Opportunities 05/25/2023

The New York Times, Salon, Wine Enthusiast, 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 passive-aggressively sipping wine as they wait for summer to finally arrive in Berlin. 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.

–Sarah Myers was paid $1,000 to write about small businesses in secondhand fashion fighting climate change for Outrider. 

–Liz Magee was paid $300 to write a first-person essay about her date (who was on Drag Race) helping her get over toxic men for the LA Times column “L.A. Affairs.” 

–Katie Gee Salisbury was paid $300 to review “Last Room,” a play inspired by Anthony Bourdain, for Observer.

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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. 

NEW: -The New to Freelancing guide by the Freelance Solidarity Project provides support and resources to media workers who are freelancing for the first time. The guide includes contract advice, rate databases, and more. 

-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.

-“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 the Reporting Job Board; 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 

-MIT Technology Review is looking for pitches of “narrative features, essential profiles, and sharp essays” for an upcoming issue on hard problems. They are especially looking for stories “that have nothing to do with AI.” 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 by this Tuesday, May 30. 

–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 this Tuesday, May 30. 

–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 Local Magazine is looking for pitches of stories on the Finch West LRT area of Toronto from writers who know the community well, for an upcoming issue. They are looking for pitches and also assigning stories. The rates start at about $0.75 CAD ($0.56 USD) per word. Send pitches and inquiries to [email protected]. “No hard deadline, but [they are] gonna be assigning stories over the next few weeks!”

–Wine Enthusiast is looking for pitches of reported features, analysis, op-eds, and other formats on the intersection of wine, beer, spirits, and drinking culture and the LGBTQIA+ community. The rate is $0.50 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches “and a brief overview of [your] writing background” to [email protected] with “Pride Month Pitch” in the subject line by next Friday, June 2. 

–Wine Enthusiast is also looking for pitches of reported features, analysis, op-eds, and other formats that relate to Juneteenth. The rate is $0.50 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches “and a brief overview of [your] writing background” to [email protected] with “Juneteenth Pitch” in the subject line by next Friday, June 2. 

–High Country News is looking for pitches of reflections and reported features for a special issue on the climate. They are particularly interested in highlighting “stories of agency and collective action in the fight to decarbonize the West and the efforts to adapt to a changing climate in equitable ways.” The rates will be project-based and set at $0.50 per word for reflections and $1 per word for reporting. Send pitches to [email protected] or [email protected] by June 5 with “query” in the subject line.

-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]. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Rest of World is always looking for pitches of news stories and reported pieces on “the impact of technology on people and institutions outside the Western bubble” for their Africa desk. They are “particularly interested in pitches from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and parts of North Africa.” The rate is $500 for shorter news stories and $750 for reports, typically around 1,500 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Jersey Vindicator is always 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]. 

-Gertie.co is always looking for reported features, interviews, profiles, thinkpieces, and op-eds on visual art, theater, food, nightlife, and the literary world in Chicago. “A Gertie story shows how an artist, project, or trend reflects a bigger idea or movement taking shape in Chicago.” They are particularly interested in “stories that lend themselves to multimedia storytelling or event/programming tie-ins.” The rates start at $250 for 800 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF 295+ EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.

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FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

–Salon is hiring a temporary writer to cover health and science news on a three-month contract. Candidates should have at least two years of journalism experience. The rate is approximately $1,250 per week, and the writer would be expected to work full-time, filing five to six stories per week. There is no deadline to apply, but they are “moving fast on this so applying sooner rather than later is advised.”

–Fortune is hiring an associate newsletter producer to maintain their slate of newsletters on a part-time, temporary contract. Candidates should have some relevant experience producing high-performing newsletters. The pay range is $30-$40 per hour, and the position requires working 25 hours per week during morning hours Eastern time. 

–Fortune is hiring two temp-to-perm positions: an editor and a writer for their new finance/e-commerce vertical, Fortune Recommends. Candidates for both positions should have extensive experience working with personal finance topics. The pay range per hour is $48.08-$52.88 for the editor and $38.46-$43.27 for the writer. 

-The Southern Foodways Alliance is commissioning freelance producers for either individual episodes or multi-episode batches of their “Gravy” podcast. “Experie11nced audio storytellers only.” The rates start at $3,700 for the production of a successfully completed single episode, “inclusive of travel and expenses.” Send inquiries to [email protected] by next Thursday, June 1.

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EVENTS

-The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) is hosting a Virtual Annual Conference from June 13-15. The three-day event will include expert-led sessions in three content tracks: books, content marketing writing, and journalism. All sessions, except informal “snack chats,” are recorded. The prices for non-members are $325 for full registration, $245 for single-track registration, and $175 for single-day registration.

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GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

–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 next Thursday, 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 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 TOMORROW, 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 TOMORROW, May 26.

–The New Republic is accepting applications for their editorial internship program. The intern will have five key responsibilities: copyediting, fact-checking, transcription, search engine optimization, and administrative duties. The pay range is $17-$19 per hour, and the internship is full-time for six months. Interns are not required to work in the NYC or DC offices but must be based in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or the DC, Virginia, and Maryland tri-state areas. The deadline to apply is this Sunday, May 28. 

–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 next Thursday, June 1. 

-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 a Well desk reporter to write science-based service and enterprise journalism pieces (salary range $104,684.83-$125,000), a social staff editor to promote articles, photographs, and interactives to new audiences (salary range $105,308.84-$112,000), and an editorial assistant for their Opinion section (salary range $74,816.04-$75,440). The Well desk reporter and editorial assistant positions are represented by the NewsGuild of NY. 

–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 TOMORROW, May 26. 

-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 this Wednesday, May 31. 

PITTSBURGH

–PublicSource is hiring a deputy editor to supervise two to three reporters, manage interns, and guide and edit stories. Candidates should have at least five years of newsroom experience, including some editing experience. The salary range is $58,000-$65,000. The deadline to apply is June 21. 

WASHINGTON, DC

-National Museum of Asian Art is hiring a digital content writer to assist with advertising, digital content, public affairs, social media, and press and media relations. Candidates should have at least two years of copywriting experience, and some experience writing about art historical content is preferred. The salary range is $65,000-$70,000.  

CHICAGO

–South Side Weekly is hiring an executive director to fundraise, manage, and support their team, and do strategic planning. Candidates should have extensive management or leadership experience, including managing an organizational budget, and some fundraising experience is preferred (but not required). The salary is $75,000. The deadline to apply is June 5.

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 TOMORROW, 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 next Thursday, June 1.

CALIFORNIA

–SFGATE is hiring a sports editor to “remind people there’s more to sports coverage than simply game recaps, box scores, and YouTube clips.” Candidates should have at least three years of experience in sports writing and editing, and a “deep knowledge of all sports that spans beyond just baseball, or just basketball.” The salary range is $80,000-$85,000, and candidates must be “based in the Bay Area or willing to relocate.”

-The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation is hiring a content writer to create content for their blog, e-blasts, website, research summaries, and other formats. Candidates should have at least three years of experience in journalism, communications, marketing, or public relations. No salary info was given for the role. The deadline to apply is July 10. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Salon is hiring a staff writer to cover culture and entertainment news, including reporting, reviews, and more. Candidates should have at least two years of journalism experience, including some experience writing “compelling and voice-driven analysis.” The position is remote, but candidates must be able to work East Coast newsroom hours. They are “especially interested in candidates with on-camera experience who live within commuting distance of [their] Midtown Manhattan studio and are able to join the team in person at least twice a month.” The salary range is $60,000-$75,000, and the position is covered under the WGA-East.

INTERNATIONAL

–FT Weekend Magazine is hiring a London-based deputy editor to oversee the magazine’s production, commission and edit long-form features, and other tasks. Candidates should have significant experience as an editor, including “experience coaching writers through all stages of the reporting and writing process.” No salary info was given for the role. The deadline to apply is next Thursday, June 1. 

–+972 Magazine is hiring an editor-in-chief based in Israel-Palestine to lead and manage their team of editors, staff writers, and freelancers. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience, including three years of editing, and must have native English and very strong Hebrew language skills, with Arabic also strongly preferred. No salary info was given for the role. The deadline to apply is June 11.