protected] by May 15.

–Documented is accepting applications for an ambitious reporter who wants to write about issues affecting New York’s immigrant communities for their Isaac Rauch Fellowship. Stories must uncover new information and can be an accountability-based series, a magazine-level feature story, or even a short documentary on topics including housing, culture, immigration policy issues, public safety, and more. The pay is a $10,000 stipend. The deadline to apply is May 19.

–The New York Times is accepting applications for its full-time, two-year editing residency for journalists, who will work on “daily news articles, enterprise stories, and special projects.” Candidates should have at least three years of professional journalism experience. The salary for this position is $90,870, and it is based in New York City. The deadline to apply is May 26. 

–The New York Times is accepting applications for its full-time, two-year photo editing residency for journalists, who will “conceptualize, research, assign, select, and publish photography across platforms.” Candidates should have at least three years of professional visual journalism experience. The salary for this position is $90,870, and it is based in New York City. The deadline to apply is May 26. 

NEW: –The Paris Review is accepting applications for its fall-winter editorial internship program. The two selected interns will assist with every step of the production of two quarterly magazine issues — “particularly with fact-checking.” The internship pays $20 per hour, and interns are required to work 35 hours per week for six months, with the option to enroll in health insurance. The internship is based in the New York City office and applicants must be eligible to work in the US. The deadline to apply is June 1. 

-Nova Institute is accepting applications for the Nova Media Fellowship, which “supports print, broadcast, and digital journalists proposing to immerse themselves in the health field.” Ideal candidates are full-time journalists with an established record of publication. The fellowship runs for 12 months and begins in Fall 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland, though the start date is flexible. The pay is $105,000 and is all-inclusive. The deadline to apply is July 5.

---

JOBS 

NEW YORK CITY

–The Infatuation is hiring an editor-in-chief to lead its editorial department of more than 45 people across the US and UK. Candidates should have at least a decade of experience leading a large team and “both a passion for — and deep knowledge — of restaurants and travel.” The salary range is $126,350-$235,000. 

-Anthos Home is hiring a senior grant and editorial writer to prepare and edit content for its website and grant applications. Candidates should have at least six years of writing, grant writing, fundraising, or development experience. The salary range is $75,000-$90,000, and the position may require two to three in-office days per week. The deadline to apply is May 31. 

–BOMB Magazine is hiring a managing editor to manage the production of its quarterly print publication, including pitching and acting as lead editor on several articles per issue. Candidates should have at least three years of writing and editorial experience, “with a demonstrated interest in the art world.” The salary is $70,000, plus health insurance. The deadline to apply is May 26. 

BOSTON

–The Boston Globe is hiring an assistant digital editor to maintain the Globe Opinion’s presence on digital platforms. Candidates should have some writing and editing experience, including producing content for the web and analyzing audience data. The position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Boston Newspaper Guild, and the minimum salary is $81,000. Send inquiries about the position to its social media editor Deanna Schwartz at [email protected]. 

WASHINGTON, DC

–The Intercept is hiring a politics reporter to “cover Congress and the Biden administration as a meaningful enterprise rather than a sporting event.” Candidates should have at least three years of experience, including some experience with FOIA, lobbying, and campaign finance records. The salary range is $75,000-$85,000. “Reporters who live or are willing to move to Washington, DC are preferred, but other strong candidates will be considered.”

TEXAS

–Texas Monthly is hiring a staff writer to cover state politics and policy, including contributing to its Best and Worst Legislators series. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience and some experience reporting on Texas politics. Candidates interested in learning more about the position before applying can book an informational phone call with the director of editorial operations here. “Salary range is dependent on the level of prior experience and is negotiable; candidates can reach out to [email protected] for more details.” The position can be based in Austin or within the state. The deadline to apply is May 26. 

-Keller Williams Realty International is hiring an Austin-based writer and researcher to “work alongside a team of writers and researchers to develop multiple nonfiction book projects.” Candidates should have at least three years of experience writing or researching, “preferably in personal finance, journalism, or general business nonfiction content.” The minimum salary is $70,000, depending on experience. The deadline to apply is June 1.

CALIFORNIA

–CalMatters is hiring a K-12 education reporter to cover “California education issues with close attention to state policies and legislation, the [lobbying] community, and advocates.” Candidates should have at least three years of reporting experience, and the ability to interview in English and Spanish is preferred. The salary range is $70,000-$90,000. Candidates must be “based in Sacramento or be able to travel to the Capitol frequently.”

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

-More Perfect Union Action is hiring a media producer to “conceptualize, research, and produce news-driven video content.” Candidates should have at least five years of journalism or advocacy experience, and “producing, reporting, or research experience [is] required.” The salary is $85,000. “Applications will be accepted for this position on a rolling basis.” 

–Heatmap News is hiring an audience editor to nurture and grow its audience, including experimenting with social media channels like Mastodon. Candidates should have at least four years of digital media experience, and “previous experience in audience development is strongly preferred.” The salary range is $70,000-$80,000. “While candidates from all over the US are encouraged to apply, the audience editor is expected to keep East Coast hours.” Send inquiries about the position to its founder Nico Lauricella at [email protected]. 

INTERNATIONAL

–Fortune is hiring a London-based production editor for Europe-oriented content, including the publication of Fortune lists. Candidates should have some experience handling high-priority projects and be familiar with CMS systems (WordPress preferred). The rate wasn’t publicly given, but the role requires working three in-office days per week. 

–Time Out London is hiring a junior social media editor to create and share content across its channels. Candidates should preferably have at least two years of experience, and a “demonstrable passion for writing and excellent knowledge of social media.” No salary info was given for this role.