Opportunities 1/12/2022

Corq Studio, Mildew Magazine, Roxane Gay's new creative fellowship with Substack, 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 highly recommends watching the 1982 Ingmar Bergman film Fanny and Alexander as you procrastinate on writing deadlines. 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.

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RESOURCES

Relying solely on, say, the Study Hall Opportunities newsletter to find work is like trying to do the “Y.M.C.A.” dance alone. It’s sad and please put your arms down. Just as that song takes a Village of People to perform, freelancing also takes a village… of resources. There’s no need to feel down, so pick yourself off the ground. It’s fun to read all the R.E.S.O.U.R.C.E.S.

-The Labor Action Tracker by Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations is a comprehensive database of strike and labor protest activity across the United States. The database should be a key asset for freelance and staff reporters on the labor beat.

-The Rate Sharing database by the Freelance Solidarity Project has a searchable list of publications so you know what rates they’re paying for what kind of content. It’s an essential resource for making sure you get the best rate possible (or skip the stinkers who don’t pay well).

Want more resources? Check out the 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; Missed Pitches newsletter; 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

–World Wildlife is looking for submissions of “short, uplifting personal essays about nature’s impact on a writer” for their new print column, Love Letter. They are specifically looking for full drafts and not pitches. The rate is $1.25 per word for essays of 100-300 words. See their submission form for more info and send submissions by January 31.

–TIME Health is looking for pitches of reported features on gut health, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, lupus, cholesterol, and general healthcare trends. They are particularly interested in pitches from writers with experience covering health. The rate is $1 per word for features of about 1,800 words. Send pitches to [email protected] by this Monday, January 17.

–The Verge is looking for pitches of reported stories on “the projects creators are making to expand or improve upon the works and spaces they already love.” They are also interested in pitches on “the ways companies are trying to stifle this kind of work” and “artists from marginalized communities.” The rate will be a flat project fee, “but will work out to roughly $1 [per] word.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to Jake Kastrenakes ([email protected]) with “DIY Pitch” in the subject line by next Monday, January 17.

–Chatelaine is looking for pitches of short arts and culture pieces on upcoming music, books, shows, movies, and other media for their upcoming March/April issue. They are also looking for pitches of reported features, memoir, explainers, and other content on food and health. They specifically want pitches targeting their demographic of women over 35 years old. The rate is CAD $1 (USD $0.80) per word for print, and ranges from CAD $300-$800 (USD $240-$640) for digital stories depending on the scope. Send art and culture pitches to [email protected] and food and health pitches to [email protected].

–Modern Farmer is looking for pitches for their upcoming “The Future of Food and Farming” package, including stories on what’s really next for farming; what agriculture will look like in 10, 15, 30 years; whether we will be farming in space; what can be grown in Antarctica; and other topics. They are particularly interested in reported features and profiles of 500-1,200 words on future-thinking farmers. The rates range from CAD $0.50-$0.66 (USD $0.40-$0.53) per word. Send pitches to [email protected] by next Saturday, January 22.

–Forbes Marketplace is commissioning commerce-focused freelance writers to join their contributor network. They are especially interested in writers with “clean, well-sourced SEO writing experience.” The rates start at $350 per assignment. Send inquiries, including experience and a few clips, to Alena at [email protected].

–Insider is looking for pitches of stories on changing career paths or industries during the pandemic, including both first-person and reported stories. The rates start at $300 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected].

–i-D is looking for pitches of stories on “cult films, y2k fashion, [and] online and offline subculture (COMPELLING TikTok nonsense ONLY).” They specifically do not want first-person essays. The rates start at £200 (USD $273) per piece. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Streets Minnesota is looking for pitches of stories on transit, transportation, and land use in BIPOC communities. They are especially interested in pitches from BIPOC writers in these communities. The rates range from $200-$250 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by the end of January.

–Huck Magazine is looking for pitches of reported features, oral histories, book Q+As, and other formats on politics, current affairs, activism, culture, and tech from around the globe. They are also commissioning pieces on “gig economy workers and how they’re fighting back against bad bosses.” The rates range from £120-£200 (about $163-$271) for interviews and profiles and start at £225 (about $305) for larger pieces, but “they will vary” based on the workload. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected].

-Corq Studio is looking for pitches of “well-researched comment pieces, case studies, features, and trend reports on the influencer industry and the creator economy.” The rates are £100 (USD $136) for comment pieces of 300-400 words, and range from £350-£600 (USD $477-$818) for features and case studies of no more than 1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Broccoli Magazine is looking for pitches of stories for their next print issue, including two front-of-book features; short themed features; profiles of historical women and nonbinary people; a profile of a working artist; reporting on the cannabis community and its culture; and other ideas. They are also specifically looking for a Russian-speaking writer to interview a music group. The rates range from $75-$100 for short pieces of 350 words or less, and is around $0.40-$0.50 per word for other features, but they will “go up to $1 per word for the right story.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by this Tuesday, January 18.

–Crack Magazine is looking for pitches of album reviews, profiles, and deep dives into subcultures and underground movements. They are especially interested in non-Western writers and stories. The rate is £0.15 (USD $0.20) per word for short album reviews in print, and £0.20 (USD $0.27) per word for long form features. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Mildew Magazine is looking for pitches of stories that inspire readers to think about old clothes in new ways. They are particularly interested in pitches on creative reuse, fashion history, and vintage and secondhand fashion. The rates start at $0.20 per word, but will “vary based on the length and the amount of reporting necessary.” See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected] by February 6.

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–The Paper Gown is always looking for pitches of personal essays on navigating healthcare, chronic illness, mental health, and more. They are especially interested in pitches from BIPOC and queer writers. The rates are flat but “end up being minimum $0.50 per word.” Send pitches to [email protected].

–The Prepared is always looking for pitches of features on engineering, manufacturing, and infrastructure. The rate is $0.50 for pieces of typically 1,250-2,500 words, “though longer [and] more deeply reported pieces are considered.” See their pitch form for more info.

–Willow is always looking for pitches of analysis, interviews, and long-form and reported features on real estate, including facadism, history of homes, housing access, affordability, and real estate in video games like SimCity and the metaverse. They are particularly interested in pitches from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers. The rate is $300 for pieces of 1,500 words. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Catapult is always looking for pitches of argument-driven personal essays on travel and postcolonial writing, television, food and drinks, and style. The pitches must incorporate researched and reported cultural analysis. The rate is $250 per essay of up to 2,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info.

–BirdNote Daily is always looking for pitches of stories for their short radio show on birds. The scripts for each show run about 225 words or fewer. The rates range from $175-$200 for scripts that they produce and have their narrators read; $300-$350 for scripts narrated and recorded by you; and $400-$500 for scripts narrated by you that feature interviews or field tape recorded by you. See their pitch guide for more info.

–The Doe is always looking for pitches of personal narratives on love, education, justice, politics, religion, food, media, sports, sex, and other topics. The rate is $300 for pieces of 800-1,400 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected].

–LatinaMedia.Co is always looking for pitches of cultural criticism on TV, movies, podcasts, books, and news from a Latina or gender non-conforming Latinx perspective. The rate is $100 per piece of about 600 words. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Autostraddle is always commissioning writers to regularly cover culture. They are especially interested in Black, queer writers. The rates range from $80-$200 per piece. Send an intro, socials, bylines, and what you’re interested in writing about to [email protected].

-CatStone Books is always commissioning writers to produce reviews and author interviews of speculative fiction and nonfiction from minority voices. They are specifically looking for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers. The rate is $0.12 per word. Send inquiries to [email protected].

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

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

–Encyclopedia Britannica is hiring an editor to lead the development of and create explainer articles (not encyclopedia entries) for their new section, “How It Works.” Candidates should have at least five years of writing and editing experience, and some experience with Google Analytics is preferred. The position will begin as a contractor role but “likely” become full-time. The position can be remote or based in Chicago or New York.

–LiveArt, an art trading platform, is hiring a data journalist to work with their platform’s data sets. Candidates are not required to have knowledge of artists or the art world, though “having an interest in art will make the work more interesting.” The rates are $20 per hour on a project basis and will begin as a freelance contract. Send inquiries to [email protected].

–LiveArt is also hiring a social media manager to manage and create social content for Twitter and Instagram, with “an eye towards developing YouTube content.” Candidates should have some experience managing social media accounts, and have a strong interest in art. The rate is $20 per hour, and the position requires working at least 30 hours per week. The position can be remote or based in New York.

–The Take is hiring freelance writers to produce video essay scripts that “give viewers deeper context into what they’re watching.” Candidates should have extensive research skills, a deep understanding of film and TV, and be up to date on pop culture and current events. The average rate is $300 per script, but rates are “commensurate based on experience and scope of the project.” The deadline to apply is this Saturday, January 15.

EVENTS

–The Open Notebook is hosting a series of free Science Journalism Master Classes. The classes cover the following topics: how to find an angle for any science story; how to pitch science stories that sell; and how to spot scientific hype and misinformation. There is no start date and you can sign up for the courses at any time.

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, CONTESTS, AND AWARDS

-MediaFutures is accepting applications for their paid Open Call grant program. The program aims to address the “challenge of misinformation and disinformation” by supporting unconventional ways for people to engage with journalism. The grant provides up to €80,000 in free funding for startups and up to €40,000 for artists, and includes six months of support. The deadline to apply is January 27.

-The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism is accepting applications for their paid Ferriss-UC Berkeley Psychedelic Journalism Fellowship grant. The program offers 15 grants of $10,000 to journalists “reporting in-depth print and audio stories on the science, policy, business, and culture of this new era of psychedelics.” The deadline to apply is January 31.

-The Knight Science Journalism Program is accepting submissions for their Victor K. McElheny Award for local and regional science journalism. Applicants can submit any work of journalism that covers science, public health, technology, or environmental issues. Entries can be standalone pieces or series and must have been published by a US-based outlet during the 2021 calendar year. The deadline to submit is January 31.

–Red Pepper Magazine is accepting submissions for their Dawn Foster Memorial Essay Prize in collaboration with HCI Skills Gateway. The contest is specifically for UK-based writers aged 35 and under. Applicants are invited to write an essay of 1,500 words on Britain’s housing crisis. The first prize is an award of £1,500 (USD $1,986) and there are four runner-up prizes of £200 (USD $265) each. The deadline to submit is January 31.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award. The award is open to women, non-binary, and gender nonconforming journalists around the world. They accept both third-party and self nominations. The winner will receive a prize of $20,000. The deadline to apply is February 24.

–Sports Illustrated is accepting applications for their paid copy desk summer internship program. Interns will copyedit magazine stories for style, grammar, and editorial consistency. Applicants must be rising juniors, rising seniors, or recent graduates, and should have some copy editing experience. The internship pays $17.39 per hour, and interns are expected to work 35 hours per week for 10 weeks. No application deadline was given, but candidates chosen for interviews will be notified of their application status by March 15.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their annual Courage in Journalism Awards. The award honors full-time staff or freelance reporters, writers, editors, photographers or producers who identify as women, non-binary, and gender nonconforming. Self-nominations are not accepted. The deadline to nominate is March 18.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting nominations for their Gwen Ifill Award. The award is given to a woman, non-binary, or gender nonconforming journalist of color in the U.S. with “a track record of mentorship, leadership, and a commitment to diversity in journalism.” They accept both third-party and self nominations. The deadline to nominate is March 26.

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their United States Journalism Emergency Fund program. The program provides financial assistance to US-based journalists of any gender (including men) who have been “targeted as a result of [their] reporting at events related to the highly charged political unrest and polarization in the US.” The fund covers medical aid, mental health and legal services, and destroyed or stolen equipment or protective gear. Requests will be reviewed in the order they were received.

–SpotlightDC is accepting applications for its investigative journalism grant. The grant awards up to $10,000 for investigative or explanatory journalism projects focused on health care, crime, transportation, corruption, and other matters of public interest in the Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia regions. Grant applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis.

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

–NPR is accepting applications for their paid Above the Fray fellowship program in collaboration with The John Alexander Project. The program will provide one “up-and-coming radio journalist the opportunity to cover important but under-reported stories” on global public health or international migration. Applicants should have at least five years of journalism experience. The fellowship covers “all production and living expenses,” and the fellow is expected to prepare and edit the project in Washington, D.C. The deadline to apply is this Saturday, January 15.

NEW: -Substack and Roxane Gay are accepting applications for their paid Joel Gay Creative Fellowship program. The fellowship includes monthly support meetings with Gay for one year and a stipend of $25,000 (paid in monthly installments) for three emerging writers to develop and publish a newsletter. The program will also include up to $15,000 in services from Substack, including editorial and other business support services. The deadline to apply is February 10.

–MinnPost is accepting applications for their paid, Minneapolis-based Race & Health Equity Reporting Fellowship program. The fellow will cover “the different ways poverty, discrimination, education, employment, transportation, housing, and the environment affect health and health care among Minnesota’s BIPOC communities.” Ideal applicants are early career journalists. The fellowship pays $48,000, and fellows are expected to work full-time for one year.

JOBS

NEW YORK

–Vogue is hiring an associate producer to work within their CMS to build multiple types of content for the digital site and oversee special projects and tentpole event coverage, including the Met Gala. Candidates should have at least one year of digital media experience, and basic HTML understanding to modify code.

–Documented is hiring for multiple positions, including a Chinese community correspondent to design and built a vertical focused on Chinese New Yorkers; a Caribbean community correspondent to design and built a vertical focused on Caribbean New Yorkers; an immigration reporter to focus on the enforcement parts of the immigration system, especially courts and detention; and a labor reporter to focus on immigrant labor issues in the city. The deadline to apply for all positions is January 31.

–Mother Jones is hiring a reporter to pitch, report, and write stories on environmental justice and other climate-related topics. Candidates should have at least four years of experience reporting climate or other related beats, and a “deep and diverse network of expert sources.” The position can be remote or based in San Francisco, New York, or Washington, D.C.

-Handel Architects is hiring a writer and editor to produce content on the architecture and design industry, including urban design, sustainability, or residential design trends. Candidates should have at least three years of experience as a content creator or copywriter, and must be able to fact-check long-form content pieces.

-The Rubin Museum of Art is hiring a writer and editor to “write, edit, and conceptualize digital content, including video and audio scripts, for usage online and in the Museum.” Candidates should have at least three years of digital content experience, and familiarity or experience with Himalayan arts and cultures is preferred. The salary range is “low to mid $50,000,” commensurate with experience.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

–Mother Jones is hiring a reporter to pitch, report, and write stories on environmental justice and other climate-related topics. Candidates should have at least four years of experience reporting climate or other related beats, and a “deep and diverse network of expert sources.” The position can be remote or based in San Francisco, New York, or Washington, D.C.

TEXAS

–Texas Monthly is hiring for multiple positions, including an Austin- or Texas-based copy editor to primarily focus on the print magazine; an Austin-based senior engagement editor to oversee the distribution of their editorial content on social media, newsletters, and other sources; and an Austin- or Texas-based senior editor to lead their coverage of business and innovation across the state. The deadline to apply is next Friday, January 21 for the copy editor position; February 14 for the senior engagement editor position; and February 21 for the senior editor position.

CALIFORNIA

–Epic Magazine is hiring a research assistant to work directly with their co-founder on ideas for longform non-fiction, narrative podcasts, film and television, and other projects. Candidates should have some experience in journalistic writing and research, and experience on an editorial staff is preferred. The position can be remote or based in Los Angeles.

–Mother Jones is hiring a reporter to pitch, report, and write stories on environmental justice and other climate-related topics. Candidates should have at least four years of experience reporting climate or other related beats, and a “deep and diverse network of expert sources.” The position can be remote or based in San Francisco, New York, or Washington, D.C.

–Southern California Public Radio is hiring a Pasadena-based senior reporter to develop a beat that “looks at what’s eroding the underpinnings of our democratic processes and elevates the voices of voters.” Candidates should have at least five years of professional radio journalism experience, and fluency in Spanish is preferred.

CENTRAL

–Block Club Chicago is hiring a reporter to cover the Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods on the Far Southwest Side of Chicago. Candidates should have at least two years of reporting experience and a familiarity with these neighborhoods, with residents or former residents of the Southwest Side preferred. The deadline to apply is next Thursday, January 20.

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Mother Jones is hiring a reporter to pitch, report, and write stories on environmental justice and other climate-related topics. Candidates should have at least four years of experience reporting climate or other related beats, and a “deep and diverse network of expert sources.” The position can be remote or based in San Francisco, New York, or Washington, D.C.

–Insider is hiring a science reporter to focus on climate change, but “you should also be interested in covering topics such as NASA, SpaceX, archeology, animals, human evolution, and much more.” Candidates should have some professional journalism experience covering health, science, or a related topic.

–Epic Magazine is hiring a research assistant to work directly with their co-founder on ideas for longform non-fiction, narrative podcasts, film and television, and other projects. Candidates should have some experience in journalistic writing and research, and experience on an editorial staff is preferred. The position can be remote or based in Los Angeles.

–The Associated Press is hiring for multiple positions, including an education data journalist to focus on the impact of the pandemic on the U.S. education system, and a climate data journalist to focus on the environment and climate in the U.S. and globally. Candidates for both positions should have strong data analysis and reporting skills. Both positions can be based in any U.S. city with an A.P. bureau, and both positions will last for two years. The deadline to apply for both positions is next Thursday, January 20.

INTERNATIONAL

–rabble.ca is hiring an editor to assign and edit daily news features and analysis pieces. Candidates should have at least two years of journalism editing experience, and a “knowledge of and demonstrated interest in progressive politics, social and labor movements, and current national affairs, including Indigenous-led activism.” The salary range is CAD $50,700-$58,500 (USD $40,420-$46,640), based on experience. The deadline to apply is February 4.