Opportunities 12/16/2020

Vox, Bitch Media, Type Investigations, and more.

Commissioning editors, we need YOU! For next week’s Opps newsletter, we want to 🎁 gift 🎁 some pitching wisdom. Send [email protected] either (1) your most essential pitching tip or (2) the key element of your favorite freelance pitch of the year by December 21! 

Have a job posting, gig, fellowship, or pitch you want to be included in the next Opps newsletter? Send them to [email protected] for approval with “Opportunity:” in the subject line. 

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***THE MEDIA CLASSIFIEDS***

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Want to promote your job opening / pitch call / new project / ecommerce brand? Consider a classified ad. Study Hall and Deez Links are working together to distribute weekly listings to 10,000 hyper-engaged followers of the media industry (editors, writers, executives) through both newsletters. Click through for rates and to inquire.

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RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

“If only there were some way to preserve the historical record of my essay on Catwoman and my thirsty interview with Louis Garrel,” I yelled at the heavens last week when a publication I used to write for deleted their entire archive of content. Old interviews being wiped off the internet is a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to end in despair. Rhizome’s Webrecorder Player is designed to easily archive anything on the web — whether that’s your catalogue of work or just the contents of the NSFW FiveThirtyEight fox mascot fan pages on Reddit. Download it and start saving.

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Skip ahead to: FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS | EVENTS | GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS | INTERNSHIPS | JOBS

CALLS FOR PITCHES 

***Please note that we only share pitch calls that have fair rates based on publicly available information. While we 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].***

–Bitch Media is looking for pitches of features, essays, and interviews on the theme of “plastic” for their next print issue. They want stories about Instagram models, Barbie dolls, sex toys, Silicon Valley, activism, imposter syndrome, and more. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by January 23. 

–Shondaland is looking for pitches of commentary, interviews, and “profiles on interesting women.” Commentary and author interviews should relate to films, television, or books that come out in January and February. The rates start at $500. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Defector is looking for pitches on sports and not-sports. The rate starts at $500 for shorter pieces and $1,000 for longer essays and reported pieces, and their freelance contract includes a kill fee. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Current is looking for pitches of reported pieces, profiles, and features on public media stations, networks, and producers. They are especially interested in coverage of how the pandemic is affecting the public media, and racial justice and diversity issues in public media. The rate is $0.75 per word. See their pitch guide for more info.

–The Juggernaut is looking for pitches of columns, essays, features, and profiles on business and technology. You don’t have to be South Asian to pitch, but you should be curious and well-versed in South Asian issues. The rates start at $250 for columns and essays and $400 for features and profiles. See their pitch guide for more info.

-The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is looking to commission writers with a background in technology, computing, and engineering to produce articles about their College of Engineering and Information Technology. The rates range from $350-$500 for 650-750 words. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Observer is looking for pitches on art. The rates range from $170-$300 for up to 1,500 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Kitchn is looking for pitches from writers of color on kitchen design, cleaning, or organizing for their Lifestyle vertical to run during Black History Month. They want essays, fun facts, service journalism, and other ideas. The rate is around $150, according to Twitter. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Fifth Season is looking for pitches of recipes with ingredient lists, steps, and a “well-told anecdote that gives the dish some life.” The rate is $500 for the recipe and a story of 350-600 words. All recipes have to include a green, but don’t need to be vegetarian. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Asia Democracy Chronicles is looking for pitches from writers in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka on human rights violations during COVID-19. They want reported pieces, analysis, podcasts, and other mediums. The rate is $200 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Preachy, a publication on the new Brick House platform, is looking for pitches of essays, short stories, interviews, comics, or other creative projects about spirituality, religion, and introspection. The rate is $400 and there are two payment options: one on-publication payment, and one where writers buy into the site and get paid as the publication makes more money. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Belt Magazine is looking for pitches of longform reported pieces, personal essays, and photo essays on the Rust Belt region. The rates range from $300-$1,000 for features of 1,200-3,000 words, at least $250 for photo essays, and $100-$200 for essays and commentary. See their pitch guide for more info.

–WIRED is looking for pitches of features, how-to guides, and community stories in games or esports. The rates start at $250 for short, online-only content, $1,000 for backchannel print features, and about $3,000 for print “minifeatures.” See their pitch guide for more info.

–The Business of Business is looking for pitches on (you guessed it) business news. The rate starts at $0.50 per word. Send pitches to [email protected].  

–Diva Magazine is looking for pitches on sex from LGBTQIA+ women of color. The rate ranges from £150-£200 (about $200-$270), depending on the kind of piece, length, and other factors. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Saint and Sofia is looking for pitches of opinion features and longreads on fashion and culture. They particularly want to hear from people underrepresented in fashion and media. The rate is about £0.15 (about $0.20) per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Mslexia is looking for pitches of features and essays “from women who manage to write despite a particular personal challenge.” These challenges can include a new baby, long-term illness, English as a second language, depression, and more. The rate is £100 (about $135) for 1,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by January 11.

-Roxane Gay is looking for pitches of literary essays and memoirs from emerging writers for an upcoming project. Writers must have “fewer than three articles, essays, [or] short story publications and no published books or book contracts.” The rate is $2,000, and essay submissions should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words. See the pitch guide for more info.

–Majuscule is looking for pitches of essays on “basically anything that an educated progressive reader might find interesting.” They don’t want essays that are reviews, and pitches must be somewhat non-time-sensitive, as they will be published in February. The rate is $750 for at least 3,000 words. Send pitches and inquiries to Study Hall member Mike Lindgren at [email protected] by December 28.

-The Freelancers Union is looking for pitches of evergreen guides, how-to content, and timely reporting on freelance-related issues for its blog. A personal, genuine voice is highly encouraged. The rate is $250 for up to 1,000 words. Freelancers retain all rights to their work and are encouraged to plug their own businesses. Send pitches to [email protected] with “Study Hall” in the subject line.

–Inuit Art Quarterly is looking for pitches for their next issue, themed around Interiors. The rate is $1,250 CAD (about $940 USD) for features and $250 CAD (about $185 USD) for reviews and smaller pieces. Please send pitches to [email protected] by December 31. 

–It’s Freezing in LA! Magazine is looking for pitches of essays, opinion, reviews, features, and slow journalism on the topic of regeneration for their next issue. They are also looking for writers for two specific features on art that looks at ecology and conflict and on online climate activism. The rate is £150 (about $200) for 1,000 words. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches by January 6.

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

–Architectural Record is hiring a New York-based editorial assistant to work part-time. The editorial assistant will help produce web content, fact-check, and report and write short pieces. Candidates should preferably have some knowledge of architecture and design, but it is not required.

–Vox is hiring an editor on a one-year contract to guide their coverage of biodiversity with a focus on the science, policy, and economics of conservation. Candidates should have at least three years of editing experience, and a background covering biodiversity, conservation, biology, agriculture, ecology, or environmental science. The position can be based anywhere in the US.

–NPR is hiring for multiple six-month positions, including a news assistant, editor, and associate producer. Candidates should have at least one year of experience for the news assistant position, four years of reporting experience for the editor position, and two years of broadcast journalism experience for the associate producer position. All positions are based in Washington, DC. 

–KPBS is hiring a San Diego-based general assignment reporter on a freelance contract. The reporter may be assigned to anchor radio newscasts, or to appear as a guest or host on their TV and radio programs. Candidates should have at least two years of journalism experience, and must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance.

-The Guardian US is hiring a New York-based visual journalist to cover environmental justice on a one-year contract. Candidates should have some reporting experience, and some experience covering science or environmental justice is preferred. 

–NowThis is hiring a New York-based copy editor to work part-time on their Social Video team. The editor will review on-screen text and conduct basic fact-checking. Candidates should have at least one year of copy editing experience.

–Gumbo Media is hiring writers based in Albuquerque, Austin, Memphis, Minneapolis, Rochester, and St. Paul for a project on their cities’ histories of racial inequities. The project will last at least three months and pay at least $1,000. The deadline to apply is January 1.

EVENTS

-The National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Los Angeles chapter is hosting a virtual career fair on February 6. The fair will include several senior-level journalists explaining how to organize your work materials, and how to write resumes and cover letters. You can sign up for a one-on-one, 10-minute conversation with a mentor who will review your materials by emailing [email protected] with “Resume Review” in the subject line by January 23. 

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND FELLOWSHIPS

-Ann Friedman is accepting applications for her paid 2021 AF WKLY fellowship. Two fellows will receive steady mentorship and work part-time with her “a few hours per week” on her weekly email newsletter, The Ann Friedman Weekly. Fellows will receive an annual stipend of at least $5,000. The deadline to apply is January 10.

–Forbes is accepting applications for their paid business journalism fellowship for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Fellows will be assigned to a beat and work with a mentoring editor from June to August and, as a final project, will submit an original piece of business journalism in the fall. The deadline to apply is February 15.

–Type Investigations will be accepting applications for their Ida B. Wells Fellowship in January. The fellowship aims to help reporters complete their first major work of investigative reporting with a $20,000 award and editorial guidance from one of their editors. Fellows will also receive funds to cover travel, other reporting costs, and costs associated with attending their annual Investigative Reporters and Editors conference. 

–Report for America is hiring for over 300 reporting positions at newsrooms across the US. For 2021, the program doubled the number of host newsrooms owned by people of color, and more than one third of the beats cover communities of color. The program offers a two-year contract (with an option for three years), and candidates with all levels of experience can apply. They are also piloting a small “experienced corps” for mid- to late-career journalists with eight or more years’ experience. The deadline to apply is January 31. 

–Business Insider is accepting applications for their New York-based summer 2021 fellowship program. Fellows will choose from a variety of beats to focus on, including finance, investing, transportation, healthcare, energy, business, and gaming-focused influencers and esports, or fellows can work for their market data site, Markets Insider. They are also accepting applications for a San Francisco-based fellowship covering technology startups and tech investors. All fellowship programs are paid and require that you work 30 hours per week for six months.

–Marie Claire is accepting applications for their paid 2021 fellowship program. Fellows will start in January and work from Monday to Friday for six months. There is “lots of writing involved,” and the fellowship is remote-friendly. Send inquiries and clips to [email protected]. 

-The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute is accepting applications for its 2021 fellowship program. This year’s fellowship projects address the increasing challenges in covering climate change, unpublishing, harassment of marginalized journalists, and other topics. Fellows who choose to work from their headquarters in Columbia, Missouri will receive an $80,000 stipend. Fellows who work from any location around the world or within a US newsroom will receive a $20,000 stipend. The deadline to apply is December 18.

-NPR is accepting applications for their one-year, DC-based Kroc Fellowship. Fellows will receive hands-on training in audio and digital journalism, including writing, reporting, producing, and editing. Applicants must be recent graduates, but previous journalism experience is not required. Fellows are paid a stipend of more than $45,000 and receive benefits, including a paid vacation. Applications are accepted from October 15 to December 31. 

-The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is accepting applications for its paid fact-checking fellowship in collaboration with the Facebook Journalism Project. Fellows will be assigned to newsrooms across the US, including PolitiFact, AP, Reuters, USA TODAY, and others. The fellowship lasts for one year, and fellows are expected to work full-time. The deadline to apply is December 31.

–Outside Magazine is accepting applications for their paid fellowship program. Fellows will have the opportunity to work with editors in editorial, production, and video production work. The fellowship pays $15 per hour (and time-and-a-half for any overtime hours), and fellows are expected to work around 40 hours per week for six months. The fellowship can be based in their Santa Fe newsroom or be done remotely from California, Illinois, New York, or Colorado. The deadline to apply is January 8.

-The Sidney Hillman Foundation is accepting applications for its 2021 Hillman Prizes for Journalism. The prize honors excellence in investigative journalism and commentary. Entries must have been published or broadcast in 2020 and been made widely available in the US. Hillman Prize winners will be awarded a $5,000 honorarium. The deadline to apply is January 30. 

INTERNSHIPS

-The Houston Chronicle is accepting applications for their paid summer 2021 internship program. Interns will be assigned to one of the following departments: metro, business, photo, digital, page design, or features. The internship pays $600 per week, and lasts for 10 weeks. All applicants must have a valid driver’s license. The deadline to apply is December 18.

–Audubon Magazine is accepting applications for their paid, remote winter 2021 internship. Interns will pitch and write articles for print and web, and assist with research, story development, and fact-checking. The internship pays $15 per hour, and interns are expected to work up to 35 hours per week for 16 weeks.

-The Emma Bowen Foundation is accepting applications for its paid summer 2021 internship program for students of color. Interns in the content track will learn about production, social media, digital media, and broadcast and online journalism. There is no set deadline to apply, but they recommend that students apply as soon as possible. 

-The Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents’ Association is accepting applications for their paid internship program. Interns will assist reporters from various news organizations at the state Capitol in Harrisburg from mid-May to late July or early August. The internship pays $575 per week, and interns are expected to work five days per week. The deadline to apply is February 1.

–High Country News is accepting applications for their paid internship program. Interns will develop, report, and write two articles per month about the Western United States, and will work with editors to learn how to perform interviews, frame a story, and more. The internship pays a $600 bi-weekly stipend for interns working remotely from within the Western United States; an additional $125 bi-weekly work-from-home allowance; and a one-time signing bonus of $500 to help with IT equipment. Interns can be based anywhere in the Western region of the US. The deadline to apply for the summer internship is March 15.

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–The New York Times is hiring for multiple positions, including a senior editor of longform audio shows like the 1619 podcast and a staff editor for their Opinion Audio section. Candidates for the senior editor position should have at least five years of experience in audio production. Candidates for the staff editor position should have at least four years of relevant audio experience in news and a deep knowledge of the podcast landscape. 

-The Criterion Collection is hiring an assistant editor to work on their website and online magazine, the Current. Candidates should have at least one year of editorial experience, and should have a strong interest in the landscape of contemporary film writing, including criticism and scholarship. The position will begin remotely. 

–The Wall Street Journal is hiring a video journalist to produce topical and timely news-focused videos. Candidates should have at least three years of experience in a daily news environment, and experience editing and producing news videos about business, tech, and politics.

–CNN is hiring an editor to manage longform product testing features for their Underscored vertical. Candidates should have at least four years of editorial experience at a major publisher, ideally in a commerce capacity, and at least two years of experience editing freelance copy.

–Architectural Record is hiring a news and digital editor to cover design and architecture news, and supervise the production of their daily newsletters. Candidates should have at least three years of editorial experience and some knowledge of architecture and design. 

–Type Investigations is hiring a senior editor to commission and oversee investigative stories, recruit new writers, and manage up to three writers from their fellowship program. Candidates should have significant experience editing and vetting complex, feature-length work. The salary is $75,000-$90,000, commensurate with experience, and it is a union position. 

-Astra Publishing House is hiring an editor-in-chief to help build and develop their literary publication, Astra Magazine. Candidates should have excellent writing and editing skills, a strong network, and “an international reputation.”

WASHINGTON, DC

–Vox is hiring a climate reporter to cover science, health, energy, and climate change for their Science team. Candidates should have at least five years of reporting experience, and experience covering state and federal agencies and building sources in government and academia is preferred. 

–Architect Magazine is hiring an editor-in-chief to lead the staff and serve as the face of the magazine in contacts with the building and construction industry. Candidates should have at least seven years editing and writing experience in B2B journalism, and journalism experience in commercial construction and design is preferred. The position can be done remotely or be based in Washington, DC.

-The Washington Post is hiring for multiple positions, including a copy editor and a TV critic to “make sense of what we see on our screens every day.” The copy editor will be required to work from 2:30 PM to 10 PM, but may need to work as late as 2 AM on big news nights. The deadline to apply for the TV critic position is December 18, and is December 19 for the copy editor position.

-The Center for Public Integrity is hiring for multiple positions, including a data editor to lead their team of data journalists and a reporter to cover racial, gender, and economic inequality in education. Candidates for both positions must have at least five years of relevant experience.

TEXAS

-Local reporter and editor positions are open in Marfa.

CALIFORNIA 

–CalMatters is hiring a data and interactive journalist. Candidates should be excited about collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data, and be proficient in producing compelling graphics and interactive experiences for the web. The position can be based anywhere in California.

-Local reporter and editor positions are open in Merced and Eureka. 

SOUTHEAST

–Atlanta Magazine is hiring a food editor to oversee their monthly Bite section and lead several cover packages per year. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience, three years of editing experience, and two years of experience writing about food and dining.

-WPLN News is hiring a Nashville-based digital news editor to manage reporters and write stories for the web. Candidates should have knowledge of how the web works and a “passion for reaching new audiences and those who’ve been historically underserved by public radio.” The deadline to apply is December 27.

–The Daily Memphian is hiring a reporter to produce live blogs, coronavirus coverage, and breaking or trending news stories. Candidates should have “good writing skills, an eye for detail, and better-than-average expertise with social media channels.”

–ProPublica is hiring six Atlanta-based reporters to cover the South, focusing on Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. Candidates should have some experience producing original, revelatory, in-depth, or investigative stories. They are also open to candidates located in another city based in the Southern states they will be covering. The deadline to apply is January 4.

-Local reporter and editor positions are open in Bluffton, Augusta, and Athens.

CENTRAL

-Local reporter and editor positions are open in Lansing and Davenport.

SOUTHWEST

–Santa Fe Public Radio is hiring a content director to lead their producers and journalists as they  reorient their news and public affairs programming towards digital media. Candidates should have some experience in audio production, digital media production, or digital publishing. 

–Axios is hiring a Denver-based reporter to write a daily newsletter and cover the city as a part of their new local news initiative. Candidates should have some experience covering a wide range of topics at a local and national level, and have a deep knowledge of the local market, including politics, business, and social issues.

–ProPublica is hiring five Phoenix-based reporters to cover the Southwest, focusing on Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and possibly Colorado. Candidates should have some experience producing original, revelatory, in-depth, or investigative stories. They are also open to candidates located in another city based in the Southwest states they will be covering. The deadline to apply is January 4.

-Local reporter and editor positions are open in Pahrump.

OTHER US

-KTOO is hiring for multiple positions in Juneau, Alaska, including a local community reporter and a statewide health and science reporter to join their Energy desk. Candidates should have at least two years of experience working in a newsroom and some experience reporting on traditionally underrepresented communities. 

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

-The Associated Press is hiring a reporter to cover equity and race in the US education system. Candidates should have at least one year of full-time newsroom experience and a demonstrated history of successful beat reporting. The position can be based out of any city with an AP bureau. The deadline to apply is January 5.

–Native News Online is hiring a general assignment reporter to cover social, cultural, and economic stories relevant to their Indian readership. Candidates should have at least one year of journalism experience, and American Indians or Alaska Natives are preferred.

–Architect Magazine is hiring an editor-in-chief to lead the staff and serve as the face of the magazine in contacts with the building and construction industry. Candidates should have at least seven years editing and writing experience in B2B journalism, and journalism experience in commercial construction and design is preferred. The position can be done remotely or be based in Washington, DC.

INTERNATIONAL

–The Telegraph is hiring for multiple London-based positions, including a weekend news reporter and an assistant digital news editor. Candidates for both positions should have some experience working in news at regional, national, or international level.