Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates Midwestern creativity. They’re seeking writers and community documenters in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois to pitch them “story ideas about creative people, artistic projects, or cultural programming.” They will pay $350 for short videos and $500 for web stories (500 words). For more details, refer to this page.

Narratively is a media company that publishes original and untold human stories. They’re looking for pitches:

“This fall, we’re looking to test a handful of new columns, series and storytelling formats, and we want writers, journalists, videographers, audio storytellers — really, anyone with a creative mind — to help us produce them.

Your idea could be a recurring first-person column. A reported series you’d guest-edit, bringing in different contributors for each installment. Short self-recorded videos. Bite-size audio stories. Interviews. Illustrated narratives. A storytelling game or experiment. Or, best of all, something we haven’t thought of yet!”

Rates range from $100 to $1,000. To learn more, refer to this page.

Sixty Inches from Center is a non-profit arts publication and archiving initiative that promotes art and writing in Chicago and the Midwest. They’re seeking ideas for their first publishing theme: RECIPES.

“Inspired by our ancestors and caretakers who pass down knowledge across generations, we ask you to consider what ‘recipes’ you want to pass down to future generations. We urge you to interpret this theme broadly. For example, what cultural practices bring you and your community together, or disrupt the status quo? What are the ingredients needed to bring people together to move us to to build something new, steward something along, or tear something defunct apart? If the recipe is the inquiry, then what needs to be brought together for us to find an answer? We invite creative approaches to these questions that explore them literally or conceptually.”

Rate is $150. Details here and here.

Cake Zine is an independent print magazine that explores society through sweets. They’re seeking pitches for their next issue, Ice Cream Time, which will explore the relationship between ice cream and time:

“As the name suggests our summer issue, Ice Cream Time, will explore the relationship between ice cream and time. Ice cream is ephemeral. Your only responsibility is to eat it before it melts.

We’re interested in stories that use frozen dessert to think about time: the historical, the futuristic, the seasonal, and the ephemeral. Nostalgia is fair game but don’t give us anything saccharine. Think: A review of the ice cream counter at Berghain after 12 hours of dancing, an oral history of the violent NYC soft serve truck turf wars, a whirlwind tour of discontinued ice creams (looking at you Choco Taco). Delve into the tools and technology that are reshaping the industry to predict what we’ll be tasting in 2050. Ask a flavor scientist: Why does melted ice cream never become ice cream again?”

They pay $175 to $225 for shorter pieces (350 words or less), poems, and recipes; $250 for mid-length pieces (500 to 1,000 words); $350 for longform pieces (around 2,000 words); and $250 for visual art. Details here and here.

Opportunity for a Freelance Copywriter:

“I'm looking for a Freelance Copywriter to support a premium lifestyle brand.

£200–£240 per day

3 days per week

Potentially ongoing

Experience across fashion, beauty or lifestyle communications

Confident writing BAU content including email, website/editorial and paid media copy”

If interested, email sunni@profilescreative.com. To learn more, refer to this post.

Sanity is “the Content Operating System for the AI era.” They’re open for pitches: “Built something with Sanity? We'll publish it, put your name on it, and pay you. The Guest Author Program is live. Pitch us what you built.” Rate is $250 to $750. To learn more, refer to their post and this page.

Fansplaining is “a weekly media outlet devoted to savvy writing about fans and fan culture.” They’re open for pitches:

“Fansplaining is a publication by, for, and about fandom. We’re excited to expand our freelancer pool and are always open to pitches. We are especially interested in global perspectives and marginalized demographics, and want to encourage early career writers to reach out as well—while our editorial standards are rigorous, we are excited to work with new voices.”

They pay $300 per piece. For details, refer to their post and this page.

MIT Technology Review is a media company that explains the commercial, political, and social impact of the newest technologies. They’re looking for pitches for their upcoming Breakthroughs Issue. They’re looking for big swings: “narrative features, essential profiles, and sharp reported essays to go in the feature well of the magazine.” The initial deadline for pitches is August 7. To learn more, refer to their editor’s post and their pitch guide.

Guessing Headlights, an automotive media brand, is launching “a new digital publication focused on travel, the outdoors, road trips, national parks, and the unique places that make America worth exploring.” They’re hiring:

“We're looking for a Freelance Travel & Outdoor Lifestyle Journalist based on the U.S. East Coast with strong news instincts—not someone who writes destination guides, but someone who can uncover timely, engaging stories readers can't wait to share.

The ideal candidate loves finding stories about:

- National parks

- Airlines & travel news

- Wildlife encounters

- Road trips & roadside attractions

- Hiking & camping

- Theme parks

- Outdoor recreation

- Travel trends and viral stories

This is a 1099 freelance position starting at $25+/hour, depending on experience.”

For details, refer to this post.

The Margin covers “money, markets, culture — and everything in between.” Their writer and editor is looking for pitches:

“I’m editing, too, and freelancers, that means I WANT YOUR PITCHES! There are financial stories everywhere for those with the eyes to see them, and I want your eyes. We’re looking for canny financial reporters capable of working with numbers who can also make an argument in a strong, smart, opinionated tone. This isn’t dry, neutral news writing: the world of cash is one with many viewpoints. Stake your claim, and defend it, even if not everybody agrees with you.”

“For topics, try to either find the story in the money, or the money in the story. In our world of guerilla influencer marketing, Polymarket bets, and meme stocks, there’s a financial side to every big cultural trend. The reverse is true as well: as abstract as they may seem, twitches in the financial markets have real effects on day-to-day life.”

For new writers, they’re looking to assign stories in the range of 900 to 1,200 words. They typically pay $0.40 to $1.00 per word. If interested, email your pitches to anthony@themargin.news. To learn more, refer to this post.

Motley Bloom is “a curated collective focused on Neurodivergent First living.” They’re looking to commission a few pieces for fall: “We’re seeking 600-800-word articles on strategies that really work for neurodivergent traits-based living. How did you design your life around your sensitivities and strengths? What systems have worked for you—what was the unlock, and how did you build your system to last? We’re looking for innovative first-person perspectives based in lived experience. (And we love to bust those neurotypical myths!) Bonus if your topic relates to fall, back-to-school, preparing for the holidays, etc.” Rate is $300 for 600 to 800 words. If interested, email your pitches to pitch@motley-bloom.com. To learn more, refer to this post. To contact them, refer to this page.

Business Insider covers business, personal finance, tech, lifestyle, politics, and more. Their lifestyle and entertainment editor is looking to assign some new stories. Here are some examples of what they’re seeking:

“- Amtrak experientials and stories about bidding for upgrades

- Personal essays about unique living arrangements (think: living with in-laws, moving back in with parents, living on a friend’s property, etc)

- Unique tips from frequent cruisers

- Cruise and flight experientials

- Dining at major chain restaurants for the first time

- Personal essays about things you’ve done to land or keep a job (ie, living in your car to save on rent, supercommuting between cities, living apart from spouse, etc)”

Rates begin at $240 for 600 words. To learn more, refer to their editor’s post and pitch form.

SCOUTED is “a digital magazine of storytelling from the future of football.” They’re seeking “a handful of regular columnists to publish features in the magazine on a general cadence of once every 4-6 weeks, depending on the length / depth of the story.” They pay £100 per story. They’re seeking pieces generally 1,500-2,000 words in length. To learn more, refer to this page.

Business Insider covers business, personal finance, tech, lifestyle, politics, and more. Their lifestyle and entertainment editor would love to work with some new writers, especially if they have a great story about…

“- Downsizing homes and the unexpected perks, downsides, and trade-offs of living in a smaller space

- Moving to a new state or country for a dream job or a relationship

- Navigating conversations about (and different attitudes toward) money within a romantic relationship”

Their rates begin at $240 for stories around 600 words. To learn more, refer to their editor’s post and this pitch form.