Opportunities 07/13/2023

The Daily Dot, Insider, The Economist, 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 currently reading a very good, very gay novel called In The Absence of Men by Philippe Besson. 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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APPLY FOR OUR MICRO-GRANT!

-Study Hall (that’s us!) is accepting applications for our new micro-grant program. We are awarding a $2,000 grant to an individual or team who wants to create a project. Whether that’s a newsletter, blog, social media account, or even just a one-off experiment, we’re here to help. Alongside the grant, we’ll also offer mentoring, advice, and some social promotion. The deadline to apply is this Tuesday, July 18.

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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 IRE23 Tipsheets & Audio page of the Investigative Reporters and Editors site has a variety of slideshows and other materials from their ongoing conference sessions, including “Investigative techniques you can use in everyday reporting,” “Freelancer secrets: How to get paid for doing good investigative work,” and more.

-The Working Sources database by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project compiles less-visible experts with on-the-ground and professional experience in the fields of Labor, Economics, Drugs, and Care. They will soon also include sources in the fields of Military, History, Housing, and Disability.

-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.

–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 Accessible Social; 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

–Container Magazine is looking for pitches of tech and climate features, including stories from people “that have been erased from dominant white Western narratives” and “pitches for experimental formats, live events, video content and podcasts.” The rate is £300 ($392 USD) for 1,000 words or a range of £200-£250 ($261-$327 USD) per day for “freelance contributions (illustrations, event fees etc).” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by July 31.

NEW: –The Daily Dot is commissioning an India-based writer to cover “the way technology is being used by the Modi government.” The rates start at $350 for 1,000 words. Send inquiries to [email protected] or [email protected] (or @DavidCovucci on Twitter) by TOMORROW, July 14.

NEW: –The Sun is looking for pitches of reviews and roundups for its Shopping section. The rates range from £200-£250 ($261-$326 USD) per review. Send pitches to [email protected].

NEW: –SFGATE is looking for pitches of features on Burning Man from writers who will be attending the event. Rates start at $250 but are higher “for more complex features.” Send pitches to [email protected] by August 14.

NEW: –Beer & Weed Magazine is looking for pitches of columns and features on Maine-based craft brewers and growers or the people who enjoy their products. The rate is $250 for 750-word columns and $375 for 1,500-word features. See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch.

NEW: –Insider is looking for pitches of stories from writers about “traveling with their car on the Amtrak Auto Train.” They are also interested in other Amtrak pitches “if you have any upcoming trips with any special bookings (like a roomette) or long routes (over 5 hours) coming up.” The rates start at $245. Send pitches to @nuclearunicorns on Twitter.

–Austin Weekly News is commissioning Chicago-based reporters to write features for an upcoming “West Side Community Guide.” The rate is $200-$300 for 1,000-word articles. Send inquiries — including a resume and writing samples — to editor Lacey Sikora at [email protected]. There is no deadline to send inquiries, but they will ideally have “everything in place by July 26, if not earlier.”

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–The Story is always looking for pitches of essays, analysis, profiles, and reported features on “anything to do with the art, craft, or science of storytelling, as well as pieces that examine the way that narratives shape the world around us.” They are particularly interested in pitches from emerging writers. The rate is $1,000 AUD ($670 USD) for 1,200-1,500 words. Send pitches to [email protected].

-Tom Banham is always looking for pitches of short and longform articles on “travel, food, gear, motoring, watches, fashion, wellness, tech and everything else that makes mega lives lives” for a new editorial arm of a luxury lifestyle brand that has yet to be announced. “International stories [are] especially welcome.” The rate is around £0.50 ($0.64 USD) per word. Send pitches to [email protected].

–How Music Charts, a publication from Chartmetrics, is always looking for pitches of data-driven features on market trends, tech trends, TikTok trends, and artist case studies. The rate is $0.50 per word for articles of 1,000-1,500 words and content can be written in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Japanese. See their pitch guide for more info, including how to pitch.

–LOOKOUT Phoenix is always looking for pitches of in-depth features and investigative stories on the city’s LGBTQ+ community, including Pride content for October. The rate is $0.20 per word for at least 2,000 words “with reimbursable fees / advances for associated costs.” Send pitches to [email protected].

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL LIST OF 300+ EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES.

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

NEW: –NYT Cooking is hiring a New York-based “temporary recipe editor for a project that is scheduled to last for approximately six to seven months.” Candidates should have at least eight years of experience as a recipe editor and a passion for cooking. The annual salary range for the role is $109,521.19-$112,000. The position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY. No application deadline was given for the role.

NEW: –The Economist is hiring a UK-based interactive visual journalist on a limited-term contract. Candidates must have experience with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, information/data design, D3.js, and web and/or user experience design. The contract will last six months, “with the possibility of extension.” The annual salary range is £40,000-£65,000. The deadline to apply is July 31.

NEW: -NYTAdvertising is hiring a temporary program manager for T Brand Studio to assist with managing two workstreams (Advertorials and Creative Technology). Candidates should have at least two years of project management experience. The annual salary range for the role is $70,000-$90,000. No application deadline info was given for the role.

–Wellcome is hiring a science writer on a paid consultancy basis to attend two neuroscience workshops and produce reports on them on September 20-21 and October 19 in London. The rate is £750 ($952.46 USD) per day. The deadline to apply is TOMORROW, July 14.

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EVENTS

-The Institute for Independent Journalists is hosting a freelance business workshop with the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) next Thursday, July 20 in Washington, DC. The program will include assigning editors at CNN, the New York Times, Washington Post, and Vox discussing what they’re looking for in a pitch. Registration is free for those attending the AAJA 2023 conference, and the fee is $99 for those not attending.

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-PEN America is accepting applications for its Bare Life Review Grant program. The program aims to support literary works in progress by immigrant and refugee writers. The works must be fiction, creative nonfiction, or poetry. The program awards grants of $5,000 each. The deadline to apply is next Friday, July 21.

-Little, Brown Spark, in partnership with the Psychotherapy Networker, is accepting submissions for its New Voices Award program. Applicants can submit a “non-fiction book proposal on any topic within any branch of psychology.” The program is specifically for “previously unpublished (with the exception of articles, academic papers, or self-published books) and unagented writers from underrepresented backgrounds.” The award provides a $50,000 advance, a ticket to the Psychotherapy Networker’s 2024 Symposium in Washington, DC, and a $500 travel stipend. The deadline to apply is October 15.

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FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–CalMatters is accepting applications for its 2023/2024 College Journalism Network Fellowship. The program is aimed at undergraduate student journalists at California colleges or universities who want to cover higher education. Fellows will “receive training in reporting, higher education policy, and navigating the journalism industry.” The program includes a stipend of $1,200 per month and fellows will work about 10-15 hours per week. The program begins September 1 and runs through May. The deadline to apply is this Monday, July 17.

-The Columbia Journalism School is accepting applications for its 2023 Age Boom Academy Fellowship program. The program is designed to train journalists on issues of housing and healthy longevity, and the 2023 program will focus on “housing for an aging population.” The fellowship is entirely online and includes panel sessions and 1:1 interviews with expert sources. “There is no cost for accepted fellows but [they] expect fellows to generate reporting.” The deadline to apply is next Friday, July 21.

-Poynter and Google News Initiative are accepting applications for their Misinformation Student Fellowship Program. The program is “focused on combating mis- and disinformation in communities,” and places fellows in local newsrooms, including The Kansas City Defender, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and La Esquina in Houston, TX, among others. The program provides a $10,000 stipend for the duration of the fellowship. The deadline to apply is next Friday, July 21.

-Humanity in Action is accepting applications for its 2023/24 Landecker Democracy Fellowship program. Each fellow will create or expand on a project that “helps strengthen democracy,” with the theme this year being: “Democracy and the Politics of Memory.” Applicants must have at least five years of professional experience. Fellows will receive hands-on training, support, and a stipend of €15,000 ($16,380.90 USD). Applicants can be based anywhere within the US, UK, EU, or Ukraine. The deadline to apply is August 6.

–ProPublica is accepting applications for its Diamonstein-Spielvogel Visual Journalism Fellowship program. The fellow will join the editorial team for two years and collaborate on in-depth investigative projects, and pitch and produce independent visual stories. Candidates should have at least three years of professional photojournalism experience and be able to travel for photo assignments around the US. The salary is $75,000 and will begin by September 15. The deadline to apply is August 8.

-The Cullman Center of the New York Public Library is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Fellowship program in New York City. The program awards 15 fellowships to scholars and writers, including journalists, whose work will “benefit directly from access to the research collections at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.” The fellowship includes a stipend of up to $75,000, the use of an office with a computer, and full access to the Library’s physical and electronic resources. The program runs from September through May. The deadline to apply is September 29.

-NPR is accepting applications for its Next Generation Radio training program in various cities throughout 2023. The five-day program is designed to give participants “the opportunity to learn how to report and produce a non-narrated audio piece and a companion multimedia story.” The program partners include WUNC/North Carolina Public Radio, St Louis Public Radio, and NAJA Next Gen Radio: Indigenous, among others. There is no fee for the program, and stipends are available to selected reporters. The deadline to apply varies depending on the location.

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JOBS

NEW YORK CITY

NEW: –Newsweek is hiring a trending sports writer to join its new team covering “trends and big moments in sports.” Candidates should have some experience in a fast-paced digital news environment, “with sports experience strongly preferred.” The salary range is $50,000-$70,000. No application deadline was given for this role.

WASHINGTON, DC

–New York Times is hiring a domestic correspondent to cover a range of national defense and foreign policy issues for its Opinion section. Candidates should have substantial experience covering US national security and foreign policy, including US and international nuclear policy, industry, weapons proliferation, and threats. The salary range is $120,126.82-$170,000. The position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY. No application deadline info was given for the role.

–CNN Politics is hiring a breaking news writer to cover “the latest developments from the White House and the campaign trail.” Candidates should have at least two years of writing experience and must be able to “work nights and weekends to accommodate news events.” No salary or application deadline was given for this role.

CHICAGO

NEW: –City Bureau is hiring a lead development writer to draft and oversee “tailored fundraising communications of all kinds,” including grant proposals. Candidates should have excellent formal writing and editing skills. “Special consideration will be given to applicants who have worked closely with Chicago’s South and West Side communities.” The salary is $71,000. The position can be remote but requires “occasional in-person meetings and work sessions.” The deadline to apply is July 27.

CALIFORNIA

–El Tímpano is hiring a Bay Area-based community reporter to engage with its Spanish-speaking audience “via service journalism and interaction primarily through text-messaging (SMS).” Candidates must be bilingual with spoken and written Spanish proficiency and have at least three years of journalism experience. The salary range is $70,000-$85,000. The deadline to apply is this Monday, July 17.

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

NEW: –New York Times is hiring a staff editor for its Home team to “write lively and compelling summaries, headlines and captions,” among other tasks. Candidates must be able to work nights and weekends, and to quickly make changes to the layout and order of the home screen. “Sensitivity to visual design and user experience is crucial.” The salary range is $105,308.84-$112,000. The position can be based in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle. No application deadline was given for this role.

NEW: –Men’s Journal is hiring an associate digital editor to “plan, assign, edit, and produce within monthly and annual editorial calendars.” Candidates should have at least one year of editing and assigning experience. The salary range is $50,000-$65,000. No application deadline info was given for this role.

NEW: –USA TODAY is hiring a breaking news editor to edit and write “national news stories of the day and monitor real-time news.” Candidates should have some editing experience and an understanding of reporting ethics and sourcing. The minimum salary is $95,000. No application deadline info was given for this role.

NEW: -punctum books is hiring an associate editor to “copy edit approximately 30–35 book manuscripts per year.” Candidates should have at least two years of copy editing experience and extensive familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style. The salary range is $45,000-$55,000. The position can be remote anywhere in the US. The deadline to apply is August 1.

–The Drift is hiring an editor to commission and edit longform essays for print and online. Candidates should have at least three years of editing experience and “a strong interest in cultivating and introducing emerging writers.” The salary range is $50,000-$70,000. The position can be remote or based in New York. The deadline to apply is TOMORROW, July 14.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is hiring a communications coordinator to “create and [execute] innovative social media campaigns and content.” Candidates should have at least one year of experience working in external-facing communications, and some “experience in a media, journalism, gender equity, or related/adjacent issues-based industry is a plus.” The starting salary is $55,000. The position can be remote, “however, residency in Washington, D.C., New York City, or Los Angeles is a plus for this position.” The deadline to apply is this Saturday, July 15.

-The Tiny News Collective is hiring an executive director to help build “sustainable news organizations that reflect and serve their communities.” Candidates should have a strong understanding of non-profit management and “experience managing relationships with partners, donors, founders, board members and other stakeholders.” The salary is $165,000 and the position is fully remote within the US. The deadline to apply is this Monday, July 17.

–The Marshall Project is hiring an engagement reporter to support its Life Inside essay series, produce a “Reader to Reader” column for its quarterly magazine, and other tasks. Candidates should have extensive community journalism experience, and some familiarity with FOIA requests “would be helpful, though not required.” The salary range is $80,000-$95,000. The position can be remote within the US or based in New York City. The deadline to apply is July 28.