Dear Writers,
Here’s our weekly roundup of calls for pitches directly from editors and publishers.
We’ve researched payment rates and contact information, and summarized the opportunity available.
If you’re looking to build a long-term career as a freelance writer, and you’re not sure where to start, then I highly recommend that you watch this free webinar.
— Jacob Jans
Thanks to Fatima Saif for her research on this article.
Immerse is a publication (produced in partnership with the MIT Open DocLab) that sparks creative dialogue around emerging forms of non-fiction media (VR, XR, AR, video games, interactive media, and beyond). They are looking for pitches for Playing with Reality, their upcoming issue on games and nonfiction media. They are “interested in probing the influence of game engines, tools, infrastructure, and logics on immersive nonfiction storytelling projects.” They are also “interested in how immersive and emerging forms of nonfiction interact with and in turn affect gaming platforms, spaces, narratives, and notions of audiences.” Their standard rate is $250 per piece (1,200 to 1,500 words). Pitches should be sent to editor@immerse.news. For more information, read their Twitter thread and call for proposals.
Deadline: April 2nd, 2021
Shondaland is a storytelling company founded by Shonda Rhimes. Their editor has tweeted, “Opening my inbox for end of March & April pitches. Looking for: author interviews/profiles (April); entertainment profiles; culture pitches about TV/Film (no reviews); profiles of DOPE women impacting communities.” Rate is $500+. Pitches should be sent to britni@shondaland.com. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Twitter thread. To contact them, refer to this page.
Wired is a magazine that covers the current and future trends in technology. Their gaming editor is looking for gaming pitches (for May-Dec pub). They like diverse stories by diverse writers. If interested, send profiles, short features, hot takes, or deep dives that fit their style to saira_mueller@wired.com. They usually pay $500 per piece. To learn more, refer to their gaming editor’s Tweet and their pitch guide.
Causal is a number-crunching tool. They are seeking a freelance writer for their blog. The writer is ideally “savvy with numbers and interested in finance.” They will pay $0.20 per word. To learn more, refer to their co-founder’s Tweet and their blog.
Narratively is a media company that publishes original and untold human stories. Their editorial assistant is looking for pitches for “stories that shed light on and reveal groundbreaking accomplishments by a disabled figure in history or a group of people with disabilities.” While they are “looking for stories on disabled figures and groups, their accomplishments do not need to be limited to disability justice.” The stories should be full of rich and colorful details and have lots of exciting scenes. They pay $400 to $1,000 per story (2,000 to 3,500 words). Pitches should be sent to julia@narratively.com. To learn more, refer to this Twitter thread and this page.
Deadline: April 8th, 2021
Shrunk Magazine is a modern miniatures magazine. They publish quarterly. They are commissioning content for the upcoming issues of their magazine and for online content. All mini scales and disciplines are welcome. They love doll’s houses, dioramas, and dolls. They are currently not commissioning for children’s projects. Their rates start at £55 for 500 words. They welcome writers from all over the word. If interested, contact kat@shrunkmagazine.com. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Tweet and this page.
Scalawag is a Black-led, woman-run website and magazine dedicated to the American South. Their editor is looking for contributors in Alabama and Mississippi. She has tweeted, “If you’re a journalist — or wanting to do some journalism — from those states, drop your name below. Also, national media can peep this too for Jackson & Bessemer. You don’t need a journalism degree (I don’t have one) or experience to work, write for Scalawag. We’re looking for people rooted in community: Black, brown, Indigenous, queer, trans, disabled, working class & rural writers.” Pay is $400 to $600 for reported stories. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Twitter thread and this page.
Lifewire is a website that publishes tech news, reviews, how-tos, and more. They are looking for experienced tech writers to help them out with their buying guide updates. They offer a flat rate of $250 for an update (700 to 1,000 words). To learn more, refer to this Tweet. To contact them, refer to this page.
Cannabis Health is a resource for cannabis health news. They are currently building their spring editorial schedule. They are looking for stories about science/research related news. They pay CAD $250 for most of their stories. If interested, contact asiebert.freelance@gmail.com. To learn more, refer to their Twitter thread. To contact them, refer to this page.
The assistant managing editor of CBS News is seeking pitches from journalists of color. Some of the topics that he is interested in are: entertainment profiles and features, sports, criminal justice/prison reform, Covid-19, and health and fitness. Reporting only. Rates start at $0.60 per word. DM their editor on Twitter or email justin@cbsnews.com. To read their editor’s Tweet, click here. To visit their website, click here.
Moving Lives Minnesota explores “the histories of the many communities who have moved through and to Minnesota.” They are looking for articles (about 500 words) about immigration or migration for their Stories site. As this project is a part of the Minnesota Public Television Association, they would like some sort of connection to Minnesota. They will pay $250 for around 500 words. For more information, refer to this Twitter thread and this page.
Deadline: March 15th, 2021
Junkee is an Australian pop culture website that covers TV, film, music, gaming, technology, politics, web stuff, and more. Their editor is seeking “pieces from women on the parliament rape allegations — explainers, features, takes, etc.” They pay $200 per piece (about 800 to 1,200 words). Send pitches to plenton@junkeemedia.com. Read their editor’s Twitter thread here and find more contact information here. Update: It looks like the editor deleted the Tweet, which may mean they’re no longer looking for people to write about this topic.
Sixty Inches from Center is a non-profit arts publication and archiving initiative that promotes art and writing in Chicago and the Midwest. They welcome “writers & artists of all experience levels to pitch ideas for traditional/experimental art writing, interviews, poetry, essays, audio, video, comics, animations, & stories around topics & practices relevant to the cultural landscapes of the Midwest.” They give priority to “writing by, about, and for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists, artists with disabilities, and the long list of writing, art-making, and cultural practices that have been neglected in mainstream conversations and canons about art and culture.” They pay $25 to $125 per article. For details, refer to this Twitter thread and their writing guide.
The Lighthouse is “cultivating spaces of solidarity and safety for southern Black girls to shine through focused programming and research.” They are seeking a freelance sports writer. They will pay $0.25 to $0.60 per word. If interested, send an email to contributors@loveblackgirls.org. To learn more, refer to their Tweet. To contact them, refer to this page.
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a daily newspaper for Philadelphia. Their opinion editor is accepting pitches for “a changed mind story.” The topics can “range from serious to silly.” They would love more fun/light pitches. Rates start at $100. If interested, send pitches to egooray@inquirer.com. Read their editor’s Twitter thread here and contact them here.
Shona Louise is a disability and theatre blog. They are accepting pitches for opinions/personal essays from disabled writers. They especially want pitches from POC, LGBTQ+ people and those who are underrepresented within the disability community. The opportunity is open to everyone whether they have a physical disability or a mental health condition. Pay will be £100. If interested, email your pitches to shonacobb21@gmail.com. To learn more, refer to this Twitter thread. To contact them, refer to this page.
Deadline: March 12th, 2021
Med City Beat is a news source that covers government, business, and culture in Rochester, MN. They are looking to expand their network of freelance writers. The writers must be based in Rochester, MN. They must be effective storytellers and be able to pitch their own ideas. They will be paid $50 to $125 per piece. If interested, DM their editor on Twitter or email sean@themedcitybeat.com. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Tweet. To contact them, refer to this page.
Eater Philly (a part of the Eater network of sites) is a local news site that reports on restaurants, dining, bars, and chefs in Philadelphia. They are looking for new contributors. They publish news, dining guides and maps, reported features, and opinion pieces. According to payment reports, Eater pays an average of $0.37 per word. If interested, send pitches to dayna.evans@eater.com or philly@eater.com. Read their Tweet here and their pitch guide here.
The Bisexual Resource Center is a nonprofit educational organization for the bi+ community. Their editor is seeking personal essays from bisexual writers for their blog. Any topic is welcome as long as it has a personal connection to bi+/bisexuality. Rate is $50 to $75. If interested, contact swarner@biresource.org. For details, refer to their editor’s Twitter thread. To learn more about them, refer to this page.
Southerly is an independent media organization that covers ecology, culture, and justice in the American South. They are looking for someone who wants to report on Jackson’s ongoing water crisis. They pay $500 for up to 1,000 words and $750 for up to 1,500 words. Email your pitches to pitch@southerlymag.org. To learn more, refer to their founder and editor-in-chief’s Tweet and their pitch guide.
