Opportunities 05/18/2023

MSNBC, Queer Kentucky, The New Republic, 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 is rereading (and highly recommends) the great Jack Self essay, The Big Flat Now. 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 will return later this month. When we’re back, 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.

–Melissa Scott Sinclair was paid $500 to write an essay about her Mother’s Day birding tradition for Audubon and $350 per piece to write five short pieces about urban sturgeon, timber rattlesnakes, and other creatures for the forthcoming “WILD LIFE” book from Atlas Obscura. She reports that both editors — Jess Leber at Audubon and Cara Giaimo at Atlas Obscura — are “the very best kind: thoughtful, perceptive, and willing to invest the time to make a piece as good as it can be.”

-Edwin Arnaudin was paid $600 ($500 for the article + $100 for photo sourcing) to write an oral history of famed Asheville music venue The Orange Peel for Fifty Grande. He reports that the editors were supportive and easy to work with, but “payment wasn’t sent until a month after invoicing (and after a few nudges).”

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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. 

NEW: -The New to Freelancing guide by the Freelance Solidarity Project provides support and resources to media workers who are freelancing for the first time. The guide includes contract advice, rate databases, and more. 

-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.

-“Knowing the News” is a November 2022 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. 

–Trusting News has launched a series of “trust kits” that are designed to help journalists build trust with their readership. 

Want more resources? Check out the Reporting Job Board; 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 above $200 USD for around 700-800 words and above $0.50 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 

-MIT Technology Review is looking for pitches of “narrative features, essential profiles, and sharp essays” for an upcoming issue on hard problems. They are especially looking for stories “that have nothing to do with AI.” The rates range from $1-$2 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to commissioning editor Rachel Courtland at [email protected] with “PITCH” in the subject line by May 30. 

–Rest of World is commissioning a South Africa-based longform writer with feature writing experience for an assignment. The rate is $1 per word. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–National Geographic is commissioning “a couple of travel writers with a hyper-focus on Japan for a project.” Strong clips are needed. The rate will range from $1,000-$2,000. Send inquiries to [email protected] by May 30. 

–KneeDeep Times is looking for pitches of reported features on “how specific cities or towns in the San Francisco Bay Area are adapting to climate change, as well as profiles of Bay Area climate adaptation activists and leaders.” The rate is $1 per word for pieces of 500-1,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches by July 1. 

–The Local Magazine is looking for pitches of stories on the Finch West LRT area of Toronto from writers who know the community well, for an upcoming issue. They are looking for pitches and also assigning stories. The rates start at about $0.75 CAD ($0.56 USD) per word. Send pitches and inquiries to [email protected]. “No hard deadline, but [they are] gonna be assigning stories over the next few weeks!”

–High Country News is looking for pitches of reflections and reported features for a special issue on the climate. They are particularly interested in highlighting “stories of agency and collective action in the fight to decarbonize the West and the efforts to adapt to a changing climate in equitable ways.” The rates will be project-based set at $0.50 per word for reflections and $1 per word for reporting. Send pitches to [email protected] or [email protected] by June 5 with “query” in the subject line.

–The Jersey Vindicator is looking for pitches of investigative, accountability, and explanatory journalism on issues in New Jersey. They are also commissioning freelancers for assignments. The rates range from $500-$2,500. Send clips and pitches to [email protected]. 

–In These Times Magazine is looking for pitches of essays, short stories, photo essays, and other formats that “explore socialist movements in the US and abroad.” The rate is $375 for short dispatches and op-eds and ranges from $0.50-$1 per word for other articles. Send pitches to [email protected] with the subject line “Socialism Pitch.” by this Sunday, May 21.

-Seattle Times is commissioning freelancers to help with Pride month coverage. Writers are ideally based in the greater Seattle area or in Washington, but that’s not a deal-breaker. The pay varies based on word count ($0.33 per word is the base rate), and they generally pay between $200-$450, depending on length, complexity, and deadline. Send inquiries, including work clips, to [email protected].

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–The Hechinger Report is always looking for contributors to report on education, including a mix of stories, analysis, and other formats. They are interested in both freelance writers and photojournalists. The rate is $1.50 per word, stories are usually 1,000-2,000 words, and they also cover travel expenses. See their contributor form for more info. 

–Narratively is always looking for pitches of character- and action-driven stories. They are specifically not looking for pitches of fiction, poetry, or opinion pieces. “Writers from marginalized communities, international writers, writers of color, [and] disabled writers” are highly encouraged to pitch. The rate is “$1000 per piece on publication.” See their pitch guide for more info on specific sections, and send pitches to [email protected] with “Pitch: TKTK” in the subject line. 

-Ginkgo Bioworks is always looking for pitches of reportage, analysis, and other formats on biotech, synthetic biology, and the history of biology for their digital magazine, GROW. They are particularly interested in pitches from science or fiction writers. The rates start at $800 for 1,000-word stories. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Intercept is always looking for pitches of “investigative pieces about environmental justice and toxic chemicals, corporate surveillance and data privacy, healthcare, and trans and queer rights.” The rate is per-piece but usually falls between $0.50-$0.80 per word. Send pitches or questions to [email protected]. 

–Trails Magazine is looking for pitches of features, opinion pieces, profiles, service journalism, and other formats on “backpacking and other human/naturally-powered means of sleeping outdoors” for the foreseeable future while they work on content for Issue 4. The rates start at $0.50 per word. See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch. 

–WIRED is always looking for pitches of essays for two new series on “software criticism” and “the future of morality” for their Ideas section. The rates start at $500. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Body is always looking for pitches of interviews on topics related to HIV and AIDS from US-based and international writers. The rate is $400 per interview. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Feeld is always looking for pitches of first-person diaries, interviews, profiles, guides, and other formats on dating, relationships, intimacy, sexuality, self-discovery, and creativity. The rates start at $300 for most articles, while guides start at $500. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected].  

–The Daily Dot is always looking for pitches of features and essays on internet culture, memes, and entertainment, including trends and discourse. The rates start at $300 for short features and essays of at least 600 words, and $400 for reported features “with at least a couple of sources.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to Tiffany Kelly at [email protected] with “PITCH:” in the subject line. 

–Cinéspeak is always looking for pitches of reported pieces, opinion pieces, and other formats that “contextualize the WGA strike for a Philly audience” while the strike lasts. The rates start at $300 per piece. Send pitches through their pitch form. 

–Observer is always looking for pitches of visual arts reporting on “anything from notable gallery openings to museum shows to artist profiles to art fair previews and roundups.” The rate is about $300. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Queer Kentucky is always looking for pitches of op-eds, analysis, features, and other formats on “breaking, hard-hitting, fun queer stuff,” particularly “Southern stories that explore queerness.” They “prefer a touch of Kentucky” but pitches from out-of-state writers are also welcome. The rate is $250 for 700-800 words, and “more investigative stories can range up to $500.” Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Lead is always looking for pitches of features on “police overreach, housing, immigration, racism, inequality, and the environment,” as well as on “education and criminal justice, or lack thereof.” They are primarily accepting pitches about the UK, “but relevant global submissions [are] welcome.” The rates start at £180 ($223 USD) for op-eds and increase for other formats. Send pitches to [email protected] with the pitch type in the subject line.

–ClearHealthCosts is always looking for pitches of reported stories on how to navigate the healthcare marketplace. They are particularly interested in pitches on saving money, revealing the mysteries of pricing, and helping patients or consumers make their way around our complicated healthcare system. The rates start at $0.20 per word for a “lightly reported essay” and range from $0.30-$0.50 per word for a “thoroughly reported piece.” Send pitches to [email protected].

–The Outlaw Report is always looking for pitches of articles on the politics, business, and culture of weed with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic, including the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The rates range from $100-$300 for 300-1,000 word articles. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF 370+ EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.

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FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

–MSNBC Digital is hiring a social platforms editor on a temporary, six-month contract to “distribute [their] best columns, blogs, and video across its social channels, write desktop alerts, and curate the homepage.” Candidates should have at least two years of experience as a homepage or social media editor. The position requires working afternoons and evenings, and must be based in New York City or Washington, DC. 

-NBCUniversal is hiring a Los Angeles-based writer on a freelance, part-time contract to “produce editorial content for several of its digital cable brands, including Bravo, NBC Insider, USA Insider, Oxygen, and SYFY.” Candidates should have at least two years of experience writing for a digital news outlet and “experience covering true crime is a plus.” The pay range is $34-$40 per hour, and requires work working 20 hours per week. 

–The Daily Dot is hiring freelance writers and bloggers to contribute regularly to their site. Candidates should have at least one year of journalism experience. The starting rate is $35 per hour, and “you’ll need to be available at least 10 hours a week.” Send inquiries to Tiffany Kelly at [email protected]. 

–East Bay Magazine is commissioning freelance writers based in the area to “write about the people, places, and things that power our region.” The rate is $0.20 per word and stories run from about 300-1,400 words, with most being 1,000-1,200 words. Send inquiries, including a short bio and two to three writing clips, to [email protected]. 

-The Southern Foodways Alliance is commissioning freelance producers for either individual episodes or multi-episode batches of their Gravy podcast. “Experienced audio storytellers only.” The rates start at $3,700 for the production of a successfully completed single episode, “inclusive of travel and expenses.” Send inquiries to [email protected] by June 1.

-Breyer Horses is hiring a freelance managing editor to oversee the production of their print magazine, Just About Horses. Candidates should have writing and editing experience and a passion for horses and Breyer models. “Time and project management skills are key skills for this role.” No salary information or application deadline was given for this role. 

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EVENTS

-The American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) is hosting a Virtual Annual Conference from June 13-15. The three-day event will include expert-led sessions in three content tracks: books, content marketing writing, and journalism. All sessions, except informal “snack chats,” are recorded. The prices for non-members are $325 for full registration, $245 for single-track registration, and $175 for single-day registration.

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GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

–Grist and the Center for Rural Strategies are accepting applications for their reporting grant program. They will award $100,000 in grants to freelancers and newsrooms “for stories that focus on and serve rural communities in the United States.” Freelance writers can request up to $5,000 per project, and newsrooms can request up to $10,000. The deadline to apply is June 1. 

–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.

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FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–Documented is accepting applications for an ambitious reporter who wants to write about issues affecting New York’s immigrant communities for their Isaac Rauch Fellowship. Stories must uncover new information and can be an accountability-based series, a magazine-level feature story, or even a short documentary on topics including housing, culture, immigration policy issues, public safety, and more. The pay is a $10,000 stipend. The deadline to apply is TOMORROW, May 19.

–The New York Times is accepting applications for their full-time, two-year editing residency for journalists, who will work on “daily news articles, enterprise stories, and special projects.” Candidates should have at least three years of professional journalism experience. The salary for this position is $90,870, and it is based in New York City. The deadline to apply is next Friday, May 26. 

–The New York Times is accepting applications for their full-time, two-year photo editing residency for journalists, who will “conceptualize, research, assign, select, and publish photography across platforms.” Candidates should have at least three years of professional visual journalism experience. The salary for this position is $90,870, and it is based in New York City. The deadline to apply is next Friday, May 26.

NEW: –The New Republic is accepting applications for their editorial internship program. The intern will have five key responsibilities: copyediting, fact-checking, transcription, search engine optimization, and administrative duties. The pay range is $17-$19 per hour and the internship is full-time for six months. Interns are not required to work in the NYC or DC offices, but must be based in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or the DC, Virginia, Maryland tri-state areas. The deadline to apply is next Sunday, May 28. 

–The Paris Review is accepting applications for their fall-winter editorial internship program. The two selected interns will assist with every step of the production of two quarterly magazine issues — “particularly with fact-checking.” The internship pays $20 per hour, and interns are required to work 35 hours per week for six months, with the option to enroll in health insurance. The internship is based in the New York City office and applicants must be eligible to work in the US. The deadline to apply is June 1. 

-NPR and The John Alexander Project are accepting applications for their Above the Fray reporting fellowship. The fellowship aims to provide one up-and-coming radio journalist the opportunity to cover important but under-reported international stories for NPR. Applicants should have at least five years of professional journalism experience, including some radio experience. The fellowship covers all production and living expenses for the duration of the program. The deadline to apply is July 1.

-Nova Institute is accepting applications for the Nova Media Fellowship, which “supports print, broadcast, and digital journalists proposing to immerse themselves in the health field.” Ideal candidates are full-time journalists with an established record of publication. The fellowship runs for 12 months and begins in Fall 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland, though the start date is flexible. The pay is $105,000 and is all-inclusive. The deadline to apply is July 5.

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JOBS 

NEW YORK CITY

–The New York Times is hiring a digital staff editor to coordinate the day-to-day operations of the T Magazine section. Candidates should have at least five years of editorial experience, and “an interest in and deep knowledge of the subject matters that T covers (i.e. fashion, design, art, culture, etc.)” is preferred. The position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY and the salary range is $105,308.84-$112,000.

–BOMB Magazine is hiring a managing editor to manage the production of their quarterly print publication, including pitching and acting as lead editor on several articles per issue. Candidates should have at least three years of writing and editorial experience, “with a demonstrated interest in the art world.” The salary is $70,000, plus health insurance. The deadline to apply is May 26. 

-Anthos Home is hiring a senior grant and editorial writer to prepare and edit content for their website and grant applications. Candidates should have at least six years of writing, grant writing, fundraising, or development experience. The salary range is $75,000-$90,000, and the position may require two to three in-office days per week. The deadline to apply is May 31. 

PITTSBURGH

–PublicSource is hiring a deputy editor to supervise two to three reporters, manage interns, and guide and edit stories. Candidates should have at least five years of newsroom experience, including some editing experience. The salary range is $58,000-$65,000. The deadline to apply is June 21. 

CHICAGO

–South Side Weekly is hiring an executive director to fundraise, manage, and support their team, and do strategic planning. Candidates should have extensive management or leadership experience, including managing an organizational budget, and some fundraising experience is preferred (but not required). The salary is $75,000. The deadline to apply is June 5.

TEXAS

–Texas Monthly is hiring a staff writer to cover state politics and policy, including contributing to their Best and Worst Legislators series. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience and some experience reporting on Texas politics. Candidates interested in learning more about the position before applying can book an informational phone call with the director of editorial operations here. “Salary range is dependent on the level of prior experience and is negotiable; candidates can reach out to [email protected] for more details.” The position can be based in Austin or within the state. The deadline to apply is next Friday, May 26. 

-Keller Williams Realty International is hiring an Austin-based writer and researcher to “work alongside a team of writers and researchers to develop multiple nonfiction book projects.” Candidates should have at least three years of experience writing or researching, “preferably in personal finance, journalism, or general business nonfiction content.” The minimum salary is $70,000, depending on experience. The deadline to apply is June 1.

CALIFORNIA

–POLITICO is hiring a Sacramento-based climate reporter to “anchor a new POLITICO newsletter on the politics and policy surrounding climate change in California.” Candidates should have a track record of strong and innovative reporting in politics, policy, or business. The anticipated salary range is $80,000-$120,000. 

–CalMatters is hiring for multiple, Sacramento-based positions, including a College Journalism Network assistant editor to manage a team of student reporters; an assistant visuals editor to manage their visuals, including taking photos and videos; an investigative editor to help build and lead their new investigative team; an investigative reporter and senior investigative reporter to cover California’s three branches of government; an education reporter to cover the state’s K-12 schooling system; and a politics reporter to cover the intersection of policy and politics, including campaigns. See individual positions for required experience, salary ranges, and other information. 

-Cityside Journalism Initiative is hiring an editor to run their East Bay nosh section, which includes all food-related coverage in their two publications, Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside. Candidates should have at least four years of editing and food writing experience, “preferably in the Bay Area.” The salary range is $90,000-$103,000. Candidates based in the East Bay are preferred. No deadline for applications was given for this role. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–The New York Times is hiring multiple staff editors to manage the “programming and presentation of [their] digital platforms, including the home screen and push notifications.” Candidates must have the flexibility to work nights and weekends. The position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY and the salary range is $105,308.84-$112,000. The position can be based in Los Angeles or San Francisco, CA, or Seattle, WA. 

–The Guardian is hiring a head of investigations to develop, launch, and lead their investigative reporting unit, “composed of four reporters and a data editor.” Candidates should have at least five years of experience as an editor of investigative journalism, including “knowledge of US media law.” The salary range is $175,000-$210,000. The position can be remote within the US or based in New York or Washington, DC. No deadline for applications was given for this role. 

–Courier Newsroom is hiring a newsletter product manager to optimize eight newsletters “in terms of deliverability, growth performance, audience segmentation, and engagement.” Candidates should have at least three years of product management experience, with “prior experience in media, journalism, or civic engagement preferred.” The salary range is $65,000-$91,000. The position can be remote within the US but candidates must be “able to maintain EST business hours.”

INTERNATIONAL

–+972 Magazine is hiring an editor-in-chief based in Israel-Palestine to lead and manage their team of editors, staff writers, and freelancers. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience, including three years of editing, and must have native English and very strong Hebrew language skills, with Arabic also strongly preferred. No salary info was given for the role. The deadline to apply is June 11.