Opportunities – 2/3/2021

GQ, Bloomberg, BBC Worklife, and more.

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

**We’re now selling classified ads on the daily media newsletter Today in Tabs, which means over 38,000 subscribers could see your ads. Click through for more information.**

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— Let’s Know Things is a calm, reserved, weekly news analysis podcast that is non-polemical, non-shouty, and dedicated to putting what’s happening today into more intelligible, useful context. Subscribe here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

— Subscribe to The Whippet for science, history, weirdness & idiosyncratic advice. 0% hot takes or contemporary politics, although I will continue to report on petty infighting among pterosaur paleontologists, because that is some top-shelf gossip.

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— Death Panel Presents Medicare for All Week 2: a series of special interviews refreshing the debate on M4A and exploring the political economy of health (Feb 8-13) www.deathpanel.net

— Five Moments – Noteworthy stories in just a moment. We are rounding up the five most interesting stories across the internet, that’s it. We read everything so you don’t have to and bring your inbox brief content recommendations and occasional cultural commentary, each Sunday.

— Are you a journalist who likes to dig deep? @McGrawCenter offers grants to $15K to do high-impact stories on key econ/biz/fin’l issues: workplace, climate, health care, trade, inequality, corporate accountability & more. Follow the Money! Apply by 2/12 here.

Want to promote your job opening / pitch call / new project / ecommerce brand? Consider a classified ad. Deez Links and Study Hall — AND TODAY IN TABS!! — are working together to distribute weekly listings to up to 38,000 hyper-engaged followers of the media industry (editors, writers, executives) through our newsletters. Click through for rates, testimonials and to get in touch.

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THREE QUESTIONS WITH A COMMISSIONING EDITOR

*Slapping hood of Opportunities newsletter continues aggressively.* For the third edition of our new feature, we spoke to Meredith Turits, Study Hall member and editor of the BBC’s Worklife vertical, about what makes a good pitch. 

Study Hall: Are there any key elements that make for a good pitch for the BBC Worklife vertical?

Meredith Turits: The best pitches have three key elements: a strong headline, a “why now” element, and a takeaway telling us where the story will land. We get a lot of pitches that are rapidly dashed off, not fully formed ideas. The pitches we want to know more about come in tight and focused, and reference recent research, characters, or cultural trends that give them relevancy. 

Ultimately, our vertical looks at how work and life topics affect us as individuals. If our audience can’t see the applicability of the narrative to themselves, the story won’t resonate. 

(And, as long as I have the floor, please, please no more pitches on being a freelancer.)

SH: What is your process for deciding if you’ll greenlight a pitch?

MT: We always start with evaluating the headline, which is why it’s so important for a strong one in a pitch. If you can’t sell the story to us, we’re going to struggle selling it to our readers. Then, the deputy editor and I sense-check interesting ideas with each other. If we can’t see into a pitch entirely but we’re interested in it, we try to go through how the story would be structured.

Sometimes, we’ll go back to a writer to tell us more – what their way [into the story] might be, how they see the story coming together, or what new findings give us a reason to tell the story. Other times, if we struggle talking it through or find we’re shoehorning an angle into the pitch, we try to listen to our instinct that it’s just not right.

SH: As a freelancer yourself, what are some tips you’ve learned that have helped shape your own pitches?

MT: Understanding the importance of the headline has been immensely helpful for me personally. Not only does a honed hed help an editor figure out whether something has legs, it also helps me focus the rest of my own pitch and actually figure out if there’s a story. From seeing pitches come in — both successful and unsuccessful — I’ve found that understanding the why behind the idea (“why now” for both the story itself, but also for that publication specifically) before sending off something makes all the difference. And finally, we all have lots of shower thoughts! Not all of them should be pitched! 

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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].***

PITCH CALLS FOR BIPOC WRITERS

–Anti-Racism Daily is looking for pitches from BIPOC writers on racial disparities in hospice care, funerals, cemeteries, death-related planning and other topics. The rate is $300 for 800 words. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Autostraddle is looking for pitches of essays, criticism, poetry, and visual art on what queer ancestral knowledge you’re using as a blueprint for the future for a Black History Month series. The specifically want pitches from Black queer writers and artists. The rate ranges from $200-$300 per piece. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by February 7.

–Queer Doula Network Magazine is looking for pitches on full-spectrum birth work and gender affirming care from queer writers. They are prioritizing pitches from BIPOC writers. The rate is $125 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected] by February 20.

OTHER PITCH CALLS

–BBC is commissioning writers with experience writing about and reporting on psychology for their Worklife vertical. The rate is $600 for 1,200 words. Send a short bio and some clips to [email protected]. 

–The Fuller Project is looking for pitches on the intersection of gender and the environment. They are also looking to collaborate with staff reporters at publications. Send pitches and inquiries to [email protected]. 

–The Philadelphia Inquirer is commissioning writers who are interested in covering local stories for their service journalism desk. They are especially interested in hearing from writers who “identify as women, people of color, LGBTQ+, having a disability, or belonging to communities who have not always gotten a lot of space in media.” Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–Backpacker Magazine is looking for pitches of news, profiles, essays, and more on wilderness travel and hiking. The rates range from $150-$250, with the average being $175-$200. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–21st Century Burlesque is looking for pitches on theater, art, beauty, fashion, feminism, pop culture, nightlife, creative business, lifestyle, and socio-political issues. The rates start at $100-$150. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Huck Magazine is looking for pitches of reported features, profiles, interviews, and more for their next print issue. The rate starts at £120 (about $164) for short features and £225 (about $308) for long features. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches to [email protected].

–The Toronto Star is looking for pitches on romance, friendship, family, pets, and love for their Valentine’s Day issue. The rates range from $250-$600 CAD (about $195-$467 USD) depending on length and complexity. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Yes Magazine is looking for pitches of reported stories on the wellbeing of our planet, economic recovery, accountability for Big Oil, and repair for marginalized communities. The rate is $0.50 per word. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by February 5.

–Variable West is looking for pitches of micro essays on artists (living or dead) for their Love Letters column. The artist needs to be living and working (or lived and worked, if the artist is dead) in California, Oregon, or Washington, but doesn’t need to have work in an exhibition. The rate is $50 for essays of 200-250 words. Send pitches to [email protected] with the word “Pitch” in the subject line.

-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.

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

–TechCrunch is hiring a reporter to cover transportation on a freelance basis. Candidates should be passionate about tech, startups, electric vehicles, automated vehicles, and in-car tech. Send inquiries to @kirstenkorosec.  

–PEN America is hiring a consultant to research and write a report on diversity issues in the book publishing industry. Candidates should have extensive journalism experience and be familiar with the literary community. The report will be 40-50 pages, and the project timeline is from February to June 2021.

–CalMatters is hiring news editors to work on a part-time or contract basis. Candidates should have an understanding of diverse communities across California, and should aim to shape their coverage to reflect those communities. The rate starts at $40 per hour, depending on experience and expertise. The position can be done remotely or be based in Sacramento.

–Chatelaine is hiring an assistant editor on a nine-month contract. Candidates should have at least one year of editorial experience in digital or print, with experience at a consumer lifestyle publication preferred. The deadline to apply is February 5.

–Scalawag is hiring an editor to help manage their Race and Place vertical. Black, Latinx, and Indigenous candidates strongly encouraged to apply. The rate is $35 per hour, and editors are expected to work 15 hours per week. The position is remote within the southern US, but applicants from Atlanta, Birmingham, and Durham are preferred. The deadline to apply is February 16.

EVENTS

-Study Hall (hey, that’s us!) and MEL Magazine are hosting a pitching workshop on February 5. Mel’s deputy editor Alana Hope Levinson and contributor Zaron Burnett III will walk attendees through an ideal pitch to the publication, and Study Hall’s Chika Ekemezie will moderate. There will be a brief Q+A session afterward. 

-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. 

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND FELLOWSHIPS

-The WGA Foundation is accepting applications for its 2021 Susan M. Haas Fellowship. The fellowship aims to provide financial and creative support to two journalists interested in TV writing who will develop original pilots. The fellowship is remote, and fellows will receive $25,000 to assist with living expenses for a six-month period. The deadline to apply is February 21. 

–Bloomberg is accepting applications for its free Business Journalism Diversity Program. The program is a five-day intensive workshop and will be conducted virtually, with all costs covered, including assistance with remote connectivity. The deadline to apply is February 15.

–Dwell is accepting applications for its paid editorial fellowship in New York. Fellows will write original content, and help index and optimize daily news articles. Candidates should have a passion for design and architecture. The fellowship pays $15 per hour, and fellows are expected to work 15-25 hours per week for two or three months. 

–Reckon is accepting applications for its fellowship program. The fellowship includes a paid master’s degree program from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications, and a part-time position at Reckon. Candidates can be based anywhere in the South, with candidates based in growing Southern cities like Atlanta or Nasheville preferred. 

–The Chronicle of Higher Education is accepting applications for its one-year reporting fellowship in Washington, DC. The fellow will work as a general-assignment reporter covering issues that include race, student activism, and finance. The fellowship pays $40,000 per year with benefits.

–Prevention Magazine is accepting applications for its paid editorial fellowship. Fellows will write a weekly walking-focused newsletter, interview experts, and write health and wellness articles. The fellowship provides a company computer, pays $15 per hour, and fellows are expected to work 35 hours per week. 

-The Fund for Investigative Journalism is accepting applications for grants of up to $10,000 for stories that break new ground and uncover wrongdoing in the public or private sectors. The grants are paid directly to investigative reporters or media outlets for expenses related to their investigations. They are also holding open office hours on Zoom every Friday at 12 PM EST to answer questions about the application process. The deadline to apply is February 8.

–NPR is accepting applications for its remote Reflect America fellowship program. Fellows will work with producers, reporters, editors, and other staff to book a diverse array of experts and everyday people for their shows, as well as doing original reporting. Fellows will receive a $70,000 salary and the fellowship will last for one year. The deadline to apply is February 12.

–Forbes is accepting applications for their paid business journalism fellowship for students at historically Black colleges and universities. 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.

-The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education is accepting applications for its 2021 fellowship program. The fellowship offers year-long mentorship and two training programs, on April 12-16 and November 8-12, for members of African American, Latino, Asian American, Native American, and Middle Eastern communities, as well as mainstream and ethnic media organizations. The deadline to apply is February 24. 

-The International Women’s Media Foundation is accepting applications for their Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship. The fellowship is for women and non-binary journalists committed to human rights and social justice reporting. Candidates should have at least three years of professional journalism experience. The deadline to apply is February 25.

–Words Without Borders is accepting applications for their paid editorial fellowship. Candidates should have a demonstrated interest in international literature and be fluent in English, with knowledge of one or more foreign languages preferred. The fellowship is remote, pays $16 per hour, and fellows are expected to work 16 hours per week for nine months. The deadline to apply is February 26. 

–Documented is accepting applications for its paid Isaac Rauch Immigration Policy Reporting fellowship. Candidates must be fluent in Spanish, and will be required to report on how New York City or state programs are affecting the lives of immigrant residents. The fellowship includes a $5,000 stipend. The deadline to apply is February 28.

–Searchlight New Mexico is accepting applications for its Santa Fe-based Rob Dean Fellowship program. Fellows will support staff reporters and editors on health, criminal justice, tribal affairs, and education stories. Depending on experience, they may also conduct their own reporting. The fellowship pays a “Santa Fe living wage,” which is $12.10 per hour as of March 2020. The deadline to apply is March 1.

–Places is accepting applications for its remote Critics-in-Residence in Architecture and Landscape Architecture program. One architecture critic and one landscape architecture critic will be paid a stipend of $7,500 to write four critical essays over a one-year period. The deadline to apply is March 12.

–Type Investigations is accepting applications for their Ida B. Wells Fellowship. 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. The deadline to apply is March 14.

-The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism is accepting applications for its Food and Farming Journalism Fellowship program. The fellowship provides ten grants of $10,000 to journalists who want to report longform print and audio stories on agriculture, nutritional policy, the food industry, food science, and other food systems. They prefer US-focused stories, but will also consider international stories with a strong US angle or connection. The deadline to apply is March 15.

INTERNSHIPS

–The City is accepting applications for their paid summer 2021 internship program. Interns will produce stories, search databases, and help with Freedom of Information Law requests. The internship requires working full-time for 10 weeks, and applicants who live in the five boroughs or immediate suburbs are preferred.

–Axios is accepting applications for its paid summer internship programs. Interns can work for the news desk supporting the content team or with visual journalists creating data visualizations for their website and newsletters. Both internship programs are paid, can be done remotely, and lasts 10 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.

–Fanbyte is accepting applications for their paid summer internship. Candidates should have some writing experience, and be eager to learn more about gaming and culture writing. BIPOC LGBTQIA+ applicants are strongly encouraged. THe internship is remote, pays $22 per hour, and interns are expected to work 40 hours per week. The deadline to apply is March 5.

–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.

-The Oxford American is accepting applications for their paid Jeff Baskin Editorial Internship program. Interns will evaluate manuscript submissions, write content for their website, and fact-check and proofread stories. The internship can be full-time or part-time and offers a $2,500 stipend. The deadline to apply for their summer program is April 15.

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–The New York TImes is hiring two finance reporters to cover Wall Street banks, including JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs. Candidates should have some journalism experience and a proven ability to build sources on the beat.

–Wirecutter is hiring a senior brand writer to produce marketing and UX copy. Candidates should have at least eight years of experience as a copywriter, and a keen understanding of marketing writing and UX writing best practices. 

–Vanity Fair is hiring for multiple positions, including a staff writer for their HWD vertical, a staff writer for their Hive vertical, and a staff writer and senior editor for their Vanities vertical. Candidates for all positions should have at least two years of writing or editing experience. 

–GQ is hiring a commerce writer to write product recommendation posts on men’s clothing and grooming. Candidates should have at least two years of service journalism experience and an enthusiasm for style and menswear. 

WASHINGTON, DC

–The Washington Post is hiring for multiple positions, including a weekend editor to guide their general assignments news desk, reporter to cover race and ethnicity in America, and a reporter to join their Climate Solutions team. The deadline to apply for the Climate Solutions reporter and weekend editor positions is February 5, and is February 12 for the race and ethnicity reporter position. 

–The Hechinger Report is hiring a reporter to cover the US higher education system. Candidates should have at least five years of reporting experience, and at least two years of experience covering education is strongly preferred. The position will require travel for reporting and staff meetings in New York once it is safe to do so. The deadline to apply is February 11.

CALIFORNIA

–CalMatters is hiring news editors to cover the state government. Candidates should have an understanding of diverse communities across California, and should aim to shape their coverage to reflect those communities. The salary starts at $90,000. The position can be done remotely or be based in Sacramento.