♕ STUDY HALL OPPORTUNITIES 09/14/2023 ♕

 

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 counting down the days until they go to Paris to eat their weight in croissants. 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.

---

►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.

---

THE MEDIA CLASSIFIED ADS

►Ready to launch a news organization but not sure where to begin? Join the completely free-of-cost, fully remote Google News Initiative Pre-launch Lab. For eight weeks, the program will provide 24 entrepreneurs with the guidance and hands-on coaching to launch a journalism or content business. Questions? Join our live info session next Thursday, September 21. Applications due next Friday, September 22. Find out more here.

Want to have your business, job opening, newsletter, etc. seen by a legion of extremely-online media workers? Run a Classified Ad in our weekly Digest and Opportunities newsletters. We also offer add-on placement for Slack and Listserv posts — and now offer a 20% discount to BIPOC-owned small businesses.

 Click through for rates, testimonials, and to get in touch. 

---

APPLY FOR OUR MICRO-GRANT!

We are accepting applications for another round of our micro-grant program. After awarding Saurav Sarkar $2,000 during our first round of the grant to expand his South Labor Watch program, we are back for more! For this round, we are awarding a total of $4,000 to three individuals or teams who want to create a project — with one grant for $2,000 and two for $1,000. Whether that’s a newsletter, blog, social media account, or even just a one-off experiment, we’re here to help. Alongside the grant, we’ll also offer mentoring, advice, and some social promotion. The deadline to apply is September 29. 

If you’re interested in volunteering as a community judge, please reach out to Daniel ([email protected]). 

Learn more here and apply today!

---

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. We currently split pitch calls into three sections: Time-Sensitive (Above Fair Rates), Evergreen (Above Fair Rates), and Time-Sensitive + Evergreen (Below Fair Rates) — and sort each section by highest- to lowest-rates. We currently define “fair rates” as above $200 USD for around 700-800 words and above $0.20 per word for longer pieces, however, 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].

***CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF 330+ EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.***

TIME-SENSITIVE PITCH CALLS (ABOVE FAIR RATES)

NEW: –National Geographic is looking for pitches of “spooky, kooky, and bizarre” travel stories, including hell caves, occult trends, and fascinating lore. The rate is $1 per word. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Wednesday, September 20. 

–MIT Technology Review is looking for pitches of narrative features, essential profiles, and sharp reported essays on “exploration and hidden worlds” for an upcoming issue. The rates range from $1-$2 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by this Monday, September 18. 

NEW: –New Lines Magazine is looking for pitches of “stories and essays related to arts, culture, food, history, [and] heritage” in South Asia. The rates weren’t publicly given, but were previously $800 for essays in January 2023. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

NEW: –Scalawag  is looking for pitches of regional stories of haints and hauntings, critical and personal essays, and other content on the theme of “personal, historical, and spatial hauntings connected to and within the Black South.” The rates weren’t given, but have previously ranged from $500-$1,500. See their pitch form for more info and send pitches either through the form or to [email protected] by September 28. 

–The Latinx Project is looking for pitches of essays on the theme of “Re-Collections: Unmounting Colonial Histories,” including reclaimed narratives, re-interpreting museum collections, and other topics. The rate is $500 per essay. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by November 12.

NEW: –Next City is commissioning a Detroit-based reporter to “cover an effort to keep veterans housed.” The rate is $400 for 800-1000 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by TOMORROW, September 15. 

NEW: –Insider is looking for pitches of personal essays from “parents who won’t allow their kids to play football. Extra points if it comes from someone who watches a lot of football.” They are also looking for pitches “from moms who have experienced mom-shaming for having fun or partying” and “other parenting pitches. The rates range from $200-$250 per essay. Send pitches to [email protected] ASAP.

EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS (ABOVE FAIR RATES)

NEW: –National Geographic is always looking for pitches of climate stories “that have broad appeal to [their] readers or offer something surprising or interesting.” The rate is $1 per word and they “establish a flat fee based on word count.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

NEW: –Prism is always looking for pitches of reported news stories, features, profiles, op-eds, commentaries, and short personal essays on time-sensitive issues of racial justice, mass incarceration and policing, workers’ rights, and other topics. They are specifically looking for pitches that relate to the US and US territories. The rate is $0.50 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] with the word “Pitch” in the subject line.

NEW: –Seattle Met is always looking for pitches of reported features, opinion pieces, and other formats on “people, plants, animals, social phenomena etc. in and around Seattle.” The rates start at $0.50 per word “for reported stuff, but really it’s case by case.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

NEW: –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 rates range from $300-$600 for essays, interviews, book reviews, science journalism, and news articles; and start at $600 for features. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] with “Pitch” in the subject line.

NEW: –Courtwatch is always looking for pitches of reported pieces on federal court proceedings. They are specifically not looking for opinion pieces. The rate is $300 for 500-1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

NEW: –Food for the Worm is looking for pitches of “interesting essay ideas regarding US horror films that come from books.” The rate is $250. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] with the subject line “BOOKWORM: [movie name]” by September 27. 

NEW: –Liner Notes is always looking for pitches  of critical essays, interviews, and scene reports on “overlooked artistry and [music] industry topics.” The rate is $200 per piece. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected].  

TIME-SENSITIVE + EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS (BELOW FAIR RATES)

NEW: –Sixty Inches From Center is always looking for pitches of reviews, interviews, and other formats on “the performing arts happening anywhere in the Midwest,” including “dance/movement, performance art and drag, theater, and music/sound.” They publish in both English and Spanish. The rate is $150 per article. See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch. 

NEW: –STATEMENT Africa is looking for pitches of an opinion piece with “an interesting take on C.J. Obasi’s new film Mami Wata. The rate is $150. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Monday, September 18. 

NEW: –Metro UK is looking for pitches of opinion pieces and first person stories from queer people of color. The rates range from £100-£120 ($125-$150) for 800 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

 

---

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

NEW: –The Atlantic is hiring an assistant editor on a one-year contract to join its “Politics, Global, and Ideas team, with a special focus on economics coverage.” Candidates should have at least one year of editorial experience. The salary range is $55,000-$65,000. The position can be based in New York or Washington, DC. No application deadline info was given for this role. 

NEW: –High Country News is hiring a grant writer on a part-time, freelance contract to “support a growing foundations program.” Candidates should have some grant writing experience. The rate ranges from $50-$60 per hour and requires working 10 hours per week. The deadline to apply is next Friday, September 22.

NEW: –Rest of World is hiring a New York City-based fact-checker on a part-time contract to oversee its fact-checking program, including developing “a syllabus to train in-house editors, reporters, and regular contributing reporters on the fundamentals of getting facts right in stories.” Candidates should have at least five years of relevant experience. The rate is $5,500 per month and requires working 25 hours per week on average. The deadline to apply is next Friday, September 22. 

NEW: –The Latinx Project is hiring a deputy editor/research to oversee the editorial process for its digital publication Intervenxions. Candidates should have some editing experience and knowledge of Latinx interdisciplinary studies. The rate ranges from $35-$40 and requires working 10-12 hours per week. The deadline to apply is October 16.

---

FULL-TIME JOURNALISM JOBS

NEW YORK CITY

NEW: –The Atlantic is hiring an associate podcast producer to work on its flagship weekly news show, Radio Atlantic. Candidates should have at least two years of “experience editing audio with ProTools or other audio editing programs.” The salary range is $65,000-$80,000. The position can be based in New York or Washington, DC. No application deadline info was given for this role. 

NEW: -The Committee to Protect Journalists is hiring a news editor to “edit news stories, statements, letters, safety advisories, and other daily content.” Candidates should have at least three years of editing experience and “the ability to recognize sensitive or potentially libelous issues and raise them for discussion.” The salary range is $72,000-$76,000 and the position is represented by the WGA-East. The deadline to apply is September 25.

NEW: –Harper’s Magazine is hiring an assistant editor to assist with “fact-checking, proofreading, and using InDesign to input copy changes and adjust layouts.” Candidates with some InDesign experience are strongly preferred. The salary starts at $43,264. Send inquiries about the position to managing editor Stephanie McFeeters at [email protected]. According to Stephanie, the deadline to apply is September 29.

WASHINGTON, DC

NEW: –The Washington Post is hiring a producer and community manager to host, shoot, and edit daily TikToks. Candidates should have some “experience pitching stories, writing and fact-checking scripts, and hosting, shooting, and editing themselves using Adobe Suite products.” No salary info was given for this role. “Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by [next friday, September 22] will be prioritized.”

NORTHEAST

NEW: –MIT Technology Review is hiring a Cambridge, MA-based reporter to cover “where AI intersects with cutting edge advances in hardware, including chips, robotics, and quantum computing.” Candidates should have at least one year of reporting experience. No salary or application deadline info was given for this role. 

CENTRAL

-Chicago Public Media is hiring a digital producer to “join its new arts and culture team at WBEZ, Chicago’s NPR station.” Candidates should have at least three years of experience in broadcast, digital and/or social media. No salary or application deadline info was given for this role. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

NEW: –USA Today and The Tennessean are hiring for multiple positions, including a Taylor Swift reporter to “capture the music and cultural impact of Taylor Swift.” and a Beyoncé reporter to “chronicle the music, fashion, cultural and economic influence of Beyoncé.” Candidates for both positions should have at least five years of journalism experience and “must be willing (and legally allowed) to travel internationally.” No salary or application deadline info was given for these roles. 

NEW: –The Hechinger Report is hiring an executive editor to lead its newsroom’s coverage of education. Candidates should have at least five years of leadership experience, including a “track record of success overseeing high-caliber journalism.” The salary is $150,000. The position can be remote but “preference will be given to candidates in the New York City area” and they are “exploring a preference for Virginia and D.C.” The deadline to apply is October 22. 

-The Associated Press is hiring a reporter to join its Race & Ethnicity team to cover the intersection of race, justice, and inequity.” Candidates should have at least three years of experience as an editor, reporter, or social media producer. The salary range is $46,047-$80,714. The position is covered by the News Media Guild. The deadline to apply is September 27. 

---

 

FULL-TIME NON-JOURNALISM JOBS 

NEW YORK CITY

NEW: -The Innocence Project is hiring a digital engagement specialist to “assist with all digital communications, with a focus on digital advocacy.” Candidates should have at least five years of experience in digital engagement strategies, and “Spanish-speakers are highly appreciated.” The salary range is $78,625-$92,500. “Applications for this position will be considered on a rolling basis until the post is filled.” 

-The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation is hiring a digital content coordinator to develop content on its website and social media channels, including written, photo, and video content. Candidates should have at least three years of web, social media, or digital content production experience. The salary range is $55,000-$65,000. The deadline to apply is TOMORROW, September 15. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

NEW: -Get Free is hiring a digital director to build and manage a “digital department of paid staff and volunteers from the ground up.” Candidates should have at least five years of digital campaign experience, including two years of experience “managing or leading digital organizing, fundraising, or campaign teams.” The salary range is $97,000-$130,000. “This position will remain open until filled.”

---

EVENTS

-The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas is hosting a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on “how to use ChatGPT and other generative AI tools in your newsrooms.” The four-week event will teach students about the types of AI that can be leveraged across news operations — and what tech developments the next few years may bring. The course will be held from September 25 through October 22. 

-The Institute for Independent Journalists is hosting a series of free webinars throughout fall and winter for independent journalists, especially those within the BIPOC community. The topics include: Health and Science Journalism (September 29), Sustaining Your Long-Form Journalism Career (October 27), Business and Personal Finance Editors Panel (November 17), and more. See their page for a full list of events. 

-Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is hosting three mini-bootcamps on data journalism in September, October, and December. The bootcamps cover Spreadsheets (next week from September 18-21), R for Data Analysis (October 30-November 2 from 11 AM to 2 PM CT), and Web Scraping With Python (December 4-7 from 11 AM to 2 PM CT). Tickets for each program range from $200-$600 and current IRE membership is required. 

---

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

NEW: -California Humanities is accepting applications for its California Documentary Project (CDP) grant. The program provides support for “film, audio, or digital media projects that document California subjects and issues.” Funding is available in two categories: research and development grants of up to $15,000 and production grants of up to $50,000. There is a free informational webinar on how to apply next Thursday, September 21. The deadline to apply is November 1.

-Black Public Media is accepting applications for its 2023 Open Call. The program is focused on climate stories that “present the voice of the Black community as it relates to our changing environment.” The awards include one $30,000 award to a stand-alone or limited series short project, plus five $40,000 awards and one $150,000 award for broadcast-length or feature projects. The deadline to apply is September 25.

-Little, Brown Spark, in partnership with the Psychotherapy Networker, is accepting submissions for its New Voices Award. Applicants can submit a “non-fiction book proposal on any topic within any branch of psychology.” The program is specifically for “previously unpublished (with the exception of articles, academic papers, or self-published books) and unagented writers from underrepresented backgrounds.” The award provides a $50,000 advance, a ticket to the Psychotherapy Networker’s 2024 Symposium in Washington, DC, and a $500 travel stipend. The deadline to apply is October 15. 

-The Pulitzer Center is accepting applications for its Deep Dives: Ocean and Fisheries Reporting Grant. The program is aimed at “freelance and staff journalists who wish to report on vital ocean and fisheries issues and are in need of support for their reporting projects.” The funding covers airfare, hotels, meals, records requests, data analysis/visualization, and other costs. There is no deadline to apply; they “accept grant proposals on a rolling basis.” 

---

 

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

NEW: –POLITICO is accepting applications for its one-year fellowship program in Arlington, VA. The program “features monthly training sessions, mentoring and editorial rotations for career exploration.” Fellows receive a salary of $60,000 “and [will] be invited to a full-time reporting role at POLITICO upon successful completion of the program.” The deadline to apply is October 15.

NEW: –Human Rights Watch is accepting applications for its one-year Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship. Fellows will “monitor human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-site/in-office investigations, draft reports,” and other tasks. The salary is $70,000 and the fellow can be based in New York or Washington, DC. The deadline to apply is October 9. 

-NPR is accepting applications for its Next Generation Radio training program in various cities throughout 2023. The five-day program is designed to give participants “the opportunity to learn how to report and produce a non-narrated audio piece and a companion multimedia story.” The program partners include NAJA Next Gen Radio: Indigenous and Oregon Public Broadcasting. There is no fee for the program, and stipends are available to selected reporters. The remaining deadlines to apply are October 1 for the Oregon-based newsroom and October 15 for the Albuquerque, NM-based newsroom.  

-The Cullman Center of the New York Public Library is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Fellowship in New York City. The program awards 15 fellowships to scholars and writers, including journalists, whose work will “benefit directly from access to the research collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.” The fellowship includes a stipend of up to $75,000, the use of an office with a computer, and full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources. The program runs through May. The deadline to apply is September 29. 

-The Wilson Center is accepting applications for its 2024-25 Fellowship. Fellows will “conduct research and write in their areas of interest, while interacting with policymakers in Washington and Wilson Center staff and other scholars in residence.” “Applicants must have a doctorate or JD.” The program offers a furnished office and stipend of $90,000 for the nine-month fellowship. The deadline to apply is October 1. 

-Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is accepting applications for its Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship. The one-year program provides assistance to attend a Data Journalism Bootcamp, the NICAR and IRE conferences, and more. The fellowship provides travel stipends, covers conference registrations, and other fees. The deadline to apply is October 5. 

-Hearst is accepting applications for its Hearst Journalism Fellowship. The program “consists of two 12-month rotations at [their] top metro papers and websites” as staff reporters. “Fellows will receive training, mentoring, and real-world experience,” plus a “competitive salary and benefits, including health insurance and moving expenses.” The deadline to apply is January 7.