Opportunities 01/27/2023

The Washington Post, Eater Atlanta, Rest of World, 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 can almost 100% confirm they had E. Coli poisoning all week from some admittedly delicious beef tartar. The newsletter is released on Thursdays. Once in a while, we take a day off or publish late for mental health breaks and holidays (or being sick).

►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

►Public Books — the online mag of ideas, arts, and scholarship — is hiring a managing editor! The position is FT and residence in New York state is required (but remote work is acceptable).  The salary range is $75,500-$77,500, and the salary and benefits are through Columbia University. Apply today!

►Make space for your ideas with SVA’s MA program in Design Research, Writing & Criticism. The nine-month, intensive course runs from Sept through May and is aimed at established or emerging writers who want to look at the world through the lens of design. Send inquiries to [email protected] and apply now for 2023-24 scholarship funding!

>> The Classified Ads are back and better than ever. We’ve expanded our Ad model to include placement in our two weekly newsletters: Thursday’s Opportunities and our Digest newsletters. 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 Arnoff Yeoman was paid $500 for a photo essay on the whale watching culture of Depoe Bay, Oregon for The Statesider. She reports that the outlet was “very open to creative input and ideas” and was “super nice to work with.” 

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 Job Board by Kati Kokal and Alex Ptachick organizes over 20 pages of resources — including twitter accounts, newsletters, and job listings — to help laid off Gannett journalists find new jobs. 

-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 January 1, 2024.

-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 new 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.

–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. 

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 theExtremism 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 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 

–Cosmopolitan is looking for pitches of “profiles about complex figures who reflect something bigger in our culture; plot-driven narratives; [and] thoughtful criticism” for their upcoming Pride issue. “Very open interpretations of ‘pride’ encouraged.” The rates range from $1.50-$2 per word for features. Send pitches to [email protected] by February 6. 

–Rest of World is commissioning a South Korea-based writer to take on a story. The writer should have “experience in writing longform narrative stories and ideally an interest in tech.” The rate is $1 per word and feature stories are at least 3,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send inquiries to [email protected] ASAP. 

–Bicycling Magazine is looking for pitches of features on gravel cycling. The rates “typically start at $1 per word.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

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

–The Parliament is looking for pitches of reported features on the theme of “rural Europe” for their upcoming edition. They are also interested in book reviews, author interviews, and culture pitches about rural Europe and other topics. The rates start at €0.50 ($0.55 USD) per word for interviews and reviews and €0.55 ($0.60 USD) per word for reported features. See their pitch call for more info and send pitches by February 10.

–Inherited, a podcast on climate change, is looking for pitches of stories on the “themes of earth, air, fire, water, and ether through [their] ongoing lens of climate and youth” for their third season. They are “specifically seeking pitches from young (17-24) BIPOC folks and those from marginalized or frontline communities, with first-time storytellers especially encouraged to apply.” The rates start at $750 per story and while there is no minimum length for a piece, they are “unlikely to produce pieces longer than 25 minutes.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by this Tuesday, January 31. 

–The Washington Post is commissioning writers to cover home, garden, and parenting. They are prioritizing writers who were recently laid off. The rates generally start at $400 but can be negotiated depending on the story. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–BorderLore is looking for pitches of personal or reported essays on “something that connects you (or doesn’t!) to culture, tradition, heritage, or folklife in the Southwest or US-Mexico border region” for their ARTIFACT section. The rate is $300 for 900-1,500 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-NYU’s LatinxProject is looking for pitches of essays on algorithms, AI, Web3, and other topics for their spring exhibition. Pitches are welcome from all freelance writers, not only NYU students. The rate is $300 for up to 1,500 words, and goes up to $500 for longer pieces. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Monday, January 30.  

–SFGATE is looking for pitches of profiles on San Francisco music venues, particularly “how a venue fits into the city’s culture, history, and identity.” The rates start at $250 for around 1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Passionfruit, the Daily Dot’s creator economy newsletter, is looking for pitches of think pieces, interviews, and reported features on “creator economy business news, viral labor stories, [and] investigations into unfair business practices against creators” centered around Black History Month. They are also interested in “connecting with new writers for longer term relationships.” The rates start at $250 for think pieces, $300 for interviews, and $450 for reported features. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Eater Atlanta is looking for pitches of feature stories, food guides, restaurant maps, and other content on the Atlanta dining scene. The rates are either a flat range from $200-$600 or $0.50-$0.75 per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Healthline is commissioning health and wellness writers to cover “general health and wellness topics, like condition overviews, symptom identification, and prevention tips.” The rates start at $175 for 750 words, the “average rate [they] can offer is $200 for about 1,000 words,” and “some pieces may be assigned for up to $225.” See their call for writers form for more info and to submit your info by the end of January.

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Poynter is always looking for pitches of reported pieces, columns, and opinion pieces on LGBTQ+ issues in journalism. The rates start at $0.50 per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Food Section is always looking for pitches of reported stories on food and drink in the American South. They schedule months in advance, so are not looking for pitches of time-sensitive stories. The rate is $1,000 for 1,200 words, and may also cover some expenses. See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch. 

–Bolts is always looking for pitches of reported pieces on “critical voting rights and criminal justice stories across the United States.” They also look for pitches of news features, explainers, and other content. The “default rate” is $800 for pieces with original reporting.. 

–Rest of World is always looking for pitches of news pieces, reported features, and op-eds on tech issues facing the regions of East and Southeast Asia. They are particularly interested in pitches of stories based in South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and are always looking for pitches of longform, narrative journalism. The rates range from $400-$500 for news pieces and op-eds, and start at $600 for reported features and $1 per word for longform pieces of at least 3,000 words. See their pitch guide for news, features, and op-eds info and their pitch guide for longform pieces for more info, including who to pitch.

–Crikey is always looking for pitches of opinion and analysis pieces on politics, government, media, business, the arts, sport and other aspects of public life in Australia. They are particularly interested in pitches that are “hooked on the news cycle.” The rates range from $250-$300 AUS ($177-$213 USD) for 600-800 words. See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch.

–Layered Butter is always looking for pitches of analysis and cultural criticism, interviews, essays, and other content on art, design, and the movies. They also look for pitches on a “particular abstract theme, genre, director, [or] actor” for issues of their publication. The rates range from $100-$500. See their pitch form for more info and to submit pitches. 

–Understandably is always looking for pitches of first-person narrative essays on “unique experiences that lead to universal lessons or insights into what it means to be a human being.” They also publish previously published work if writers still own the rights. The rate is $100 for 700-1,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] with “SUBMISSION” in the subject line. 

***CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF 200+ EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.***

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

–The New Republic is hiring multiple journalists for their one-year Reporter-Researcher program. Those in the position will fact-check the articles that go into their monthly magazine, but “are also encouraged to pitch ideas and to write.” The salary is $39,264 and the position can be based in New York City or Washington, DC. The position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with The NewsGuild of New York. The deadline to apply is this Monday, January 30.

–Jewish Telegraphic Agency is hiring freelance correspondents to cover either of the following categories: “Jewish communities and the issues affecting them outside of the US” or “arts and culture,” including books, plays, movies, and more. The rate starts at $300 for features, but are “nailed down through email” after connecting. “No experience in the Jewish space required.”

–Consumer Reports is hiring one to two freelance writers to writers who are “comfortable with data-based consumer reporting” to update content. The rate ranges from $25-$35 per hour for up to 20 hours per week, and they will send you a MacBook Air. Send inquiries to [email protected] with the subject line “CR Updates+ Freelance” and include one to two relevant clips and “no more than 150 words” about your qualifications. 

-ioby is hiring a part-time content writer to produce two pieces of content per month that “helps establish ioby as an expert voice in the fields of grassroots fundraising, organizing, and movement-building.” Candidates should have some experience writing about civic leadership, fundraising, movements for social and racial justice, and other related topics. The rate is $50 per hour, “with the expectation that you’ll work about 8-10 hours per month.” There is no deadline to apply, but the start date is this Wednesday, February 1. 

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-The Fund for Investigative Journalism is accepting applications for their paid Investigative Story Grant program. The program aims to provide grants of up to $10,000 to produce “investigative stories that break new ground and uncover wrongdoing in the public or private sectors.” Stories “must be published in a US media outlet in English” and “come from a US-based reporter or have a strong US angle.” The deadline to apply is this Monday, January 30. 

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their paid Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award. The award celebrates women, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming photojournalists, and includes a cash prize of $20,000. Third-party and self-nominations are accepted. The deadline to nominate is March 3. 

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their annual Courage in Journalism Awards. The awards honor women and nonbinary journalists who “report on taboo topics, work in environments hostile to women, and share difficult truths.” Self-nominations are not accepted. The deadline to nominate is March 3. 

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their Gwen Ifill Award. The award is open to women and non-binary journalists of color working in the news media. Third-party and self-nominations are accepted. The deadline to nominate is March 3. 

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–The Philadelphia Inquirer is accepting applications for their paid summer internship program. The program can be done in one of the following tracks: features, business, news, health, opinion, Now desk reporting, audience development, or visuals and photography. The internship pays $18 per hour and interns are expected to work 30 hours per week for nine weeks (from June through August). The deadline to apply is this Wednesday, February 1.

JOBS 

WASHINGTON, DC

–E&E News is hiring a reporter to join their eight-person team covering environment and energy news on Capitol Hill. Candidates should have a deep deep understanding of Congress and campaigns, and a strong interest in covering energy and environment issues. No salary info or application deadline was given for this role.

CALIFORNIA

–CalMatters is hiring an audience engagement manager to strengthen audience engagement, including posting questions, inviting comments, and more. Candidates should have at least three years of social media experience and some journalism experience. A proficiency in Spanish is preferred, but not required. The salary range is $65,000-$80,000. No deadline was given for applications. “You may work from anywhere in California with occasional visits to [their] Sacramento headquarters.”

–POLITICO is hiring a Sacramento-based editor to expand their California policy and legislative coverage. Candidates should have some experience managing a team of reporters in different places and departments. The salary range is $175,000-$225,000, commensurate with experience. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Blavity is hiring a deputy editor to oversee design and style content on their new vertical “Home & Texture.” Candidates should have at least five years of publishing experience and be able to “produce creative editorial that resonates with Black Millennials who are homeowners or looking to become homeowners.” The salary range is $64,480-$80,000, and “candidates must be available to work at least 50% in alignment with the Pacific Time Zone.” 

–Axios is hiring an associate audience editor to lead their edtorial SEO efforts. Candidates should have knowledge of SEO best practices, strong writing and editing skills, and some newsroom experience. The salary range is $80,000-$100,000. 

–Gas Leaks is hiring a digital manager to manage their site and social channels, including shaping their brand strategy. Candidates should have at least two years of experience in digital, social media, or project management, and excellent writing and copy-editing skills. The salary range is $75,000-$90,000. There is no deadline to apply, but interviews will begin the week of February 20 and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.