Opportunities 04/06/2022
Cosmopolitan, Narratively, NPR, 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 guest-written by Marisa Clogher, who can’t stop saying “it drives so smooth” after getting four new tires this week. 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.
THE MEDIA CLASSIFIED ADS
►Spend lunchtime with Desus Nice and The New York Times on Friday, April 8. Celebrate New York City’s resilience, learn about how the city’s restaurants are coming back, and get the lowdown on where to find the best knishes, Jamaican beef patties, and more. RSVP here.
►Nominations are now open for NYU’s American Journalism Online Awards! Nominate someone else or throw your own hat in the ring. Categories include: Best News-Based Twitter Thread, Best TikTok Explainer, Best Podcast, Best Debunking of Fake News, and many more. Send submissions by May 15.
****ANNOUNCEMENT: The Classified Ads will be on a break starting next week through to the end of April, but we’ll be back soon. Want to learn more about promoting your job opening / pitch call / new project / ecommerce brand? Click through for rates, testimonials, and to get in touch.****
STUDY HALL EVENTS PROGRAMMING
►ASK ME ANYTHING: A series of dialogues that will be hosted on our Slack channel covering topics that include: the politics of labor, racial dynamics in arts publishing, and managing stress while freelancing.
–AMA with entertainment writer Rachel Simon will take place on next Wednesday, April 13 at 3PM EST. Simon was previously deputy editor of HelloGiggles, entertainment news editor for Bustle, and wellbeing editor for Mic. Participants are encouraged to ask questions about managing stress while freelancing and the art of pitching and promoting your work.
These hour-long conversations will be held in an AMA format in the #general channel on Slack (you’ll need a subscription with Slack access to attend). If you have requests — someone you’d like us to invite or a topic you’d like us to cover — feel free to shoot a note to [email protected]. If you need help updating your subscription, please email [email protected].
OPPS SUCCESS STORIES
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.
Laura Wheatman Hill was paid $350 to write about Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, the youngest-ever nominees in the musical theater category, for the GRAMMYs. She said she had a wonderful experience with the editor, and the feedback was both kind and helpful, with a clean final product.
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 the many, many resources designed to help journalists. Have a resource you’d like to see included? Send it to [email protected] with “Resource:” in the subject line.
NEW -The Who Published This Website Checklist by Columbia Journalism Review is an essential guide to help journalists and researchers unmask the owner of a website, and also includes tips on tracing the origins of social media accounts and images.
-The Spring 2022 Fellowships and Residencies List by BOMB Magazine tracks all the current fellowships, residencies, and prizes accepting applications, including the location, deadline and residency period.
-The NBCC Book Coverage Publication List by the National Book Critics Circle tracks over 80 publications that publish book coverage (reviews, interviews, essays, etc.). The list includes editor names, contracts, pay rates, and more.
Want more resources? Check out the SpotlightDC Investigative Journalism Fund; United States Journalism Emergency Fund; Transcription Tool Safety Guide; Labor Strike Action Tracker; Rate Sharing Database; 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.
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
–Mother Jones is looking for pitches for their print culture section “especially those that examine structures of power, explore identity, or illuminate cultural undercurrents.” The rate is $3000 for lead essays for 1500-2500 word stories. Email [email protected] with “culture pitch” in the subject line.
–High Country News is looking for pitches of reported features on environmental issues facing the western US. The rate is $1 per word. Send pitches to [email protected].
-Hearst is commissioning lifestyle writers to produce content for their branded content studio. They are especially interested in writers who have experience covering travel, entertainment, finance, and tech, but are also interested in “incredible generalists.” The rate is $500 per piece (and was only revealed after many, many complaints). Post links to work in the thread.
–rabble.ca is looking for pitches of labor stories based in the Greater Toronto area. Topics can include “emerging and precarious workplace struggles, unionization, gig workers, unfair working conditions and more.” The rate is $1500 for stories with a word count of 3,000 words. Email [email protected] with pitches by this Monday, April 11.
–Narratively is looking for pitches of stories of “first-person stories from people who have let a seemingly simple lie turn into years of increasingly complex deception.” The rate is $500 with room to go up for more ambitious stories. The deadline to pitch is next Friday, April 15.
–Narratively is looking for pitches of stories that “profil[e] inspiring high school sports teams that have both an unexpected success story and a one-of-a-kind hook.” The rate is $500 with room to go up for more ambitious stories. The deadline to pitch is next Friday, April 15.
–Nexus Media News is looking for pitches for feature stories about agriculture and climate change and climate finance. In both cases, they’re especially interested in solutions-oriented stories that center BIPOC communities in the US. The rate is $500 for features of 1,000-1,200 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Monday, April 11.
–The Statesider is looking for pitches of stories, maps, infographics, photo essays, and other formats on U.S. travel and culture. The rate is $500 for stories of at least 1,200 words, but reach out if you “want to do something shorter, significantly longer, [or] add complexity in some other way.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by the end of April.
–TIME is looking for an entertainment writer to make a list of the Top Disney Channel Original Movies to Watch Right Now. The list will include around 10 titles with a paragraph making the case for each one. The rate is $400 for a list of 10 movies. Email [email protected] with a few titles you would include and why.
–Chegg Life is looking for pitches of service journalism, personal essays, interviews, and reported stories on student debt, that appeal to college students and recent graduates. They are especially interested in pitches that intersect with mental health or personal finance, and that offer guidance around current events/policy. The rates start at $350 for pieces of 800 words. Send pitches to [email protected].
–Jewish Currents is looking for pitches of reported features, essays, book reviews, artist profiles, and other criticism on the theme of “rest,” including labor and anti-work politics; debt jubilees; mutual aid; and other topics. The rates start at $400 for reviews and essays, and are “up to $1 per word” for deeply reported print features. Send pitches to [email protected] with the subject line “REST: [description of pitch]” by April 30.
–Fast Company is also looking for pitches of reported features on smart urban design, climate resilience, housing solutions, and other topics for their Impact section. The starting rate wasn’t given, but goes “up to $0.50 per word.” Send pitches to [email protected].
–The Parliament Magazine is looking for pitches of reported features, interviews, and book reviews on the theme of “European defense” for their upcoming issue. The rate is €0.40- €0.60 (USD $0.40-$0.66) per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] or [email protected] by today, April 6.
–Hell Gate, a new worker-owned news outlet is interested in pitches for essays, photography, reported stories, and features about New York City. They want to cover topics as varied as flood mitigation in Central Queens, the disappearance (and reappearance) of underground music venues, below-the-radar union battles, wildlife in all urban contexts, an especially galling subway ad, and a decades-old grudge between spa owners. Rates are roughly at least $200 for an essay/blog post (about 700 words), at least $250 for a photo assignment, at least $300 for a reported story, and at least $400 for a longer (at least 1200 words) feature. To pitch, send an email to [email protected] with “pitch” in the subject line within the next three weeks.
–New Internationalist is looking for pitches of under-reported global justice stories for their upcoming editions. Features should be about 1,000-2,000 words. The rate varies, but they will generally pay “£250 ($272 USD) for 1,000 words in the magazine.” Pitches should be sent to [email protected].
–Fanbyte is looking for pitches of stories on WrestleMania, NXT, and Mania Week Indie for their wrestling section, FanFyte. They are specifically not looking for pitches on “Roman and Brock; Cody and Seth; Sami and Knoxville; or Bianca and Becky.” The rate is $150 for pieces under 1,000 words, and $200 for pieces of 1,000-2,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected].
–Greater Greater Washington is looking for pitches of explainers, reported features, historical pieces, and news articles on transportation, housing, land use, and sustainability in the Washington region. They are particularly interested in pitches focused on D.C. and the inner suburbs, and are also interested in ideas for ongoing series. The rate is $150 for news briefs of 250-450 words, and is $300 for pieces of 500-750 words. Send pitches to [email protected] with “GGWash Pitch/StudyHall” in the subject line.
–Pride Source is looking for pitches of essays, reported features, profiles, and stories on ideas related to Pride season. They are also looking for pitches on auto, home, and travel stories, and are especially interested in pitches with a Michigan angle. The rates range from $100-$150 for essays, and $150-$250 for features. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches and inquiries to [email protected] by the end of April.
–Sliced is looking for pitches pertaining to water and scandal; see their Twitter thread for more details. The rate is $0.15 per word, and they’re looking to have drafts in by the end of April. Email [email protected] with bio, pitches, and samples.
–Tagg Magazine is looking for pitches pertaining to queer women and trans people, such as dating, community issues, and entertainment. Rates are between $75 to $175 for pieces that are 350-1000 words. Email pitches to [email protected] by this Monday, April 11.
NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES
–Cosmopolitan is always looking for pitches of timely, multisource narrative features that are of direct relevance to young women. Features should be between 2,000-3,000 words, and the rate is $1.50-$2.00 per word. Send pitches to [email protected].
–The Sunday Long Read is always looking for pitches of “original longform articles.” They publish 5-7 articles per year. Stories should be longer than 2,000 words, and the floor rate is $2,000 “with the possibility of covering expenses.” Send pitches to [email protected].
–NPR is always looking for pitches of interviews and profiles, essays and criticism, and reporting and analysis. Their rates are $600 for reviews, $800 for short features (including interviews and obituaries) and $1,200 for longer features and essays. Email [email protected] with “PITCH” in the subject line. See their pitch guide for more information.
–Modern Farmer is always looking for pitches of reported features on issues that US agriculture and farmers are facing, as well as stories about the industry’s triumphs and innovations. The rate is $0.50-$0.70 CAD/word ($0.40-$0.56 USD) depending on scope and length.
***CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.***
FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS
NEW: –Narratively is seeking a guest editor to edit one story a month. They’re looking for someone who has experience assigning and editing feature stories, as well a “broad personal network of writers you have worked with in the past.” This is a freelance position with the possibility to expand into a larger role. The pay is $40 per hour, and the deadline to apply is next Friday April 15.
NEW: Prison Journalism Project is hiring a remote, part-time art editor. Candidates should have 3-5 years experience in graphics and art editing and must be proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. The time commitment is 20 hours per week for 3 months, and the pay is approximately $6,000 for the 3-month duration.
NEW: –BuzzFeed is hiring a contract SEO writer to curate content and “consolidate and update entertainment, evergreen, and quiz content to boost ranking/traffic.” Candidates should have “the ability to write about any subject” and be interested in a wide array of topics. The pay is $20 per hour, up to 40 hours per week.
NEW: -TED Countdown, “a collaborative initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis,” is looking for part-time writing and copy editing support. Ideal candidate has both long-form writing and shorter-form marketing experience. Experience in the broader climate and impact spaces will be helpful. Contract rate dependent on experience, ranging from $60-$80 per hour. Contact Logan McClure Davda at [email protected] with a cover letter and resume.
EVENTS AND COURSES
-The National Critics Institute is hosting a two-week workshop on arts writing and criticism. The program is led by Chris Jones, critic and columnist at the Chicago Tribune. The 2022 conference has open slots only for candidates in Knight Foundation communities, but will be open to everyone again next year. The free workshop will take place July 12-23 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in New London, CT. The deadline to apply is tomorrow, April 7.
NEW: -Harvard’s Shorenstein Center is hosting a 1-hour Telegram 101 webinar that teaches journalists, researchers, and reporters Telegram’s “history, structure, and research potential of Telegram” and will offer “hands-on demonstrations and tips for navigating and using Telegram in your reporting.” The free webinar will be held this Tuesday, April 12 at 2 PM EST.
-Sylveon Consulting is hosting a two-day virtual workshop on how to “competently and respectfully cover trans people and gender-related issues.” The workshop is taught by journalist and educator Tuck Woodstock. There is a fee of $175 for both sessions, but a sliding scale option starting at $50 exists for freelancers paying out of pocket. The workshop will run from next Wednesday, April 13 and April 20 from 2 to 4PM EST.
–Jewish Currents is hosting a discussion on the experience of writing from prison. The panel talk will include incarcerated writers and will focus on the challenges of writing in a restricted environment, their experiences with repression, and the support they’re seeking for their work. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, April 26 from 12PM to 1PM EST.
-Meredith Talusan, a writer and contributing editor at them, is hosting a weekend workshop for “academics who want to transition to writing for the public.” The two-day bootcamp will include a lecture on May 21 and workshops on May 21 and May 22 that will cover op-eds, long-form essays, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and autobiographical fiction. Tickets are $125 for the lecture only, and $300 for the lecture and workshops, however there are scholarships available to cover the costs for both the lecture and workshop.
NEW: –Raconteur is offering a free, 12-week online course for budding business journalists, “particularly writers from communities and groups that have typically been marginalized and under-represented in our industry.” Applicants cannot have previously paid, published work or a degree in journalism, and they must be residents of the UK or the Republic of Ireland. The course runs from June 6 to August 29.
-NYU School of Professional Studies is hosting a paid summer program, How to Write Op-Eds and Personal Essays. The program will teach participants how to pitch a story to an editor and will conclude with a complete essay ready for publication. The tuition for the course is $829, and the course will be self-paced and run from June 13 to August 5.
GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS
NEW: -The Whiting Foundation is accepting applications for their annual creative nonfiction grants, “given to writers in the process of completing a book-length work of deeply researched and imaginatively composed nonfiction.” Up to 10 grantees will receive $40,000 each. The deadline to apply is April 25.
–Truthout is accepting submissions for their paid Keeley Schenwar Memorial Essay Prize program. The content will highlight original, first-person essays of 1,500 words or less on the topic of prisons, policing or a related subject. The contest is only open to people who are currently or formerly incarcerated. The two winners will be awarded a prize of $3,000 each, and their essays will be published on Truthout. The deadline to submit is May 1.
–Oxford American is accepting submissions for their Fall 2022 Fiction Contest. Submissions must be made by a “writer whose fiction has not yet been published in a print publication with a circulation over 5,000 copies.” They are especially interested in submissions with “ties to the South or a story that furthers our mission of exploring the complexity and vitality of the South.” The contest winner will receive a prize of $1,000 and be included in their Fall 2022 issue. The deadline to submit is May 15.
FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS
–Insider is accepting applications for their paid Newsletter Editorial Fellowship program, which will start immediately once accepted. Fellows will help write and produce newsletters on finance, tech, markets, and other news. The rate is $20 per hour, and the fellow is expected to work 40 hours per week for six months. The fellowship can be remote or based in New York.
-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their paid 2023 Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship program. The fellowship aims to advance the reporting skills of women, nonbinary or gender non-conforming journalists journalists who focus on human rights and social justice. Applicants should have at least three years of journalism experience. The fellowship will last for seven months and provides a monthly stipend of $1,500 to cover living costs, including arranging and covering the cost of housing in Cambridge and New York City, but does not include a salary. The deadline to apply is next Saturday, April 16.
NEW: –The Nation Fund for Independent Journalism is accepting applications for their summer/fall 2022 internship session. Interns are paid $18 per hour for 35 hours of work per week. The program runs from July 11-December 18. The deadline to apply is April 22.
NEW: –Business of Fashion is now accepting applications for their Next Generation Black Journalists Fellowship, “a six-month, part-time, paid reporting and writing programme designed to train and publish aspiring Black writers in the field of fashion business journalism.” Black writers from any country are eligible to apply, and a formal education is not necessary. The program begins June 1 and ends in November. The deadline to apply is April 30 at 5 PM EST.
NEW: –Grist is accepting applications for six fellows in climate solutions, data, environmental justice, Midwest, Indigenous affairs, and news. Fellows are paid $3,334 per month and are eligible for health benefits. The deadline to apply is May 13.
JOBS
NEW YORK
–BuzzFeed is hiring an SEO affiliate manager to implement “short- and long-term SEO growth strategies.” Candidates should have at least 3 years experience working in SEO, as well as experience communicating to both writers and product owners. Candidates can be remote or based in New York.
–PCMag is hiring a mobile tech writer and reviewer to cover “the latest phones, tablets, hotspots, chargers, wireless carriers” and more. Candidates should have two to three years professional writing experience “at an established website, magazine, or newspaper.” The salary is a minimum $68,000 as well as benefits and is based in New York, though remote candidates may be considered.
–The Wall Street Journal is hiring a photo editor with digital design skills to join their financial markets team. Candidates should have a background in editorial production work and be well-versed in photo and video tools. The job will likely start remotely, but it will eventually be based in New York.
–Reuters is hiring a corporate governance correspondent “to report on corporate governance and take readers inside corporate boards.” Candidates should have at least seven years experience in business-related reporting and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
–Science News Explores, a new science magazine aimed at kids nine and up, is hiring an editorial assistant to help coordinate magazine production. The job is full-time and fully funded through December 31, 2022, with future funding being determined in fall 2022. The pay is $45,000-$58,000 depending on experience.
–National Affairs PBS NewsHour is hiring an associate producer to assist with studio and field production, set up stories, and generally assist the beat. Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum two years experience in journalism, preferably for a national outlet, as well as some experience using nonlinear editing software. The salary is not listed, but they note comprehensive benefits, “generous 403(B) employer match,” and tuition reimbursement.
CALIFORNIA
-Stanford University is hiring a writer-in-residence to participate in the intellectual life of the institute, including hosting their artist salon and teaching one class per year for two years in their Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies program. Candidates should have an “extensive publication record and a national profile.” The position will begin in September 2022 and run for two years. The salary is $90,000. They began reviewing applications on Friday, March 25, but the position will remain open as long as the posting is up.
–Earthjustice is hiring a managing editor to lead a team of four staff writers and editors publishing stories about environmental law, activism, and justice. Candidates should have at least 10 years experience with professional communications media, at least five years experience managing budgets, and a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, or marketing. Ideal candidates will be based in San Francisco, CA, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, CA, and Seattle, WA, but other locations may be considered. The salary varies by location, but ranges from $103,300 to $120,800.
CENTRAL
–Built In is hiring a staff reporter “to take over our marketing and UX/design coverage” and “write talkable trend pieces about the world of marketing.” Candidates should have experience with multi-source feature stories and an interest in startups and emerging technologies. The job is based in Chicago, IL or can be remote.
NORTHEAST
–The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is hiring a food and restaurant reporter to write about food and drink “in ways that feed the interests of Pittsburgh’s passionate foodies.” Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in journalism, and should have at least five years journalism experience. Email [email protected] with a resume, cover letter, and three samples of work to apply.
–NJ Advance Media is hiring a culture, identity, and diversity reporter “dedicated to telling the stories of a diverse range of New Jerseyans.” Ideal candidates should be comfortable writing features and breaking news, and they should have a bachelor’s degree and at least three years journalism experience. The job is based in Iselin, New Jersey.
NORTHWEST
–OPB is hiring a politics news editor “to support [their] skilled reporters in covering government and politics throughout Oregon and SW Washington.” Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field and experience with editing and supervising. The job is based in Portland, Oregon, and the salary range is between $77,000 and $87,000. The deadline to apply is April 25 by 8:59 PM PT.
–The Colorado Sun is hiring a politics writer to report on “everything from the state legislature and Congress to city halls and county commissions.” The job is based in Denver, Colorado, and the ability to travel around the state is a must. The salary is $60,000-80,000 depending on experience, including benefits. To apply, send a cover letter, story links and resume to [email protected].
REMOTE-FRIENDLY
–Bolts is hiring for multiple positions, including a staff writer to cover politics, especially criminal justice and voting rights, as well as a story editor to develop, shape, and produce stories. Candidates for both positions should have a “broad interest in left politics and progressive policy, social movements, criminal justice, and voting rights.” The salary ranges are $70,000-$80,000 for the staff writer and $75,000-$82,000 for the story editor. They began reviewing applications for both positions on Friday, March 11, but the positions will remain open as long as the postings are up.
–Grist is hiring a CEO. The ideal candidate will have a passionate belief that solving the climate crisis is the guiding issue of our time and will have a demonstrated track record of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. The position is remote, and candidates should be comfortable with frequent travel. To express interest, fill out this profile or email [email protected].
–YES! Magazine is hiring an executive editor. The executive editor will guide the quarterly print magazine, supervise the art director, and serve as the public face of the magazine. Candidates should have at least 10 years experience working in journalism and at least five years experience in senior journalism roles. The position is remote, and the salary is between $90,000-110,000.
–Protocol is hiring for multiple positions, including a web developer, a newsletter producer, a digital product manager, a social media producer, and a copy desk chief. Salaries and locations are dependent on position and can be found in each individual listing.
–The Nation is hiring for multiple positions, including executive director, senior editor, associate editor, and HR manager. Details about qualifications, salary, and how to apply are specific to each listing.
–The Marshall Project is hiring for multiple positions, including newsletter manager, editor-in-chief Cleveland, storytelling editor, and more. Most positions are remote, but the editor-in-chief position must reside in Cleveland. Details about qualifications and salary are specific to each listing.
INTERNATIONAL
–POLITICO is hiring for multiple positions in Europe, including business intern, technology reporter, cybersecurity reporter, and more. Location and details are specific to job listings.
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