Opportunities 03/30/2023

Insider, Longreads, Mother Jones, 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 Marisa Clogher, who may, possibly, be in the same room as Nic Cage today. 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 are taking a break for March and April. When we return, 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.

-Mark Gozonsky was paid $900 by The Los Angeles Times for copy and photos for his story on public tennis courts in LA. He did “just enough negotiating for mutual respect” and said the “assignment was clear, deadlines straightforward, editing deft, copy editing tight, and all the promotion you could ask for.” He was also invited to write more for them in the future.

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RESOURCES

Mastering the art of freelancing requires more than just perusing the Study Hall Opps newsletter every week. To help you get the most bang for your buck, we keep track of many resources designed to help media workers. Have a resource you’d like to see included? Send it to [email protected] with “Resource:” in the subject line. 

-The Fund for Investigative Journalism provides emergency grants of up to $10,000 for stories on threats to democracy in the US. The fund reviews proposals on a rolling basis and ends on December 31st, 2023.

-The Reporting Job Board by Investigative Reporters and Editors is a continually updated website for jobs in reporting, editing, academia, and more. 

-”Knowing the News” is a 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.

 -“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. 

Want more resources? Check out Resources For Journalists Seeking Therapy; Trans Journalists Association’s Style Guide; NBCC Book Coverage Publication List; Who’s Behind This Website Checklist; SpotlightDC Investigative Journalism Fund; United States Journalism Emergency Fund; Transcription Tool Safety Guide; Labor Action Tracker; Rate Sharing Database; NPR Diverse Sources Database; Online Violence Response Hub; Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Journalists Therapy Relief Fund; Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund; Developing An Investigative Pitch Guide; Britany Robinson’s Big List of Writing Deadlines; Study Hall Transcriber Database; Study Hall Fact Checkers Database; Freelancing Guide/Editorial Contacts spreadsheet; #FreelancerPayGap spreadsheet; Pitch Guide Database; Chelsea’s Guide to Freelancing doc; PACER; Priya Krishna’s resources for food writing; Election SOS Report; and the Extremism Coverage Prep Guide.

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CALLS FOR PITCHES

Please note that we are not endorsing every publication or company listed here. Engaging with a publication or company is entirely up to the reader. Regarding pitch calls, we try to only share opportunities with fair rates based on publicly available information. While we currently define “fair rates” as 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 

–Study Hall (that’s us!) is looking for pitches for our weekly digest. We are looking for stories about media work and journalism, specifically ones that center workers. We’re interested in coverage of media gossip, disability rights in media, developments in LGBTQ+ media, BIPOC perspectives of the media industry, developments in AI, and tech’s role in the changing media industry. The digest includes a timely, 500- to 800-word lede essay followed by an assortment of four to six rubrics. The rate is $750. 

–The Guardian US is looking for pitches of long form stories that focus on the ways Idaho is looking “dire for women” right now. The rate is $1 per word. Find more info on how to pitch here. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Lonely Planet is looking to assign stories to writers in “southern Africa, specifically Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia [and] Zimbabwe.” Writers should be living there or have traveled there extensively in the past 18 months. The rate is upwards of $1,500 depending on word count and research. Fill out this form to be considered. 

–Scalawag is looking for pitches of essays, interviews, short fiction, reported stories, and more for its abolition week, during which it publishes work exclusively by “currently or formerly incarcerated people, as well as folks living in open-air prisons, labor camps, or refugee camps.”  The rate is $800 to $1,500. Submit pitches here or email the listed editors directly by April 19. 

–Torontoverse is looking for pitches of news, food, and neighborhood stories about Toronto that “[experiment] with AI to build rich, interactive article experiences.” The rate is $250 for stories under 500 words, $500 for mappable-list articles (500 to 750 words), and $750 for larger data visualizations and reported stories with multiple interviews and sources (750 to 1,000 words). Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-Zocdoc is looking for pitches of stories of successfully using the platform to find a doctor and treatment. The rate is around $0.50 per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Rest of World is looking for pitches on “generative AI and its impact” and “China tech’s long-tail.” The rate is $500 for news stories and $0.50 per word for reports. Find more information in its pitch guide. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Refinery29’s “Unbothered” is looking for pitches from Black writers who are interested in style and fashion. The starting rate is $500. Send clips and a bio to [email protected]. 

–Longreads is looking for pitches of researched and reported essays and cultural criticism. The rate starts at $500 for essays between 2,000 and 6,000 words. Find more information on the type of work it’s looking for here. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Thoughtful is looking for pitches of well-researched, wellness-oriented articles and guides to addressing life’s problems. The rate is $500 for 1,000 to 1,500 words. Send pitches to [email protected], along with two to four relevant clips. 

–Edition is looking for pitches for its summer music issue’s “Innovation” section which “highlights notable POC talent fusing music with tech, finance and/or business.” The rate is $400 to $500. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-“Passionfruit,” The Daily Dot’s creator newsletter, is looking for pitches of “4/20-themed stories relevant.” The rate is $250 for think pieces, $300 for interviews, and $450 for reported features. Send pitches to [email protected] by April 6.

–JRNYmag is looking for pitches on the following destinations: “Brazil (not wildlife), Oman, UAE, Kuwait, or Saudi Arabia.” Writers should have visited or lived there within the last six months. The rate is £300 ($371 USD) for 1,800 to 2,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected] with “Pitch” and the destination in the subject line by tomorrow, March 31.

–Insider is looking for pitches of “reported features or investigations on travel, cruises, unique living situations, weddings, food/restaurants, TV, or interior design.” The rate starts at $250 and varies based on the type of piece and word count. Send pitches to @nuclearunicorns on Twitter.

–Skin Deep is looking for pitches of journalistic features, interviews, essays, conversations, poetry, art, and other creative responses for its print issue, themed “PLAY.” Skin Deep “makes space for Black creatives and creatives of color to work towards justice.” The rate is £200 to £400 (USD $247 to $495) depending on the type of piece. Send pitches by April 13. 

–LoopBreak is looking for pitches of reviews and features from Black writers about the intersection of Black culture and video games. The rate is $200 for stories of 800 to 1,000 words, but “can be negotiated up for larger projects.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Ride Texas Magazine is looking for pitches on “all motorcycle makes, models, and riding styles” that are regionally focused for its spring and summer issues. The rate is $100 to $400 depending on length and depth of research, and blog posts are $0.10 per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Lost in Cult is looking for pitches about “The Legend of Zelda,” including “personal essays, design analysis, lore explorations,” and more. The rate starts at £165 ($204 USD). Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Brooklyn Rail is looking for pitches of book reviews, author interviews, and quarterly feature essays. The rate is $150. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Los Angeles Public Press is accepting pitches of “creative, sound-rich audio [stories] about Los Angeles” for its podcast launching this summer. The rate begins at $110 per broadcast minute. Submit pitches here. 

–Los Angeles Public Press is looking for pitches of reported Twitter threads on public meetings and local government. The outlet wants to hear from reporters, community experts, and advocates. The rate is $150 per Twitter thread. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–World Baseball Network is looking for pitches of “baseball, baseball people, and baseball culture wherever in the world you may find it.” The rates start at $100 for short pieces and go up for features and deeper analysis. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Autostraddle is looking for pitches of personal narratives about money from Black queer and lesbian writers. It is not looking for how-tos, listicles, or Q&As. The rate is $100 to $150 for 750 to 950 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Saturday, April 1. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES. 

–Hidden Compass is always looking for pitches of photo features that “convey the feeling of the place, reflect the story arc, and be thoughtfully processed and composed.” The rate is $800 as well as 50% of the proceeds from the patronage campaign attached to each of its stories. Find more info on what and how to pitch here. 

–Going is always looking for pitches “about single dishes and how they represent a place and its history and people” for its new travel newsletter. Pitches will be assigned monthly. The rate starts at $350. Submit pitches here.

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

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 FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

NEW: -Propel is hiring a social media manager on a three-month contract to clean up its current social media and build out a longer social media strategy. Candidates should have at least four years experience crafting and executing social media strategy—especially for Instagram and TikTok. This is a remote-friendly position. Candidates will be expected to work at least 10 hours per week, and the rate is $75 to $100 per hour, depending on experience. For more information email [email protected]. 

NEW: -Consequence Forum is hiring a guest editor for its Fall 2024 issue that “focus on writers and artists who identify as part of the BIPOC community.” Candidates should also identify as members of the BIPOC community, have previous experience working on a literary journal, and have published work. The rate is $4,500 for five to seven hours of work per week for six months. The position is fully remote. 

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GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

NEW: -Earth Journalism Network is seeking pitches for story grants to report on the Mediterranean Sea. Candidates must be from a country that borders the Mediterranean Sea and must write in either English or French. Five grants of up to £1,000 (USD $1237) will be awarded. The deadline to apply is April 7. 

–Ploughshares is now accepting submissions for its Emerging Writer’s Contest, which is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. Candidates should not be affiliated with Emerson College or with Ploughshares. The winners of each genre will receive $2,000, publication, and a 1-year subscription to Ploughshares. The deadline to submit is May 15. 

–The Atlantic is accepting applications for its 2023 Michael Kelly Award. The award recognizes work published in a US-based print or online publication that exemplifies “the fearless pursuit and expression of truth.” The winning entry will be awarded $25,000, and each finalist will receive $3,000. The deadline to apply is tomorrow, March 31. 

-GALECA is accepting submissions for its Crimson Honors Scholarship contest. The contest requires submitting “up to [three] reviews or essays” on film or TV, and contestants must be “BIPOC LGBTQ+ women, [or] nonbinary students of color” who “attended a public college or university in the US or its territories in 2022.” The grand prize winner will receive $3,000, with two finalists each collecting $1,500. The deadline to submit is this Saturday, April 1. 

–Narratively is accepting submissions for its 2023 Profile Prize contest. It is looking for profile pieces that “tell the story of ordinary people or communities doing extraordinary things.” The grand prize winner will receive $3,000, and the two finalists will receive $1,000 each. There is a $20 entry fee and the deadline to submit is April 14. 

–Oregon Humanities is accepting submissions “about home, sanctuary, and refuge of all kinds” for its summer 2023 issue themed “Shelter.” It’s looking for personal essays, journalistic pieces, and book excerpts from Oregon writers. The pay is $500 to $1,000. The deadline to submit is April 24. 

–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. 

EVENTS AND COURSES

-Emma Copley Eisenberg, author of “The Third Rainbow Girl” and co-founder of Blue Stoop, A Home for Philly Writers, is teaching a remote course called “Transforming Your Nonfiction Book From Idea to Reality.” The goal of this course is to produce a 60 to 80 page book proposal by the end. The course runs from May to August, and the class is $1,500 per student. She is also hosting free office hours on this Sunday, April 2. 

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–Mashable is hiring a shopping intern to write about products across technology, entertainment, and culture. Candidates should have some journalism experience. The rate is $15 per hour, and the position is fully remote. 

NEW: –Mother Jones is now accepting applications for its Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program which offers a crash course in investigative journalism. Candidates of varying experience levels are welcome to apply. Fellows will receive $22.68 per hour, plus benefits including health, dental, and vision, as well as 15 vacation days and 12 sick days. This is a remote-friendly fellowship. The deadline to apply is April 7. Any questions can be directed to [email protected]. 

–The Hechinger Report is accepting applications for the summer reporting internship. Interns will “research, conduct interviews and write about national K-12 education issues.” Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree and previous experience interning at a news outlet. The pay is $650 per week. The deadline to apply is April 14. 

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for its Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship designed to give “academic and professional opportunities to women journalists committed to human rights and social justice reporting.” Candidates should be working journalists with at least three years of full-time journalism experience. Candidates from around the world are eligible but must be able to speak, read, and write fluently in English. Candidates will be given a $2,000 monthly stipend for six months. More info can be found here.

-Farrar, Straus and Giroux is accepting applications for its yearlong FSG Writer’s Fellowship designed to provide “funding, editorial guidance, and advice on how to forge a writing career.” Fellows will receive $15,000 in two installments, one at the start of the fellowship and one in February 2024. Candidates should not have published a “book-length work in any genre, have a book under contract, or be negotiating a contract either in the United States or abroad” by the fellowship’s start.

–High Country News is accepting applications for its yearlong Virginia Spencer Davis Fellowship which is designed for “early-career journalists interested in reporting on rural communities in the [American] West.” Fellows will aim to publish 24 stories over the course of the fellowship. Fellows are expected to work 32.5 hours per week, and will receive a biweekly stipend of $1,250, as well as a $100 work-from-home allowance and a $500 starting bonus. The position is remote and open to candidates in Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming. The deadline to apply is April 21.

–The Nation is accepting applications for its annual internship. The internship is full-time, five days a week, and 35 hours per week. It lasts six months, from June to December. Interns are paid $18 per hour. Remote candidates will be considered, but preference will be given to candidates in New York who can come into the office. The deadline to apply is May 12.

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JOBS 

NEW YORK

-The Brennan Center for Justice is hiring a full-time executive editor to launch and manage a new digital platform, State Court Report, which will “include regular coverage and commentary that analyzes and contextualizes significant state court decisions relating to state constitutional rights, as well as a searchable database of notable rulings across all 50 states.” Candidates should have either a law degree or a bachelor’s degree with legal journalism experience. The salary is $125,000 to $140,000 and includes benefits.

–The Cut is hiring an e-commerce writer and editor to “assist in driving market and shopping coverage across its digital platforms, editing and commissioning original articles, listicles, and galleries.” Candidates should have at least three years of professional experience in digital brand media as well as deep market knowledge of women’s fashion. The salary range is $67,500 to $72,000. 

REMOTE FRIENDLY

-NerdWallet is hiring a content director to lead a team of 40 editors and writers to translate complicated topics into conversational and useful articles and multimedia resources. Candidates should have at least 10 years of experience in leadership roles in media. The salary range is $164,000 to $280,000 and includes benefits. This position is based in San Francisco or remote.