Here’s a list of magazines and websites that pay writers for articles about urban planning and architecture.

We’ve found contact information and researched payment rates for all of these publishers.

If you’re not sure how to approach these publications, then I recommend watching this free lecture: How to Win Over an Editor in 150 Words or Less

— Jacob Jans

Planning: Those who contribute to this publication–which is organized by the American Planning Organization–will writing about urban, suburban, rural, or small town planning. Planning news can focus on projects like neighborhood revitalization, social planning, and more. Writers can expect to be paid between $100 and $1,000 for successful submissions. Check out the contributor guidelines to learn more.

Next City is a website covering urban planning, policy, and design. They publish features up to 4,000 words, as well as shorter “daily pieces” up to 1,500 words. According to our research, they pay around 20 cents per word, though it pay will need to be negotiated. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.

Metropolis is a magazine focused on architecture and design. Their “editorial scope spans design at all scales—from the smallest products to city planning.” According to reports, they pay up to $1.14 per word. To learn more, refer to this page.

Fine Homebuilding is a bimonthly magazine for “builders, architects, contractors, owner/builders, and others who are involved in building new houses or reviving old ones.” What makes their magazine unique is that a majority of their articles are “written by people who actually do the work they write about.” They pay their writers a starting rate of $150 for each published magazine page. Sometimes they pay a bonus for an unusually good manuscript. To find out more, read their author guidelines.

The Avery Review is a digital journal that is “dedicated to thinking about books, buildings, and other architectural media.” It is a project of the Office of Publications at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. They are looking for reviews and critical essays about books, buildings, and other architectural media. Their essays are usually 2,500 to 4,000 words long. They pay $400 for essays. To learn more, refer to this page.

Architectural Digest is a monthly magazine that celebrates international design talents, inspiring decorating ideas, innovative homes, travel, and culture. They publish nine international editions, and have “immeasurable influence in the world of interior design.” According to payment reports, they pay $0.50 per word. To contact them, refer to this page.

Places Journal is a resource for “contemporary architecture, landscape, and urbanism.” They are looking for lively and original writing. They publish interdisciplinary scholarship, essays, narrative journalism, criticism, multimedia work, and photography. Most of their articles are 1,000 to 6,000 words long. According to one payment report, they paid $0.30 per word for a 4,000-word feature. For details, read their submission guidelines.

Archinect is a website for “progressive-design oriented students, architects, educators, and fans.” They are a source for news, event listings, discussions, and job opportunities. According to one payment report, they paid $0.15 per word. To contact them, refer to this page.

Urban Omnibus is an online publication of The Architectural League of New York. They are devoted to “observing, understanding, and shaping the city.” According to one payment report, they paid $0.20 per word. To contact them, visit this page.

Architectural Record is a print and digital magazine that offers news, commentary, criticism, and continuing education articles on architecture and design. They are always looking for good content for the regular sections of their magazine e.g. record news, building types study, practice issues, and technology sections. According to one payment report, they paid $0.71 per word. To learn more, refer to this page.

Hospitality Design is a print and online trade magazine that focuses on the field of hospitality design. They publish 11 times a year. They serve “owners, operators, brands, purchasing agents, interior designers, and architects involved in the design of hotels, resorts, restaurants, nightlife, spas, and all other hospitality-oriented projects.” According to one payment report, they paid $0.80 per word. To contact them, refer to this page.

Thinking City is a website that features news, stories, discussions, and events that explore urban life, the built environment, and inclusive cities. According to one payment report, they paid £200 for an 800-word piece. To contact them, refer to this page.

City Monitor (previously CityMetric) covers “housing, transport, infrastructure, design, zoning, and urban policy innovations in cities around the world.” According to one payment report, they paid £50 per piece. To contact them, refer to this page.

Dwell focuses on modern architecture and design. They publish “home tours, interviews, and essays illuminating the power of smart design.” According to their executive editor, they pay $200-$400+ per piece. Send your pitches to edit@dwell.com. To learn more, visit this page.

Landscape Architecture Magazine (LAM) is a print and digital magazine of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). They publish on a monthly basis. They are always seeking “good stories and great journalists to write about them.” While they love the incredible work happening in major cities, they are “particularly excited to read about smaller cities, rural areas, towns, and other markets where landscape architects are doing innovative and important work that others in the profession could learn from.” They “generally do not allow people to write about projects they’ve worked on, and writers are expected to disclose in print (and to the editors before assignment) any relationship to the story subject.” According to their editor, they pay $1 per word for most of their stories. If interested, email your pitches to lam@asla.org. To learn more, read their contribution guidelines.

Failed Architecture (FA) is “a research platform that aims to open up new perspectives on urban failure – from what it’s perceived to be, what’s actually happening and how it’s represented to the public.” They are looking for fresh and compelling perspectives on urban or architectural issues. Submissions can be general reflections, case studies, opinion pieces, reviews, interviews, photographic essays, etc. They are currently paying €150 per article (around 1,500 words). To contribute, refer to this page.

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Here are 16 architecture and urban planning publications that pay freelance writers.

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— Freedom With Writing (@WithWriting) April 27, 2021