Opportunities 07/20/2022

REI, Vulture, Rolling Stone, Insider, 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 suggests everyone go watch “The Rehearsal” right now. 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 webform.

►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.

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THE MEDIA CLASSIFIED ADS

►Tone Madison is hiring a part-time News and Politics Editor to expand our coverage of local politics in Madison, Wisconsin. The job includes some quick-turnaround coverage, and developing in-depth reporting projects, with a focus on perspectives otherwise neglected in local media. Interested? Apply here.

►The Writers Studio at The Center for Fiction is an oasis for writers in Downtown Brooklyn, open from 8 AM – 10 PM. Members enjoy benefits like discounts to a bookstore, cafe, and programs; library borrowing privileges; invitations to members-only events, and other perks! Interested? Learn more.

►Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a leading K12 ed tech company, is hiring a digital marketing manager focused on paid media. Candidates should have at least three years of experience planning and executing paid social and search campaigns. The role is fully remote, offers unlimited vacation, and has a salary range of $60,000-$85,000. Apply today!

>> The Classified Ads are back and better than ever. We’ve expanded our Ad model to include placement in ALL of our weekly newsletters, including Monday’s Digest, Wednesday’s Opportunities, and Friday’s Creative newsletters. 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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STUDY HALL EVENTS PROGRAMMING

►SUMMER READING WITH STUDY HALL CREATIVE

Sign up for summer reading with Study Hall Creative and read alongside other members all summer. You’ll get a point for each book you read (with extra points for books purchased at independent bookstores or borrowed from the library), up to a maximum of 50 points. Points can be redeemed for prizes, like free books and discounts at bookstores, to be announced throughout the summer.

►SHC SUMMER BOOK CLUB

Our July book club pick is “The Nobodies” by Study Haller Alanna Schubach. Published in early June, “The Nobodies” is a genre-bending novel about two young girls who can switch bodies with a single touch. Once close friends, the womens’ relationship becomes complicated as they come of age. We’ll be hosting a Q&A with Alanna on July 28th at 1 pm EST — so get reading and stay tuned for details on the event!

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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.

–Esther Kim was paid $400 CAD ($300 USD) to write a profile on Korean adoptee farmer Kristyn Leach for Modern Farmer. She sends out a big thank you to Pearse Anderson, Study Haller and former editor of the Million Gardens Movement for referring her to Shelby Vittek at Modern Farmer. 

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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 the many, 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 Resources For Journalists Seeking Therapy guide from the Dart Center’s Journalist Trauma Support Network offers a number of resources, including a directory of therapists specifically trained to work with journalists; funding for mental health services; and self-help webinars, apps, and websites. 

–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. 

-The Trans Journalists Association’s Style Guide is a tool for reporters, editors, and other media makers to improve coverage of transgender people and the various issues happening within the trans community. 

-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 Spring 2022 Fellowships and Residencies 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 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

–Travel + Leisure is looking for pitches on craft, including “culturally significant techniques from anywhere in the world.” Pitches must include “a way [to] engage as a visitor in the place where it is practiced (tours, classes, etc.) [and] a way to buy directly from artisans (online pref but not req).” The rate is $2 per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-REI is commissioning freelance writers with experience in business, DEI, sustainability, and lifestyle journalism to produce content for their Internal Comms channel. The rates start at “$500 ($1 per word).” Send an intro and two to three clips to [email protected] by this Sunday, July 24.

–The Parliament Magazine is looking for pitches of reported features, interviews, and book reviews on EU political institutions, including the European Parliament, European Commission, and European Council. The rate ranges from €0.45-€0.60 ($0.46-$0.61 USD) per word. Send pitches to [email protected] or [email protected].  

–YES! Magazine is looking for pitches of reported stories on “initiatives, groups, and movements that are transforming the way we relate to our bodies — beyond ourselves” for their upcoming issue on “bodies.” The rates start at $0.40 per word for digital pieces and $0.50 per word for print stories. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by August 2.

–them is looking for pitches of reported features on “whats it’s like to be a queer student or teacher in the US right now,” including “classroom censorship, student organizing, bullying, religious curricula, trans students in sports, and single-sex schools.” The rates range from $0.30-$0.50 per word depending on the level of reporting. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Chegg Life is looking for pitches of service stories, explainers, interviews, and features geared towards Gen-Z about local elections and politics for an upcoming fall package. They are particularly interested in “stories about important local races and issues on the ballot, young people running for office, how to get involved or volunteer with campaigns, why local politics and races matter, and combating cynicism and nihilism (among other things).” The rates start at $350 for pieces of 800 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by August 4.

–The Muse is looking for pitches of “reported features, essays, perspectives, advice, quizzes, even humor pieces” on careers and work. They are particularly interested in pitches on abortion and careers, unions, hybrid work, mental health, pay gaps, and more. The rates for “most pieces” range from $300-$600. Send pitches to [email protected] with the subject line “Pitch: [your headline/idea in a nutshell]” and a sample headline, brief pitch, one or two sentences about yourself, and two to three clips. Send pitches by tomorrow Thursday, July 21 for consideration on their August and September calendar. 

–Strange Horizons is looking for pitches of essays, columns, and interviews on “extractivism in The Expanse” for their upcoming issue scheduled for the end of September. The rate is $200 per article. Send pitches to [email protected] by the end of July. 

-Vulture is looking for pitches of TV recaps on upcoming TV shows. The rate is $200 per episode recap. Send pitches to [email protected] with relevant clips and background info, including “why you think the series would make for a good recap, why you’re the right person to recap it, and if given the assignment, how would you approach recapping the series,” according to TV recaps editor Nic Juarez.

-Talenthouse Media Foundry is looking for pitches of features on the independent development of video games, movies, and TV. The rates range from £150-£400 ($180-$480 USD). Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–gal-dem is looking for pitches of essays on lines in books, poetry, and other writing that explore the power of words for their new series The passage that changed me. The rate is £100 ($120 USD) per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by next Monday, July 25.

–Apartment Therapy is looking for pitches of news and culture stories on Hispanic Heritage Month, back to school, art month, architecture week, community month, and other themed packages. The rates range from $100-$250 depending on type, length, and sources required. Send pitches to [email protected] by August 1. 

–Maisonneuve Magazine is looking for pitches of reported features, essays, and reviews on art and culture for their upcoming winter issue. The standard rate is $0.15 per word, “with some flexibility depending on the amount of research and reporting involved.” Send pitches to [email protected] by tomorrow, July 21. 

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Weedmaps is always looking for pitches of hot takes and heartfelt essays on your most memorable stoned experience for their Best Strain for X series. “If it has a clickbaity outer shell and a funny, sweet, or insightful center like this one about the best strain for falling in love, it’s probably right.” They are particularly interested in pitches from “New York-based stoners with NY-based stories and BIPOC folks.” The rate is $400 for 1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–passionfruit, the Daily Dot’s creator economy newsletter, is always looking for pitches of think pieces, interviews, and reported features on “niche internet subcultures, up-and-coming creator interviews, trend analyses, creator economy news, and more.” The rates start at $250 for think pieces, $300 for interviews, and $450 for reported features. Send pitches to [email protected].  

–Xtra Magazine is looking for pitches of op-eds, reported pieces, profiles, or personal essays on politics and activism “as they pertain to queer and trans people and communities.” They are particularly interested in pitches from “Black and Indigenous writers, trans women of colour, intersex people, and disabled people who are on the queer/trans spectrum.” The rates generally start at $300 CAD ($233 USD) for a straightforward Q&A, and increase based on scope and required research. Send pitches to [email protected] with “pitch” in the subject line.

–Insider is always looking for pitches of as-told-to pieces on virtual assistants, superyachts, cruise travel, Airbnb and vacation rentals, and lucrative summer jobs and side-hustles. Rates start at $200 for cruise-related pieces, and typically start at £250 ($300 USD) for personal essays and £270 ($323 USD) for single interviews and rise “depending on logistics.” See their pitch guide for more details and send cruise-related pitches to @crwillen and all other pitches to Jack at [email protected] and Kiera at [email protected]. 

–Apartment Therapy is always looking for pitches on home projects, real estate, style, home tours, and news and culture. The rates vary based on the vertical, but the range for Style is $100-$500 per assignment, depending on the length, research, and sources involved. See their pitch guide for more info.

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

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS 

NEW: –Input is hiring a part-time news writer to pitch and write three to five reported stories per shift on one or more of the following topics: “tech news, gadgets and hardware, innovation, nerd/geek/internet culture, and investigative reporting around tech and the companies, people, and ideas driving technology forward.” Candidates should have at least two years of reporting and writing experience. The rate starts at $24 per hour.

-The Asian American Arts Alliance is hiring a New York-based editor on a part-time contract to manage writers and photographers, including soliciting, selecting, shaping, and assigning articles, for A4 Forward Magazine. Candidates should have at least three years of editorial experience, and a “demonstrated commitment to the arts or Asian American issues is preferred.” The position pays $40 per hour, and the editor is expected to work 20 hours per week. The deadline to apply is next Sunday, July 31 and the start date is August 2022. 

EVENTS

-Start:Empowerment is hosting a six-week summer school course, Redefine Justice in the Climate Movement. The course is curated by BIPOC organizers and includes guest lectures, workshops, and practical skill learning. The program runs through August 13, and includes one webinar and one workshop per week. The course is offered on a sliding scale from $0-$90, and attendees can sign up for specific weeks or for the entire program. 

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their Reproductive Rights Reporting Fund program. The program supports reporting on reproductive rights that affect people across the U.S., including access to abortion and contraceptives, maternal health, health policy, and abortion bans. The grants will vary depending on need, “but the average grant size will be $5,000.” Applications will be accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. 

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–Insider is accepting applications for their paid Real Estate Reporting Fellow program. The fellow will “primarily work on tracking down the real estate-related stories of real people and conveying them in an ‘as-told-to’ format.” The fellowship pays $20 per hour and fellows are expected to work 40 hours per week for six months. The program can be remote or based in one of their offices. No application deadline was given, but they are looking for the fellow to start working ASAP.

-UC Berkeley is accepting applications for their Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship. Fellows will be awarded $10,000 to report on “in-depth print and audio stories on the science, policy, business and culture of this new era of psychedelics.” The program aims to build and aid new journalists covering the “rapidly changing field.” The deadline to apply is July 31.

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–Rolling Stone is hiring a senior editor to edit features, interviews, and criticism on music, as well as managing special projects and packages. Candidates should have at least five years of relevant experience, including at least three years of experience editing music and entertainment journalism. “Women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.”

CENTRAL

–Chicago Reader is hiring for multiple positions, including an editor in chief to oversee the vision for their editorial content, especially  their Racial Justice Reporting Hub and Writers Room; as well as a culture editor to oversee coverage of visual arts, architecture, museums, and other topics. The salary ranges are $75,000-$85,000 for the editor in chief and $45,000-$50,000 for the culture editor. The deadline to apply for both positions is August 15. 

CALIFORNIA

–SFGATE is hiring a deputy managing editor to lead editors covering a variety of verticals, including culture, food, travel, politics, sports, news, and local issues. Candidates should have at least five years of writing, editing, and management experience, and must be based in the Bay Area or be able to move there once it’s safe to do so. Send inquiries to managing editor Katie Dowd at [email protected]. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Rolling Stone is hiring for multiple positions, including a weekend news editor to oversee the newsroom during the weekends and edit stories on weekdays, as well as a digital culture reporter to join their breaking news team. “Experience with analytics, social media management tools and basic photo/graphic/video editing skills are a plus” for both positions, but not required. 

–HEATED, the climate change newsletter by Emily Atkin, is hiring an enterprise reporter to report original stories on the climate crisis. Candidates should have at least two years of reporting experience and a knowledge of and respect for the SPJ code of ethics. The salary range is $65,000-$85,000. It can be remote within the US or based in Los Angeles or Washington, D.C. 

INTERNATIONAL

–The Parliament Magazine is hiring for multiple positions, including a mid- or senior-level journalist to pitch and write feature, interview, and cover stories, ; as well as an entry-level reporter and social media manager to produce the magazine’s  newsletter, manage their social media (Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn), and pitch and write news and feature stories. Both positions will have an important hand in reshaping the editorial direction of the magazine ahead of a relaunch later this year. Candidates for both positions should have a solid familiarity with EU institutions and “a knack for spotting and reporting important, surprising stories lurking amidst the thick of bureaucracy,” according to editor Sarah Murphy Madia. Candidates must have a legal right to work in the EU. Both positions can be remote on a working contract, however candidates based in (or willing to move to) Brussels are highly preferred — and there is a relocation allowance.