Opportunities 01/19/2022

Shondaland, Pride Source, Sports Illustrated, 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, whose hair is now green and whose age is now 30. The newsletter is released on Wednesdays. Once in a while, we take a day off for mental health breaks and holidays. 

►Have a job posting, gig, or fellowship you want to be included in the next Opps newsletter? Send them to [email protected] for approval with “Opportunity:” in the subject line. 

►Editors, submit your time-sensitive or evergreen pitch calls to our Typeform page.

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

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THE MEDIA CLASSIFIED ADS

►Want $5,000 to pay your freelancers? OutVoice, the freelance management and payment system specifically designed for publications, is offering any publisher who signs up this month a pre-funded account. Schedule an intro call to get started. 

►Covered Press is giving its comprehensive management tools to journalists and editors for FREE. You read that right. The first 500 journalists and the first 200 editors on the platform will gain access to tools that help streamline the process of writing and editing. Sign up here.

►Places Journal is hiring a Bay Area-based audience engagement editor to play a key role in shaping and expanding the public presence of the journal. Strong candidates will have a deep understanding of internet culture and social media and a keen interest in public scholarship. Apply here.

►ClearHealthCosts is hiring temporary freelance reporters to assist on a health care pricing survey in New York from January 31 through February 25. The position may be remote, but working in-office is preferred if it’s safe to do so. The rate is $30-$35 per hour, and requires working 4-5 weekdays per week from 10AM-6PM. Additional freelance writing work will be possible after the contract ends. Send inquiries by next Monday, January 24.

>> Want to promote your job opening / pitch call / new project / ecommerce brand? Consider a Classified Ad. Thanks to partnerships with both Links I Would Gchat You and Words of Mouth, we have three tiers of placement that will get your ad in front of 4K+, 16K+, or 40K+ hyper-engaged readers depending on your needs. Interested? Click through for rates, testimonials, and to get in touch.

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OPPS SUCCESS STORIES

Do I comb through the interwebs for opportunities because of a blood pact with the ghost of our founder, Eric Studyhall, that brings me international acclaim for my writing? I’m legally (and spiritually) not allowed to say. What I can say is that this pact has led to real people in the Study Hall community getting real jobs that pay real money, unlike the ghost money I am paid with by Eric. If you turned a pitch call into paid work, please let me know by emailing [email protected] with “Opps Success Story” in the subject line.

-Kymberley Chu was paid $358 (after taxes and wire transfer fees) to write a feature on the potential eviction of a limestone cave temple and its environmental consequences in Malaysia for Deutsche Welle. 

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RESOURCES

Relying solely on, say, the Study Hall Opportunities newsletter to find work is like trying to do the “Y.M.C.A.” dance alone. It’s sad and please put your arms down. Just as that song takes a Village of People to perform, freelancing also takes a village… of resources. There’s no need to feel down, so pick yourself off the ground. It’s fun to read all the R.E.S.O.U.R.C.E.S.

-The Labor Action Tracker by Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations is a comprehensive database of strike and labor protest activity across the United States. The database should be a key asset for freelance and staff reporters on the labor beat. 

-The Rate Sharing database by the Freelance Solidarity Project has a searchable list of publications so you know what rates they’re paying for what kind of content. It’s an essential resource for making sure you get the best rate possible (or skip the stinkers who don’t pay well).

Want more resources? Check out the NPR Diverse Sources Database; Online Violence Research 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; 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 that is listed here. The decision of whether to engage with a publication or company is entirely up to the reader. In regards to pitch calls, we try to only share opportunities that have fair rates based on publicly available information. While we currently define “fair rates” as being above $100 USD for around 700-800 words and above $0.10 per word for longer pieces, we cannot guarantee that every publication pays this rate. If you have more information on a rate or exploitative business practices from a publication posted, email [email protected].

TIME-SENSITIVE PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–World Wildlife is looking for submissions of “short, uplifting personal essays about nature’s impact on a writer” for their new print column, Love Letter. They are specifically looking for full drafts and not pitches. The rate is $1.25 per word for essays of 100-300 words. See their submission form for more info and send submissions by January 31.

–AARP is looking for pitches of profiles on inspirational older adults. They are particularly interested in pitches from BIPOC writers. The rate is $1 per word. Send pitches to [email protected] by January 29. 

–Chatelaine is looking for pitches of short arts and culture pieces on upcoming music, books, shows, movies, and other media for their upcoming March/April issue. They are also looking for pitches of reported features, memoir, explainers, and other content on food and health. They specifically want pitches targeting their demographic of women over 35 years old. The rate is CAD $1 (USD $0.80) per word for print, and ranges from CAD $300-$800 (USD $240-$640) for digital stories depending on the scope. Send art and culture pitches to [email protected] and food and health pitches to [email protected]. 

–Input is looking for pitches of stories on music or tech, including artist profiles, trend pieces, and personal essays. The rates range from $0.50-$1 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by January 28.

–Prism is commissioning BIPOC freelance reporters and op-ed writers to cover news “in a way that centers [BIPOC] communities and other marginalized folks.” They are particularly interested in expanding coverage of education, housing, disability, and climate change from an Indigenous perspective. The rate is $0.40 per word. See their pitch guide for more info, and send inquiries about contributing to [email protected]. 

–Shondaland is looking for pitches of interviews with “women killing it in their careers” for their new series, Head Turners. They are “open to women across all facets of life.” The rates start at $550 per interview. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Daily Dot is looking for pitches at the intersection of internet culture, sports, and racing for their Presser project. The rates range from $450-$650 for pieces of 800-1,200 words with one to three sources. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Modern Farmer is looking for pitches for their upcoming “The Future of Food and Farming” package, including stories on what’s really next for farming; what agriculture will look like in 10, 15, 30 years; whether we will be farming in space; what can be grown in Antarctica; and other topics. They are particularly interested in reported features and profiles of 500-1,200 words on future-thinking farmers. The rates range from CAD $0.50-$0.66 (USD $0.40-$0.53) per word. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Saturday, January 22.

–Insider is looking for pitches of stories on changing career paths or industries during the pandemic, including both first-person and reported stories. The rates start at $300 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Toronto Star Sports is looking for pitches of features on sports and culture, history, profiles, and local angles. The rates start at CAD $300 (USD $240) for features of around 750 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Streets Minnesota is looking for pitches of stories on transit, transportation, and land use in BIPOC communities. They are especially interested in pitches from BIPOC writers in these communities. The rates range from $200-$250 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by the end of January. 

–Lost in Cult is looking for pitches of longform features, personal essays, and more on “handheld games, consoles, and everything in between.” The rates start at around £100 (USD $137) per article. See their pitch guide for more info. 

–Mildew Magazine is looking for pitches of stories that inspire readers to think about old clothes in new ways. They are particularly interested in pitches on creative reuse, fashion history, and vintage and secondhand fashion. The rates start at $0.20 per word, but will “vary based on the length and the amount of reporting necessary.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by February 6. 

–Pride Source is looking for pitches of essays, features, and stories on LGBTQIA hard news, pop culture, and “everything in between.” They are especially interested in pitches from Michigan-based writers. The rates range from $100-$150 for essays, and $150-$250 for features. They are also looking for regular news and features contributors. Send pitches and inquiries to [email protected]. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

-The Economic Hardship Reporting Project is always looking for pitches of feature stories, reported personal essays, op-eds, and investigative pieces about economic inequality in America. They are especially interested in pitches of stories based in the Midwest and South from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, lower income, rural, and other underrepresented writers. The rate is roughly $1 per word for pieces of “typically 600-1,500” words, as well as a separate rate from the publication the piece is published with. See their pitch guide and tip sheet for more info.

–Canadian Geographic is always looking for pitches of shorter, front of book stories and longer features on history, geography, and other topics. The rate is CAD $1 (USD $0.80) per word for print features, and varies “depending content” for front of book pieces. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Fast Company is always looking for pitches of reported features on education “of all types,” including how schools are spending their COVID relief money, what learning loss will mean for the future workforce, and other topics. They are especially interested in pitches on the Education crisis as it relates to working parents and the economy. The rates start at $400 for articles of 700-800 words with one or two sources. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–i-D is always looking for pitches of stories on “cult films, Y2K fashion, [and] online and offline subculture (COMPELLING TikTok nonsense ONLY).” They specifically do not want first-person essays. The rates start at £200 (USD $273) per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Giddy is always looking for pitches of stories on “STDs, chronic conditions, physical and mental health, sex, parenting, marriage, grooming,” and other topics. The rates generally start at $200 for stories of 800 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Architectural Digest is always looking for pitches of reported features, profiles, personal essays, and market and commerce roundups on decoration, renovation, conversation, and shopping for their design advice vertical, Clever. The rates start at $200 and “the majority of commissioned stories” are pieces of 700 words, and the rate is $300 for home tours of 600 words, including ”body copy, photo captions, and two lists at the end.” See their (newly updated) pitch guide for more info.

–Huck Magazine is always looking for pitches of reported features, oral histories, book Q+As, and other formats on politics, current affairs, activism, culture, and tech from around the globe. They are also commissioning pieces on “gig economy workers and how they’re fighting back against bad bosses.” The rates range from £120-£200 (about $163-$271) for interviews and profiles and start at £225 (about $305) for larger pieces, but “they will vary” based on the workload. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

-Corq Studio is always looking for pitches of “well-researched comment pieces, case studies, features, and trend reports on the influencer industry and the creator economy.” The rates are £100 (USD $136) for comment pieces of 300-400 words, and range from £350-£600 (USD $477-$818) for features and case studies of no more than 1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Crack Magazine is always looking for pitches of album reviews, profiles, and deep dives into subcultures and underground movements. They are especially interested in non-Western writers and stories. The rate is £0.15 (USD $0.20) per word for short album reviews in print, and £0.20 (USD $0.27) per word for long form features. Send pitches to [email protected].

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

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

–Popular Science is hiring two freelance writers to regularly contribute to their sustainability section. Some science reporting experience is preferred, but not required. The rate is $250 per article of 600-800 words, and writers are expected to write one article per week. Send inquiries to [email protected] by this Friday, January 21. 

-Sidecar Global is hiring one or two contributors to regularly produce content on leadership, business, and new tech for their blog. The rate is $0.25 per word for pieces of around 800 words, and the contributors are expected to produce a piece every one to two weeks. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

-Springboard, an education tech startup, is hiring a contract senior content editor to edit SEO content, articles, and posts for their blog. The rate is $4,000 per month, and the editor is expected to work 20 hours per week on an ongoing contract basis. Send inquiries to [email protected] with a quick summary of your experience, your CV, and a link to your portfolio or work.

–Media Girlfriends, a podcast production company led by journalists of color, is hiring an associate producer to research, chase and book guests; record audio remotely and in-person; and other tasks. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience, and audio editing experience is necessary. The rate is CAD $1,300 per week (USD $1039), and the position requires working 35 hours per week. The position is a three month contract “with potential to extend.” The deadline to apply is January 31. 

–U.S. News 360 Reviews is hiring freelance writers for their Sleep vertical. Candidates should have some experience writing about products or health; “bonus points if those clips are related to sleep.” The rates start at $200 per piece and, while you’ll need to do some research, you will be given “very detailed outlines and suggested sources.” Send inquiries and a few relevant clips to Haniya at [email protected] with the subject line “Sleep Writer from Study Hall.”

–ClearHealthCosts is hiring temporary freelance reporters to assist on a health care pricing survey from January 31 through February 25. The position may be remote, but working in-office will be preferred if it is safe to do so. The rate ranges from $30-$35 per hour, and the reporter is expected to work four or five days per week from 10 AM through 6 PM. Additional freelance writing work will be possible after the contract ends. Send inquiries by next Monday, January 24.

EVENTS AND COURSES

–The Open Notebook is hosting a series of free Science Journalism Master Classes. The classes cover the following topics: how to find an angle for any science story; how to pitch science stories that sell; and how to spot scientific hype and misinformation. There is no start date and you can sign up for the courses at any time.

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-MediaFutures is accepting applications for their paid Open Call grant program. The program aims to address the “challenge of misinformation and disinformation” by supporting unconventional ways for people to engage with journalism. The grant provides up to €80,000 in free funding for startups and up to €40,000 for artists, and includes six months of support. The deadline to apply is next Thursday, January 27. 

-The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism is accepting applications for their paid Ferriss-UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship grant. The program offers 15 grants of $10,000 to journalists “reporting in-depth print and audio stories on the science, policy, business, and culture of this new era of psychedelics.” The deadline to apply is January 31.

-The Knight Science Journalism Program is accepting submissions for their Victor K. McElheny Award for local and regional science journalism. Applicants can submit any work of journalism that covers science, public health, technology, or environmental issues. Entries can be standalone pieces or series and must have been published by a US-based outlet during the 2021 calendar year. The deadline to submit is January 31.

–Red Pepper Magazine is accepting submissions for their Dawn Foster Memorial Essay Prize in collaboration with HCI Skills Gateway. The contest is specifically for UK-based writers aged 35 and under. Applicants are invited to write an essay of 1,500 words on Britain’s housing crisis. The first prize is an award of £1,500 (USD $1,986) and there are four runner-up prizes of £200 (USD $265) each. The deadline to submit is January 31.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award. The award is open to women, non-binary, and gender nonconforming journalists around the world. They accept both third-party and self nominations. The winner will receive a prize of $20,000. The deadline to apply is February 24.

–Sports Illustrated is accepting applications for their paid copy desk summer internship program. Interns will copyedit magazine stories for style, grammar, and editorial consistency. Applicants must be rising juniors, rising seniors, or recent graduates, and should have some copy editing experience. The internship pays $17.39 per hour, and interns are expected to work 35 hours per week for 10 weeks. No application deadline was given, but candidates chosen for interviews will be notified of their application status by March 15.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their annual Courage in Journalism Awards. The award honors full-time staff or freelance reporters, writers, editors, photographers or producers who identify as women, non-binary, and gender nonconforming. Self-nominations are not accepted. The deadline to nominate is March 18.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their Gwen Ifill Award. The award is given to a woman, non-binary, or gender nonconforming journalist of color in the U.S. with “a track record of mentorship, leadership, and a commitment to diversity in journalism.” They accept both third-party and self nominations. The deadline to nominate is March 26.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their United States Journalism Emergency Fund program. The program provides financial assistance to US-based journalists of any gender (including men) who have been “targeted as a result of [their] reporting at events related to the highly charged political unrest and polarization in the US.” The fund covers medical aid, mental health and legal services, and destroyed or stolen equipment or protective gear. Requests will be reviewed in the order they were received.

–SpotlightDC is accepting applications for its investigative journalism grant. The grant awards up to $10,000 for investigative or explanatory journalism projects focused on health care, crime, transportation, corruption, and other matters of public interest in the Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia regions. Grant applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis.

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

-Substack and Roxane Gay are accepting applications for their paid Joel Gay Creative Fellowship program. The fellowship includes monthly support meetings with Gay for one year and a stipend of $25,000 (paid in monthly installments) for three emerging writers to develop and publish a newsletter. The program will also include up to $15,000 in services from Substack, including editorial and other business support services. The deadline to apply is February 10. 

–MinnPost is accepting applications for their paid, Minneapolis-based Race & Health Equity Reporting Fellowship program. The fellow will cover “the different ways poverty, discrimination, education, employment, transportation, housing, and the environment affect health and health care among Minnesota’s BIPOC communities.” Ideal applicants are early career journalists. The fellowship pays $48,000, and fellows are expected to work full-time for one year. 

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–Crain’s New York Business is hiring for multiple positions, including a reporter and a senior reporter to cover technology, real estate, health care, entrepreneurship, government, and finance. Candidates for the reporter position should have at least two years of experience, and at least five years for the senior reporter position. 

–Fatherly is hiring an editor to oversee coverage of cars, toys, electronics, and more for their Gear section. Candidates should have at least four years of experience at a digital publication, including two years of editing experience, and knowledge of digital publishing tools. 

–Documented is hiring for multiple positions, including a Chinese community correspondent to design and built a vertical focused on Chinese New Yorkers; a Caribbean community correspondent to design and built a vertical focused on Caribbean New Yorkers; an immigration reporter to focus on the enforcement parts of the immigration system, especially courts and detention; and a labor reporter to focus on immigrant labor issues in the city. The deadline to apply for all positions is January 31.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

–Grid is hiring for multiple positions, including reporters to cover a specific beat of their choosing, as well as general assignment reporters to pitch stories on a wide range of topics, including science, technology, politics, and more. Candidates for both positions should have a “willingness to shift from long-term to short-term to breaking-news reporting in the course of a week.” 

TEXAS

–Axios is hiring a Houston-based reporter to cover local news for a daily newsletter. Candidates should have some experience covering local news in the respective cities, including a deep knowledge of the local politics, business, or social issues. 

–Texas Monthly is hiring for multiple positions, including an Austin- or Texas-based copy editor to primarily focus on the print magazine; an Austin-based senior engagement editor to oversee the distribution of their editorial content on social media, newsletters, and other sources; and an Austin- or Texas-based senior editor to lead their coverage of business and innovation across the state. The deadline to apply is this Friday, January 21 for the copy editor position; February 14 for the senior engagement editor position; and February 21 for the senior editor position. 

CALIFORNIA

–Axios is hiring a San Francisco-based reporter to cover local news for a daily newsletter. Candidates should have some experience covering local news in the respective cities, including a deep knowledge of the local politics, business, or social issues. 

NORTHEAST

–Pittsburgh City Paper is hiring a news editor to supervise, lead, and edit their news staff and assign stories to freelancers. Candidates should have strong news reporting experience, some copy editing experience, and a familiarity with local politics. The salary range is $40,000-$45,000. 

–Axios is hiring for multiple positions, including a Boston-based reporter and a Richmond-based reporter to cover local news in their respective cities for a daily newsletter. Candidates for both positions should have some experience covering local news in the respective cities, including a deep knowledge of the local politics, business, or social issues. 

SOUTHEAST

–The Assembly is hiring for multiple positions, including a managing editor to lead their newsroom, as well as a revenue and growth director to oversee subscription and advertising revenue streams. THe starting salaries are $75,000 for the managing editor and $65,000 for the revenue and growth director. Both positions can be remote, but relocation to North Carolina is strongly preferred. The deadline to apply for both positions is January 31. 

–Axios is hiring for multiple positions, including a Baltimore-based reporter, Charlotte-based reporter, Raleigh-based reporter, and Miami-based reporter to cover local news in their respective cities for a daily newsletter. Candidates for both positions should have some experience covering local news in the respective cities, including a deep knowledge of the local politics, business, or social issues. 

CENTRAL

–Block Club Chicago is hiring a reporter to cover the Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods on the Far Southwest Side of Chicago. Candidates should have at least two years of reporting experience and a familiarity with these neighborhoods, with residents or former residents of the Southwest Side preferred. The deadline to apply is tomorrow, January 20.

–Axios is hiring a Detroit-based reporter to cover local news for a daily newsletter. Candidates should have some experience covering local news in the respective cities, including a deep knowledge of the local politics, business, or social issues. 

SOUTHWEST

–Axios is hiring for multiple positions, including a Salt Lake City-based reporter and a Phoenix-based reporter to cover local news in their respective cities for a daily newsletter. Candidates for both positions should have some experience covering local news in the respective cities, including a deep knowledge of the local politics, business, or social issues. 

NORTHWEST + ALASKA

–States Newsroom is hiring an Anchorage or Jeneau-based editor-in-chief to lead a new Alaska bureau, including hiring and overseeing three reporters. Candidates should have extensive reporting or editing experience and a deep knowledge of Alaska’s political history and media landscape. The starting salary is $90,000. 

–Axios is hiring a Seattle-based reporter to cover local news for a daily newsletter. Candidates should have some experience covering local news in the respective cities, including a deep knowledge of the local politics, business, or social issues. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Axios is hiring for multiple positions, including a Local News associate editor; multiple Local News bureau chiefs and deputy bureau chiefs; a Local News managing editor; a climate and energy tech reporter; a fintech, health tech, and consumer retail editor; a health care policy editor and two health care policy reporters; two retail reporters; two media and entertainment deals reporters; a breaking news editor; a business reporter; a crypto reporter; a workplace reporter; a politics editor; a business and markets managing editor; a weekend news editor; and an SEO editor.

–Vox is hiring an economic policy reporter to cover the “issues, arguments, personalities, and controversies shaping policy in the US.” Candidates should have strong reporting skills and a background or interest in covering the economy and economic policy. The position is part of the Vox Media Union, represented by the Writers Guild of America, East. 

–The Daily Dot is hiring a newsletter editor to manage and direct their email operation. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience, including some newsletter experience, and a “deep understanding of internet culture’s idiosyncratic, evolving nature.” The starting salary is $65,000, commensurate with experience. The deadline to apply is January 31. 

–Insider is hiring an editor to join their digital culture team. Candidates should have some editing or reporting experience, including a “demonstrable history of obtaining original scoops and exclusives,” and should be comfortable editing, fielding pitches, and assigning stories. 

–The Associated Press is hiring for multiple positions, including an education data journalist to focus on the impact of the pandemic on the U.S. education system, and a climate data journalist to focus on the environment and climate in the U.S. and globally. Candidates for both positions should have strong data analysis and reporting skills. Both positions can be based in any U.S. city with an A.P. bureau, and both positions will last for two years. The deadline to apply for both positions is tomorrow, January 20. 

INTERNATIONAL

–rabble.ca is hiring a Canada-based editor to assign and edit daily news features and analysis pieces. Candidates should have at least two years of journalism editing experience, and a “knowledge of and demonstrated interest in progressive politics, social and labor movements, and current national affairs, including Indigenous-led activism.” The salary range is CAD $50,700-$58,500 (USD $40,420-$46,640), based on experience. The deadline to apply is February 4.