Here’s fifteen calls for pitches directly from freelance writers, covering a wide variety of topics including online learning, heartwarming stories, home improvement, fitness, and more.
If you’re not sure how to approach these publishers, I highly recommend watching this free webinar.
– Jacob Jans
PS: Thanks to Fatima Saif for her research on this article.
Reader’s Digest Canada is a general interest family magazine. Their associate editor is looking for funny/wholesome/heartwarming pitches. According to payment reports, they pay up to $1 per word. Submit pitches at robert.liwanag@rd.com. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Tweet. To contact them, refer to this page.
Wired Science covers health, medicine, biotech, environment, climate, robotics, space, and energy. They are looking for stories to run in August and September. They want stories (800 to 1,200 words) that focus on “current science issues or research, with a variety of expert voices and anecdotal sources.” They seek “diversity in terms of writers, sources and story topics.” According to their pitch guidelines, rates for short “minifeatures” start at $3,000 and rates for other short, online-only content start at $250. Email your pitches to kara_platoni@wired.com. For details, refer to this Twitter thread and their pitch guidelines.
The Daily Beast is a news and opinion website dedicated to independent journalism. They are seeking pitches for branded content, telco client, on how the future would be altered if everyone in America had access to reliable internet. They are “looking for pieces that use data/ expert input to draw creative portraits of a possible future.” They are commissioning 5 pieces. They will pay $1,000 per piece (750 to 1,250 words). Send pitches to emily.levin@thedailybeast.com. To learn more, refer to this Tweet. To contact them, refer to this page.
Black Youth Project is a “platform that highlights the voices and ideas of Black millennials.” They are accepting pitches. Their theme for this month is Black August: Resistance. They pay $100 for original pieces of 800+ words. Send pitches to info@blackyouthproject.com. Read their Tweet here and their submissions page here.
Act Build Change is an online learning community. Their audience includes community leaders, activists, organizers, political shapers, campaigners, public sector workers, and charities. They are looking for pitches for their blog. They publish “a broad range of contributions – from personal stories and how-tos, to poetry, listicles and reflective journals.” They pay £100 per post (700 to 12,000 words). For details, refer to their Tweet and this page.
Get Over is “an academic journal with pop culture appeal that is dedicated to studying Black culture in America, France, the Caribbean, and the UK.” They are looking for completed pieces (published or unpublished) from freelancers and professors alike. They will pay $200 per essay/paper. If interested, email amir@superchampbooks.com. For details, read this Twitter thread.
Deadline: September 16th, 2020
Hunker helps “first-timers improve their homes— with inspiring tours, practical solutions, and design advice for real people.” The managing editor of their Home Hacks & Answers section is seeking 2 to 3 freelance writers who can hopefully become regular contributors. They are specifically seeking “writers who have experience covering anything home-related and who aren’t afraid to do some heavy-duty research.” Right now they are working on gardening articles, but are also “writing about things like HVAC systems, installing stoves, fixing refrigerators and adjusting ceiling fans so they don’t make annoying noises when they run.” They will pay $200 to $300 per article. If interested, send 3 to 5 relevant clips to jamie@jamiebirdwellbranson.com. Read their editor’s Twitter thread here and learn more about them here.
Well+Good covers fitness, cutting-edge nutrition, natural beauty, travel, and more. Their managing editor is seeking “pitches related to Latinx x Wellness for Latinx Heritage Month.” They pay $150 to $500+ per piece. Send your pitches to samantha.leal@wellandgood.com. For details, refer to their editor’s Twitter thread and their pitching guidelines.
En Fuego is a Sports Illustrated channel that features inspiring and motivating sports stories from emerging communities. Their editor has tweeted, “Accepting pitches for this multicultural sports vertical, aspirational human interest stories. Def. looking ahead to Hispanic Heritage Month.” They will pay $200 for 800 to 1,200 words. If interested, DM their editor on Twitter or email him at gabe@joeagency.com. To learn more, refer to his Tweet. To read En Fuego’s stories, refer to this page.
Rewire is a nonprofit publication that delivers thought-provoking content that inspires young adults to make their lives better. They are looking for pitches on suicide prevention awareness, mental health, and self-care. They want these stories in the coming weeks as their mental health / suicide prevention awareness initiative is tied in to September / October. Their rates start at $250. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Tweet and this page.
Hakai Magazine explores “science, society, and the environment from a coastal perspective.” They are seeking “stories about grassroot projects that have made a difference to coastal and marine environments.” Payment reports indicate that they pay up to $1.05 per word. For more information, refer to their Tweet and submission guidelines.
Business Insider is a website that covers business, financial, and technology news. They are seeking freelancers who cover retail. They are “looking for coverage and pitches around restaurants, fashion, and franchisees.” Freelancers who have general retail reporting experience can also reach out. Rates start at $300. Send pitches to akalish@businessinsider.com or gdawson@businessinsider.com. To learn more, refer to this Twitter thread and this page.
The Mujerista is a digital publication that features stories that “impact, empower, and celebrate Latinas.” They are “looking for music writers to contribute interviews of Latina musicians to The Mujerista.” They “may send over artists for you to interview or can accept pitches from you.” They will pay $150 per 500 words. If interested, send an email to marivette@themujerista.com. Read their Tweet here and contact them here.
Variable West is a platform for West Coast art. They are accepting pitches for their new column, Love Letters which features “micro essays on artists we can’t stop thinking about.” “The artist must be living and working (or lived/worked, if the artist is dead) in California, Oregon, or Washington, but doesn’t need to have work up in an exhibition.” They encourage pitches from West Coast writers. They will pay $50 for 200 to 250 words. To learn more, refer to their founder/editor-in-chief’s Twitter thread and this page.
OkayAfrica is a media company that connects a global audience to Africa. Their South Africa staff writer is looking for “a journalist or writer, a photographer, young musician, an activist, a doctor or nurse, anyone really” in Zimbabwe with a story about what’s happening from their perspective. They will pay $200 USD per piece (about 800 words). Send pitches to rufaro@okayafrica.com. Details here and here.
