Opportunities 12/22/2021

The Muse, Briarpatch, The Verge 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 brought three jars of fig jam back from their much-too-short vacation to Paris. 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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***COMING IN 2022: A NEW CLASSIFIED ADS MODEL***

►What’s better than distributing ads to over 4,000 hyper-engaged followers of the media industry (editors, writers, executives) through our Study Hall Opportunities newsletter? Having that ad go out to over 16,000+ or 40,000+ people. 

Next year, the Classified Ads you know and love are teaming up with two newsletters for an all-new, three-tiered pricing model. We’ll release more info on this exciting next chapter for the Ads in the new year so until then, have a happy holiday season and, as always, click through for rates, testimonials, and to get in touch.

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***STUDY HALL EVENTS PROGRAMMING***

►ASK ME ANYTHING: A series of dialogues that will be hosted on our Slack channel covering topics that include: starting a newsletter, feature writing, investigative journalism, content strategy, and longform investigative journalism.

— Book Publishing AMA with All My Mother’s Lovers author Ilana Masad will take place January 5 at 3 PM EST.

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OPPS SUCCESS STORIES

Do I comb through the interwebs for opportunities because of a blood pact with the ghost of our founder, Eric Studyhall, that brings me international acclaim for my writing? I’m legally (and spiritually) not allowed to say. What I can say is that this pact has led to real people in the Study Hall community getting real jobs that pay real money, unlike the ghost money I am paid with by Eric. If you turned a pitch call into paid work, please let me know by emailing [email protected] with “Opps Success Story” in the subject line.

–Sebastian Stockman was paid $750 to write a longform essay on Janet Malcolm for Majuscule. He pitched the piece after seeing a call for longform critical essays on Study Hall. He received half of the rate a few days after the pitch was accepted, and received the second half of the rate the day the piece was published.

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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

–The New York Times Magazine is looking for pitches of short features on “the playful yarns, the wild romps, the delicious, the sexy, the sweet, the bright.” They are interested in pitches from writers anywhere in the world. The rates weren’t publicly given, but are “competitive compared to what other major magazines pay, which is $1-$2 [per] word.” Send pitches to @vauhinivara in “the next few weeks.”

–The Verge is looking for pitches of reported stories on “the ways creators, artists, and small businesses have had to fight to protect their work” for their Making It Work series. They are preferably looking for pitches of larger trends, but a focus on a single creator can work if the story is unique. The rate will be a flat project fee, “but will work out to roughly $1 [per] word.” The deadline to send pitches is January 2, and the deadline to file will be January 11.

–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.

–Positively Aware is looking for pitches of stories on diversity, equity, and inclusion in HIV and AIDS advocacy for their upcoming issue. They are especially interested in pitches from BIPOC and LGBTQ writers. The rate is $350 for up to 400 words. Send pitches to [email protected].

–The Muse is looking for pitches of “reported features, essays, perspectives, maybe even humor pieces that shed light, provide insight, reframe, and capture zeitgeist at a moment when careers, work, and culture are shifting and evolving in a big way.” The rate is usually over $300, but they will “consider going up to $1 [per] word.” Send pitches to [email protected].

–Catapult is 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 and send pitches in 2022 (not during the holidays).

–Weathered is looking for pitches of essays or reported stories on “the built environment in the wintertime,” including maintenance and care, open and public space, insulation, climate change, and other topics. The rate is $200 for pieces of 600-800 words. See their pitch guide for more info, and 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.

–Observer is looking for pitches of features, interviews, profiles, reviews, and essays on art, including galleries, museums, opera, books, NFTS, and other topics. The rates range from $180-$300 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected].

–Briarpatch is looking for pitches of “investigative journalism, interviews, feature articles, narrative reporting, project profiles, comics and graphic texts, book reviews, and photo essays that are rooted in anti-colonial, anti-capitalist, feminist struggle” for their unthemed May/June issue. The rates range from $150-$350 for pieces of 1,500-2,500 words. See their pitch guide for more details, and send pitches by January 3.

–Fed is looking for pitches of stories on sports science, sports nutrition, food and agriculture, and other intersections of food and sports. The rate is CAD $0.15 (USD $0.12) per word for pieces of around 1,200 words. Send pitches to [email protected].

NEW EVERGREEN PITCH CALLS, SORTED BY HIGHEST TO LOWEST RATES

–Xtra Magazine is always looking for pitches of longform narrative features, dispatches, and essays on LGBTQIA+ politics, identity, and power for their Power section. They are specifically not looking for pitches of memoirs, fiction, or news pieces. The rate starts at CAD $300 CAD (USD $234) for pieces of at least 1,500 words. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Study Hall (that’s us!) is looking for pitches of blogs, essays, reports, features, Q&As, freelance diaries, digest blurbs, how-tos, guides, panels and talks, workshops, seminars, and AMAs. Rates range from $200 to $1,200 depending on the type of work. See our pitch guide for more info.

–Catapult is always looking for pitches of first-person essays that incorporate “cultural analysis, fact-based research, or reporting.” The rates start at $200 for essays of 2,000-2,500 words. See their pitch guide for more info.

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

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

–Input is hiring freelance gadget reviewers who specifically identify as BIPOC and/or non-male. They do not want cisgender male writers to inquire about the position. The rates start at $300 per review and “ramp up if we commission more pieces and copy is clean and original photos are on point.” Send inquiries to [email protected].

–Street Sense Media is hiring a Washington, D.C.-based accountability reporter to produce stories on stories homelessnes and the impact local government policy has on the city’s most vulnerable communities. Candidates should be comfortable working with vulnerable communities. The position pays $45,000 for a one-year contract, and the hours are flexible. The deadline to apply is next Wednesday, December 29.

–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 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

-The Columbia School of Journalism’s literary nonfiction publication, The Delacorte Review, is accepting applications for their Diversity Grant program. The program aims to bring new and diverse voices from underrepresented backgrounds to the publication. The program awards three grants of $1,000, and the three writers are assigned an editor to work with on every step of the writing process over a five-month span. The deadline to apply is tomorrow, December 23.

-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.

–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 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 January 15.

–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

–The Guardian is hiring a weekend news editor to join their New York desk on a Friday through Tuesday schedule. Candidates should have demonstrable news editing or reporting experience, and should be knowledgeable on climate, politics, tech, culture, and racial and social justice.

-New York Focus is hiring a staff reporter to produce deeply reported stories on the police, prosecutors, courts, jails, prisons, parole offices, and policymakers that make up New York state’s expansive criminal-legal system. Candidates should have at least three years of journalism experience, and should know how to make public records requests and search court records databases. The annual salary is $60,000 plus benefits. This position is remote, but candidates based in New York state are preferred. The deadline to apply is next Friday, December 31.

–n+1 is hiring a managing editor to oversee their editorial team and execute the production of their three print issues. Candidates should have at least three years of magazine, book publishing, or newspaper experience, including copyediting and proofreading skills. The starting salary is $56,000. The deadline to apply is January 7.

–Them is hiring a lifestyle editor to curate and edit a new vertical focused on service journalism for LGBTQ+ people, as well as contributing to their Style vertical. Candidates should have at least three years of editing experience, and be adept at fact-checking.

–Insider is hiring a senior reporter to lead their morning flagship newsletter on a Sunday through Thursday schedule. Candidates should be familiar with the business, tech, and politics sectors, as well as newsletter styles and formatting. The position can be remote or based in New York.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

–USA Today is hiring for multiple positions, including an associate photo editor and an associate video and photo journalist. Candidates for both positions should have at least two years of relevant experience. Candidates for the photo editor position should have advanced knowledge Photoshop, PhotoMechanic, FTP programs, and Premiere.

–Historynet.com is hiring a digital managing editor to plan and oversee their content, including occasionally writing time-sensitive news and social media content. Candidates should have at least five years of editorial experience, including a demonstrated record of SEO content creation. The position can be remote in the mid-Atlantic region or be based in Washington, D.C.

SOUTHEAST

–Historynet.com is hiring a digital managing editor to plan and oversee their content, including occasionally writing time-sensitive news and social media content. Candidates should have at least five years of editorial experience, including a demonstrated record of SEO content creation. The position can be remote in the mid-Atlantic region or be based in Washington, D.C.

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–Civil Beat is hiring a full-time newsletter editor to write their daily newsletter and build their weekly and monthly newsletters. Candidates should have two to four years relevant experience and experience working in Hawaii, or a connection to the state. The position is based in Oahu, Hawaii, but they will consider remote candidates in the U.S. Benefits include medical and dental, 401(K) matching, paid time off, and family leave. Send a cover letter and resume to [email protected] by this Friday, December 24.

-New York Focus is hiring a staff reporter to produce deeply reported stories on the police, prosecutors, courts, jails, prisons, parole offices, and policymakers that make up New York state’s expansive criminal-legal system. Candidates should have at least three years of journalism experience, and should know how to make public records requests and search court records databases. The annual salary is $60,000 plus benefits. This position is remote, but candidates based in New York state are preferred. The deadline to apply is next Friday, December 31.

–City Cast is hiring a newsletter editor-in-chief to develop a vision for and lead the writers producing their newsletter products. Candidates should have keen editorial instincts and some experience building a successful newsletter. The salary range is $75,000-$10,000, depending on experience. The deadline to apply is January 6.

–Canary Media is hiring a senior editor to lead their team of staff writers and reporters, as well as soliciting and editing pieces from freelancers and guest authors. Candidates should have at least five years of editorial experience, and knowledge of climate tech, energy, business, policy, climate change, or environmental justice is preferred. The salary range is $90,000-$100,000, depending on experience.

–Insider is hiring a senior reporter to lead their morning flagship newsletter on a Sunday through Thursday schedule. Candidates should be familiar with the business, tech, and politics sectors, as well as newsletter styles and formatting. The position can be remote or based in New York.

INTERNATIONAL

–The Chelsea Magazine Company is hiring an assistant editor for their travel team. Candidates should have a “thorough knowledge of the geography of the British Isles, British history and traditions.” The salary ranges from £26,000 to £30,000 (USD $34,450-$39,750) and the job is based in London. The deadline to apply is next Friday, December 31.