Opportunities 5/19/2021

WIRED, African Arguments, Royal Central, 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 master risotto maker, Chris Erik Thomas, and 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 pitch calls to our brand new 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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***THE MEDIA CLASSIFIEDS***

►Every day, The Browser newsletter sends you five recommendations for fascinating stories, hand-picked and beautifully summarised by our talented editors Caroline and Robert. Study Hall readers get a month for free, no credit card needed, at thebrowser.com/studyhall

►730DC is a daily newsletter that connects Washingtonians with their city, its communities, and one another. Est. 2013. Subscribe now or send it to a friend in DC. (Writer in DC? Check out our freelance pitch guide.)

►Looking for some weekly inspiration? Subscribe to Mostly Useful for short, encouraging essays for people who want to live more thoughtful, empathetic lives. FREE and in your inbox Sundays! Now that’s just neat! ✌️

►Have you ever wanted to start your own news outlet? Applications are now open for the June cohort of the Indie News Challenge, Indiegraf’s flagship accelerator to help independent digital media launch and grow. Apply by May 20!

►Curious about Sweden? With Love From Sweden is a weekly-ish personal newsletter about all things Swedish. Sign up here for a slice of Sweden in your inbox. “Fika” (coffee and cake) guaranteed!

►Sign up for Sources, a weekly roundup of the most interesting new & old papers in political economy and the social sciences, from the Phenomenal World. For lovers of history, politics, and “weird left finance Twitter.” Free always. Get it here.

►Watch Canada’s premiere agricultural true crime show! From brazen beehive heists to contemporary horse rustling, Farm Crime is a documentary series investigating unconventional offences in farming and agriculture. Watch now on CBC Gem! 

►For over 10 years the Museum of Marketing Madness has been curating, skewering and roasting the worst of advertising to comic perfection. We don’t run ads because that defeats our purpose. But we DO have a Patreon! Admission free. We never close. 

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

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STUDY HALL’S 2021 STATE OF FREELANCE SURVEY

Study Hall is inviting you (yes, YOU!) to participate in our first State of Freelance Survey. With more than 5,000 subscribers, Study Hall is the largest online community of freelance media workers. Fill out this survey and we’ll use the information to push for better rates, create reports that highlight the struggles freelancers face, and allow for more transparency across the industry. Make sure to take the survey by June 15, 2021, or our founder-turned-notable-ghost, Eric Studyhall, will haunt you for eternity.

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RESOURCES

You should know by now to never put all your eggs in one basket — especially if the eggs are publications that ignore your invoices. Freelancing is a juggling act, and relying on only one resource to find gigs won’t work. 

-The Extremism Coverage Prep Guide by Election SOS offers concrete guidance for newsrooms on assessing risks, digital safety, and editorial policies before covering extremism. Please note that to avoid bad actors getting ahold of the resource, they are vetting people before allowing access.

-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 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; and the Election SOS Report. 

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OPPS SUCCESS STORIES

I don’t just comb through the interwebs for opportunities because it is part of my demon pact with the ghost of our founder, Eric Studyhall. I also do it so that the Study Hall community can get paid well to write sentences about things. So 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.

–Luis Rendon was paid around $900 (at $0.50 per word) to write about the cafecito renaissance in Laredo, TX for Texas Monthly. Afterward, the editor reached out to ask him for additional pitches, and he wrote about how Tejano dulceros are setting the internet on fire with chilito candies. He was also paid around $900 (at $0.50 per word) to write the second piece.

–Susan Shain was paid $650 to write about the race to transform a Wisconsin farm into a justice-focused agrihood for Civil Eats. She was also accepted to the New York Times fellowship program working in a reporting program for their new Headway initiative.

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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 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

–African Arguments is looking for pitches on the climate crisis from African writers who are experts in water activism, urban planning, energy, the economy, and other topics. The rate is $150 per piece. Send pitches and inquiries to [email protected]. 

–RIZE Entertainment is looking for pitches on art, entertainment, culture, and cannabis. The rates range from $150-$200, and “increase based on things like original photography and complexity.” See their pitch guide for more info.

–Monitor Magazine is looking for pitches of feature articles, investigative journalism, illustrations, and book reviews on the decolonization of the food justice movement. They are especially interested in pitches from 2SLGBTQQIA+, disabled, fat, poor, and other marginalized writers. The rates are CAD $300 (USD $244.50) for short articles of 700 words, CAD $500 (USD $408) for articles of 1,300-1,500 words, and up to CAD $800 (USD $652) for feature length stories. See their pitch guide for more info and send pitches by June 15.

OTHER PITCH CALLS

–Cosmopolitan is looking for pitches of reported, narrative-driven features on culture and trends. The rates range from $1-$2 per word. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Giddy is looking for pitches of personal or reported stories on Pride Month, sexual health, relationships, identity, sexuality, physical health, nutrition, exercise, and sexual hygiene. The rates start at $175 for pieces of 650-750 words. Send pitches to [email protected] or [email protected]. 

–Business Insider is looking for pitches of personal essays, as-told-tos, diaries, profiles, how-tos, reported features, and more. They are especially interested in pitches on crypto, including exclusive interviews and analysis or first-person pieces. The rates weren’t publicly given, but rates range from $100-$500 according to the #FreelancePayGap. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Estación Ciudad is looking for pitches of audio stories on urban rights in Latin America. They are particularly interested in stories on cities, territory, natural resources, inequality and land policies. The rate is $400 per reported story. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Ars Technica is looking for pitches of reported stories on games and the people who play and make them. “Having a techy angle is helpful but not necessary” and they are generally not looking for review or preview pitches “unless it’s a real ‘hidden gem’ game.” The rates start at $200 and increase based on the amount of reporting. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-Gramercy Labs is looking for pitches for all of their publications, including POPDUST, Topdust, PayPath, True Self, The Liberty Project, and Journiest. The rates are $100 for pieces of 600-900 words; $150 for pieces of 1,000-2,000 words, and $250 for pieces of over 2,000 words. See their site guide for more info on the publications. 

–Observer is looking for pitches on art. The rates weren’t publicly given, but a previous rate was $300 for a news story of 600-700 words, according to the #FreelancePayGap. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Adventure Uncovered is looking for pitches of stories on adventure with a social or environmental impact for their next two Edition story collections. One edition focuses on “non adventurers” like activists, artists, and normal people, while the other focuses on people in potentially grave social or political environments. Good photography is a bonus. The rate starts at £100 (USD $142) per piece. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Canopy Atlanta is looking for pitches of stories, photo essays, and other formats on Forest Park for their new issue. The rates start at $0.50 per word for written pieces. See their pitch guide for more info.

–Fanbyte is looking for pitches of reported features and interviews on games, manga, and anime. The rates range from $150-$250, but increase based on the amount or research or interviews involved. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Shondaland is looking for pitches of author interviews and profiles; entertainment interviews and profiles; culture articles; essays about TV, film, music, and art; and profiles of “dope women doing amazing things.” The rates start at $400 per piece. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Mashable is looking for pitches on health equity, education access, internet mysteries, and the intersection of health and the internet. They are also commissioning new writers for projects. The rate is around $400 for short features and around $250 for SEO posts. See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Vittles is looking for pitches of short pieces on “the food eaten on match days at various stadiums across the UK” and “food memories of suburban London shopping centres.” The rate is £0.25 ($0.35) per word. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–The Face is looking for pitches of longread features for their next print issue. The rates weren’t publicly given, but I was paid £0.30 ($0.43) per word for print in July 2020. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

–Vulture is looking for pitches of streaming guides, recommendation essays, and lists for their Recommendations section. They are specifically not looking for reviews. The rates weren’t publicly given. Send pitches to [email protected]. 

-The Washington Post Magazine is looking for pitches of long-form narrative features, investigations, photo essays, profiles, and other formats on public safety, education, infrastructure, and other topics. The rates weren’t given but writers “will be compensated at competitive magazine rates.” See their pitch guide for more info, and send pitches by May 21.

FREELANCE, PART-TIME, AND TEMPORARY JOBS

–Royal Central is hiring a freelance European correspondent to cover European royalty. Candidates must have excellent written English, and should be “knowledgeable on all matters royal.” Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–Screen Rant is hiring freelance writers and editors to cover movies, games, TV, and other topics. Candidates should have some writing and editing experience, and must have flexible schedules. The rates weren’t publicly given. Send inquiries to [email protected]. 

–Yahoo Life is hiring a weekend writer and editor to work from Tuesday through Saturday assigning and writing stories. Candidates should have at least seven years of digital media experience. The position is on a minimum six-month contract, pays $45 per hour, and can be done remotely or be based in New York or Los Angeles.

–Canopy Atlanta is hiring an editor to work with local journalists, Forest Park community fellows, and staff to produce their upcoming issue on Forest Park. “Deep ties to Forest Park or Clayton County are a major plus but not required, as are second-language skills in either Spanish or Vietnamese.” The rate is $30 per hour, and the editor is expected to work around eight hours per week for 10 weeks. The deadline to apply is May 26.

–The Logic is hiring a reporter for their one-year BIPOC Journalism program. Candidates should be aspiring or early-stage BIPOC journalists, and have a knowledge of, or interest in, “innovative Canadian businesses and the future of Canada’s economy.” The position can be remote or based in Toronto.The deadline to apply is June 7.

–Den of Geek is hiring for multiple part-time positions, including a games writer and a tech writer. Candidates should have at least two years of writing experience, and the games writer must own “at least one next-gen platform (PS5, XSX, or RTX 30 PC).” Both positions pay $20 per hour, are fully remote, and writers are expected to work 15 hours per week. 

-The Cultural Landscape Foundation is hiring a project associate to write historical and biographical essays, conduct research, and do website content management for their various programs. Candidates should have strong writing skills, and an educational background in landscape architecture, historic preservation, American studies, or another field. The position can be part- or full-time, and can be remote or based in Washington, DC. 

EVENTS

–The Texas Observer is hosting a weeklong intensive training course on investigative journalism from June 7-11. The course will accept five college or recent college students, and includes a $500 stipend. The course is virtual and accepted students should expect to produce work ready for print in the Texas Observer. 

-The Online News Association (ONA) is hosting their annual journalist festival from June 22-25. The festival will focus on innovation in audience engagement, product, trends forecast and digital business strategy. The festival is $250 for ONA members and $350 for non-members, but there are scholarships available to cover the cost in four categories: Diversity and Inclusion, Local News, Students and New Professionals, and Financial Hardship. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is May 27.

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, AND FELLOWSHIPS

–ProPublica is accepting applications for their paid Abrams Reporting Fellows program. Three fellows will take on a mix of short-, medium- and longer-term reported stories for two years. The program pays $75,000 per year, including full benefits. One fellow will write national stories based out of their New York headquarters; one will cover the Midwest from their Chicago office; and one will cover the Southwest from their Phoenix office. The deadline to apply is May 23.

–The New Republic is accepting applications for its paid reporter-researcher fellowship program. The fellow will fact-check print articles and pitch and write features. Applicants should be recent graduates or have up to two years of professional experience. The fellowship lasts for one year, has a “competitive salary,” and can be based in either New York or Washington, DC. The deadline to apply is June 1. 

–Insider is accepting applications for their paid fellowship program. Fellows can apply for multiple programs, including evening and weekend news writer, special editorial projects support, Insider Life weekend writer. All fellowship programs pay $18 per hour, and fellows are expected to work 40 hours per week for six months. The Insider Life weekend fellowship will be based in New York, while the other two programs can be fully remote. 

–Business Insider is accepting applications for their paid legal reporting fellowship. Fellows will cover the legal profession, the people behind the world’s most powerful law firms, and other topics. The program pays $18 per hour, is fully remote, and fellows are expected to work 40 hours per week for six months. 

–The New York Times will begin accepting applications for their paid editing residency fellowship program in early June. Fellows will receive up to two years of training on news judgment, style, tone, and perspective. Applicants must be able to work in the United States.

-The Knight Science Journalism School is accepting applications for their paid KSJ fellowship program. Fellows will receive financial support to produce a project, and can apply for one of three forms of fellowship support: a nine-month, $40,000 fellowship running from September 2021 to May 2022; a four-and-a-half-month, $20,000 fellowship running from September 2021 to mid-January 2022; or a four-and-a-half-month, $20,000 fellowship running from mid-January 2022 thru May 2022. Fellows can be based anywhere, and all fellows will receive up to $5,000 in additional support for research-related expenses. The deadline to apply is June 6.

–The Counter is accepting applications for their paid Nourished Schools Reporting Fellowship program. The fellow will chronicle the evolution of school food reform for one year. Candidates should have at least three years of reporting experience. The fellowship is remote, full-time, and has a salary of $73,000, including health insurance and benefits. The deadline to apply is June 1. 

–Grist is accepting applications for their paid summer fellowship program. Fellows can work in either their environmental justice, indigenous affairs or news and politics sections. Fellows will pitch,write stories and contribute to their daily newsletter. The fellowship is fully remote, pays $3,334 per month, and fellows are expected to work full-time for six months. The deadline to apply for the environmental justice and news and politics fellowships is May 18. For the indigenous affairs fellowship, the deadline is June 4. 

-The McGraw Center for Business Journalism is accepting applications for its paid reporting fellowship program. The fellowship provides editorial support and grants of up to $15,000 for journalists to produce investigative stories on the global economy, finance, and business. The deadline to apply is July 16.

-Hearst Autos is accepting applications for their paid editorial fellowship program in Detroit and New York. Two Detroit-based fellows will spend three months reporting for Autoweek and three months assisting the testing team at Car and Driver. Two New York-based fellows will spend three months producing stories for Road & Track and three months on a research project for Bring a Trailer. 

–US News & World Report is accepting applications for its paid data journalism fellowship in Washington, DC. Fellows will write data-driven stories and help with broader data projects and data visualization. The fellowship pays $15 per hour, and fellows are expected to work 37.5 hours per week for one year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until both positions are filled.

–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.

-The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is accepting applications for their Black Press Grant program. The program will provide Black freelance reporters or Black-owned print, broadcast, and digital outlets with grants of up to $10,000 to report on the COVID-19 pandemic, the coronavirus vaccine, or its intersections into the nation’s K-12 education system. Grant applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis.

–Fatherly, a digital media brand for dads, is accepting applications for their paid editorial fellowship. Fellows will help produce health, science, parenting, and relationship content. The fellowship pays $15 per hour, and fellows are expected to work 30-40 hours per week. 

–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 “minimum wage,” which is $15 per hour in New York City, and fellows are expected to work 15-25 hours per week for two or three months. 

INTERNSHIPS

–Audubon Magazine is accepting applications for its paid editorial internship program. Interns will write articles for print and online on science, conservation news, climate change, environmental justice, and other topics. The internship is remote, pays $15 per hour, and interns are expected to work up to 35 hours per week for 14 weeks. 

–MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) is accepting applications for their paid fall internship program in Cambridge, MA. The interns will learn about each area of the publication, including editorial, marketing, and business development. The internship pays $15 per hour, and interns are expected to work 10-15 hours per week from September through December. The deadline to apply is July 1. 

–Texas Highways is accepting applications for its paid summer 2021 internship program. Interns will fact-check articles for print, write web stories, and assist the editorial team. The internship rate ranges from $14.50-$17 per hour, and interns are expected to work full time. The internship can be remote, or be based in Austin, TX. Also, please note that you do not need to be a highway in Texas to apply. 

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

-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.

JOBS 

NEW YORK

–Insider is hiring a consumer tech reporter to cover and review new products and innovations. Candidates should have some writing experience, and “be passionate about technology and how we interact with it in our personal and professional lives.”

-The Asian American Writers’ Workshop is hiring a digital communications coordinator to implement the day-to-day online production and promotion of their content. Candidates should have at least two years of communications experience, and a passion and deep interest in Asian, Asian American, and Asian diasporic literatures. 

-The Stacks Foundation is hiring a head of content to produce long-form content and edit all published written content, including blogs, press releases, and emails. Candidates should have some writing and editing experience, and be knowledgeable on blockchain, crypto, and the surrounding industry.

–HuffPost is hiring a front page editor to publish stories, follow news, and write headlines for their mobile app and front page. Candidates should have at least four years of journalism experience, and “know how to write a headline that will get people talking.” The minimum salary would be at least $66,533.

–The New Yorker is hiring a newsletter editor to curate, write, and edit their daily newsletter. Candidates should have at least five years of journalism experience, including experience with email newsletters, and must be willing to work some early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

–The Markup is hiring an investigative reporter to cover how “powerful actors use technology to reshape society.” Candidates should have at least seven years of journalism experience and experience filing public records requests. The starting salary is $90,000, and the position is a union job represented by the NewsGuild of New York. The position can be remote “for strong candidates who are willing to be available during [their] business hours of 10 AM to 6 PM EST.” The deadline to apply is June 5.

CALIFORNIA

–The Oaklandside is hiring a senior reporter to cover City Hall and the criminal justice system. Candidates should have at least four years of reporting experience and be comfortable reporting on local government, local politics, and policy. The salary ranges from $75,000-$85,000, depending on experience. The deadline to apply is May 24.

NORTHEAST

–Nieman Lab is hiring a deputy editor to cover the future of news and journalism online. Candidates should have at least five years of experience working in journalism, including editing other writers. The position is currently remote but will be based in Cambridge, MA once it is safe to do so.

-Local reporter and editor positions are available in Norwalk, CT for a trending reporter and consumer and real estate reporter at Hearst Connecticut Media Group. 

CENTRAL

–Injustice Watch is hiring for multiple Chicago-based positions: a reporter to cover the judicial system in Cook County and Illinois, and a reporter to cover housing inequities in Chicago and Cook County. Candidates for both positions should have at least three years of reporting experience. The deadline to apply for both positions is May 31.

REMOTE-FRIENDLY

–WIRED is hiring for multiple positions, including a product writer and reviewer, associate reviews editor, space staff writer, and senior health writer. Candidates for all positions should have some experience in science or technology. All positions can be remote, but the senior health writer can also be based in San Francisco, and the space staff writer can be based in San Francisco or New York.

–Robb Report is hiring a digital editor to cover automobiles, yachts, real estate, private jets, style, watches, art, spirits, food, wine and other topics. Candidates should have at least two years of editing experience, and familiarity with and enthusiasm for the luxury space is preferred. 

–Atlas Obscura is hiring a senior editor and writer to develop, assign, and edit articles; recruit and commission freelance writers; and write at least one reported story per week. Candidates should have at least seven years of journalism experience, including at least five years of editing or managerial experience. 

–Ars Technica is hiring for multiple positions, including a senior technology reporter covering innovation and a senior technology reporter covering consumer technology. Candidates for both positions should have at least five years of journalism experience. 

–Substack is hiring a community storytelling lead to discover emerging writers and create new opportunities to highlight writers on their blog and podcast. Candidates should have at least five years of digital media or community management experience, and an understanding of the writing ecosystem. The salary ranges from $90,000-$125,000.

–1843 Magazine is hiring a senior editor to work with other editors based in London to shape stories and longform features. Candidates should have extensive experience and a passion for commissioning and editing longform features. The position can be based anywhere in the US. The deadline to apply is May 21.

INTERNATIONAL

–The New York Times is hiring a Jerusalem-based reporter to cover “Palestinian politics, culture and life in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as Palestinian citizens of Israel.” Candidates should have strong reporting experience, and must be fluent in Arabic. The position can be based in East Jerusalem or Ramallah. 

–The Guardian is hiring a London-based commissioning editor to lead their coverage of book news. Candidates should have significant commissioning experience and a wide knowledge of and interest in book-related topics. The deadline to apply is May 20.

–Insider is hiring a London-based editor to manage reporters on their breaking news team. Candidates should have at least some experience reporting or editing breaking business stories, and proven editing skills. 

–Insider Inc is hiring for multiple Singapore-based positions, including a senior markets reporter and a breaking news reporter. Candidates for both positions should have at least two years of reporting experience, and impeccable writing and editing skills.