Opportunities 05/11/2023

In These Times, The Daily Dot, POLITICO, 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, whose recommendation of the week is to watch “Winter Boy” on Mubi (not an ad). 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.

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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. <<

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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.

–Daniel Walton was paid $350 to interview author Mallory McDuff about her new book for Barn Raiser. He reports that “the editing process went smoothly, and editor Dayton Martindale did a fine job helping me keep the piece tight and focused.”

–Nomi Kaltmann was paid $400 to write a feature on why football star Harry Sheezel could be the “greatest ever male Jewish athlete in Australia” for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. She found the opportunity through a pitch call in the Opps and connected with the news director, Gabe Friedman, on Twitter. 

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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 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.

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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 $200 USD for around 700-800 words and above $0.50 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 

–The Hechinger Report is looking for contributors to report on education, including a mix of stories, analysis, and other formats. They are interested in both freelance writers and photojournalists. The rate is $1.50 per word, stories are usually 1,000-2,000 words, and they also cover travel expenses. See their contributor form for more info. 

–National Geographic is commissioning “a couple of travel writers with a hyper-focus on Japan for a project.” Strong clips are needed. The rate will range from $1,000-$2,000. Send inquiries to [email protected] by May 30. 

-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 this Monday, May 15.

–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. 

–The Intercept is looking for pitches of “investigative pieces about environmental justice and toxic chemicals, corporate surveillance and data privacy, healthcare, and trans and queer rights.” The rate is per-piece but usually falls between $0.50-$0.80 per word. Send pitches or questions to [email protected]. 

–Trails Magazine is looking for pitches of features, opinion pieces, profiles, service journalism, and other formats on “backpacking and other human/naturally-powered means of sleeping outdoors.” They may still have space for stories in Issue 3 but are also “trying to get a jump on Issue 4.” The rates start at $0.50 per word. See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch. 

–The Jersey Vindicator is looking for pitches of investigative, accountability, and explanatory journalism on issues in New Jersey. They are also commissioning freelancers for assignments. The rates range from $500-$2,500. Send clips and pitches to [email protected]. 

–WIRED is looking for pitches of essays for two new series on “software criticism” and “the future of morality” for their Ideas section. The rates start at $500. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Body is looking for pitches of interviews on topics related to HIV and AIDS. The rate is $400 per interview. Send pitches to [email protected].

–In These Times Magazine is looking for pitches of essays, short stories, photo essays, and other formats that “explore socialist movements in the US and abroad.” The rate is $375 for short dispatches and op-eds and ranges from $0.50-$1 per word for other articles. Send pitches to [email protected] with the subject line “Socialism Pitch.”

–Cinéspeak is looking for pitches of reported pieces, opinion pieces, and other formats that “contextualize the WGA strike for a Philly audience.” The rates start at $300 per piece. Send 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].  

–Going Places is looking for pitches of travel stories for their 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.

-Seattle Times is commissioning freelancers to help with Pride month coverage. Writers are ideally based in the greater Seattle area or in Washington, but that’s not a deal-breaker. The pay varies based on word count ($0.33 per word is the base rate), and they generally pay between $200-$450, depending on length, complexity, and deadline. Send inquiries, including work clips, to [email protected]. 

–Inverse is looking for pitches of features, essays, and interviews about blockbuster movies. They’re interested in pitches like “Is Mission: Impossible our last great blockbuster franchise,” “Can Indiana Jones exist today,” and other topics. The rates are $150 for essays, $250-$300 for a single interview, and start at $500 for features. Send pitches to [email protected] with the subject “ENT PITCH – Blockbuster: TK PITCH” by next week. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

-MIT Technology Review is always looking for pitches of news stories, features, profiles, essays, op-eds, and more on technology. They are particularly interested in building up coverage of “physical technology: chips, materials science, quantum computing, engineering, robotics, a little bit of space, etc.” The rates range from $1-$2 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to commissioning editor Rachel Courtland at [email protected] with “PITCH” in the subject line.

–Vittles is always looking for pitches of essays (including video and audio essays) on the theme of “Food and Policy.” They are interested in pitches on “how policy affects the way we all eat.” The rate is £0.40 ($0.50 USD) per word for smaller pieces and £800 ($1,001 USD) per 2,000-2,500-word newsletter. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

-Shutterstock is always looking for pitches of marketing tips and advice, photography tutorials, and other content for their 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. 

***CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF 370+ EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.***

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FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

-Vox Media is hiring a part-time reporter or writer to help create a Religion section for their 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 TOMORROW, May 12. 

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EVENTS

-The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) is hosting their annual virtual conference from June 13-15. The three-day event will include expert-led sessions in three content tracks: books, content marketing writing, and journalism. “Scholarships are available to freelance writers and students from historically underrepresented populations.”  Early registration with discounted rates ends this Monday, May 15. 

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GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

NEW: -Women Photograph is accepting submissions for their Project Grant. The program includes five $5,000 grants for new or in-progress projects from visual journalists working in a documentary capacity, “at least one of which will be earmarked for a nonbinary or transgender photographer.” The grant is open to women, nonbinary, transgender, and intersex documentary photographers of any nationality. The grant is not meant to support the production of “books, exhibitions, workshops, or other secondary materials.” The deadline to apply is this Monday, May 15. 

NEW: -Women Photograph is accepting submissions for their Leica Grant. The program awards one $10,000 grant to a photographer focused on an ongoing documentary project “who can demonstrate a long-term commitment to their story.” The grant is open to women, nonbinary, transgender, and intersex documentary photographers of any nationality. The deadline to apply is this Monday, May 15. 

–Ploughshares is now accepting submissions for their 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 this Monday, May 15. 

NEW: –Grist and the Center for Rural Strategies are accepting applications for their reporting grant program. They will award $100,000 in grants to freelancers and newsrooms “for stories that focus on and serve rural communities in the United States.” Freelance writers can request up to $5,000 per project, and newsrooms can request up to $10,000. The deadline to apply is June 1. 

–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. 

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FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–The Nation is accepting applications for their 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 TOMORROW, May 12.

-MIT Technology Review is accepting applications for their 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 this Monday, May 15.

–The 19th is accepting applications for their 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 this Monday, May 15.  

-MIT Technology Review is accepting applications for their 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 their offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The rate is $20 per hour. Send a resume, cover letter, and three clips to [email protected] by this Monday, May 15.

NEW: –The Daily Dot is accepting applications for their FOIA and general assignment internship programs. FOIA interns will “focus entirely on mastering the art of FOIA, from filing requests, making appeals, and generating scoops.” General assignment interns will “report from both the front lines and the dark corners of the web.” Both internships are fully remote, pay $20 per hour, and require a 10-hour-per-week commitment. The deadline to apply is this Monday, May 15, for the FOIA internship and this Wednesday, May 17, for the general assignment internship. 

–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 next Friday, May 19.

–The New York Times is accepting applications for their 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 their 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. 

–The Paris Review is accepting applications for their 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. 

NEW: –NPR and The John Alexander Project are accepting applications for their Above the Fray reporting fellowship. The fellowship aims to provide one up-and-coming radio journalist the opportunity to cover important but under-reported international stories for NPR. Applicants should have at least five years of professional journalism experience, including some radio experience. The fellowship covers all production and living expenses for the duration of the program. The deadline to apply is July 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.

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JOBS 

NEW YORK CITY

–The New York Times is hiring for multiple positions, including an editorial assistant to “expand the breadth and depth” of the NYT Opinion section and a social staff editor to “promote articles, photographs, and interactives to new audiences.” Candidates for both positions should have experience working in a digital news media environment. The editorial assistant role is a Guild position with an annual salary of  $74,816.04-$75,440.00. The social staff editor is “eligible to work from home on a hybrid basis with manager approval.” The salary is $105,308.84-$112,000. 

–Guardian US is hiring an editor to build their new wellbeing and lifestyle vertical, which will cover mental health, exercise trends, and other topics. Candidates should have at least five years of editing or newsroom experience, and some “experience in science or health journalism [is] preferred.” The salary range is $110,000-$130,000, and the position can be remote or based in New York. 

–POLITICO New York is hiring a journalist to co-author their New York Playbook newsletter on politics in NYC, Albany, and DC Candidates should have extensive reporting experience and be comfortable hosting events. The “anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in New York, NY” is $85,000-$110,000. 

-The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is hiring an executive editor to “launch and manage a new digital platform, State Court Report.” Candidates must have “either a law degree or a bachelor’s degree with legal journalism experience,” and ease in covering legal and public policy issues. The salary range is $125,000-$140,000. No deadline to apply was given. 

-Anthos Home is hiring a senior grant and editorial writer to prepare and edit content for their 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 their 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. 

WASHINGTON, DC

–USA TODAY is hiring a breaking news reporter to work night shifts Monday through Friday. Candidates should have at least two years of reporting or newsroom experience, and an understanding of reporting ethics and sourcing. The minimum salary is $55,000. 

TEXAS

–Texas Monthly is hiring a staff writer to cover state politics and policy, including contributing to their 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

–POLITICO is hiring for multiple positions as part of their California expansion, including a Los Angeles-based political reporter to cover LA, Orange County, and San Diego, and a Sacramento-based breaking news reporter to contribute to their California Playbook franchise. Some previous experience covering California politics and policy is desired but not required. The salary ranges are $110,000-$160,000 for the political reporter and $65,000-$75,000 for the breaking news reporter. 

–LAist is hiring a director of audience engagement to develop a strategy for their audience development work. Candidates should have at least seven years of relevant experience, including some journalism experience and knowledge of product management. The salary range is $110,003-$137,504.