Dear Writers,
Here’s our latest roundup of calls for pitches directly from editors and writers.
We’ve researched payment rates and found contact information for all of these publishers.
If you’re new to freelance writing, I highly recommend reading this first.
— Jacob Jans
Thanks to Fatima Saif for her research on this article.
Wired UK is a magazine that covers future science, culture, and technology news. Their features editor is always seeking pitches for longreads (4,000 words+). She has tweeted, “Pitch me a nonfiction story with intrigue and depth, a plot that twists, a human story that says something meaningful about our future, a narrative that blows me away.” According to payment reports, they pay £1,400 for longread features of 4,000 words. Read their features editor’s Tweet here and their contributor’s guidelines here.
Vox’s editor is accepting pitches for their new biodiversity reporting initiative that is launching the next month. He is looking for “future-forward stories on the science, politics, and economics of the global biodiversity crisis, geared toward reckoning and responding to this multidimensional crisis, not just cataloging species loss.” He is also looking for “stories w/ focus on intelligent responses, accountability, recentering Indigenous science+stewardship, and why a radical rethinking+prioritization of conservation is needed.” They will pay at least $0.50 per word. If interested, email your pitches to brian.anderson1@vox.com. To learn more, refer to their biodiversity editor’s Twitter thread. To contact them, refer to this page.
Rest of World is an international nonprofit journalism organization that is focused on “the impact of technology beyond the Western bubble.” Their ideas editor is seeking “opinion journalism that advances an argument about tech that is somehow new.” They are particularly eager to read: “Arguments related to e-commerce, labor or labor markets / the future of work, social media and online culture, and/or the impact of big tech in places that *aren’t* the US, Canada, Europe, NZ, and Australia.” They are also seeking ideas pieces tied to the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). They are eager to work with contributors based in the regions that they cover. Their rates start at $1 per word. Pitches should be sent to devi@restofworld.org. For details, read their ideas editor’s Twitter thread and their pitch guide.
Trucha is an independent multimedia platform that covers topics and issues that affect the Rio Grande Valley. They are looking for pitches. They publish content about “immigration, reproductive justice, LGBTQ issues, climate justice, regional arts and culture, racial justice, and more.” They only accept pitches from “people who currently live or grew up in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas (and North Mexican side of this border region including Reynosa, Matamoros, etc).” They pay $0.50/word for longform feature articles (2,000 words), $0.30/word for op-eds (600 words), and $0.30/word for news blurbs (300 words). To learn more, read their Twitter thread and call for pitches.
Outside Magazine publishes stories about adventure, gear, travel, sports, fitness, health, culture, and the environment. Their digital managing director has tweeted, “I’m seeking pitches on maps and how they relate to outdoor rec. Think: profiles on cool folks in the mapping/outdoor industry, *very strong and unique* personal essays about mapping/maps, outdoor mapping cultural stories, etc.” Rates start at $0.50 per word. Pitches should be sent to awise@outsideim.com. For more information, read their digital managing director’s Twitter thread and their pitch guide.
Deadline: March 30th, 2021
Wix.com is a cloud-based development platform. Their restaurants editor is looking to hire some freelancers. Their audience is “going to be the people who run (or want to run) restaurants and/or people who work (or want to work) in the industry.” They will pay around $1 per word. If interested, contact emilys@wix.com. For details, refer to their restaurants editor’s Twitter thread. To learn more about them, refer to this page.
Input is a tech publication. Their features editor is seeking 4/20 tech/culture feature pitches. He is also always seeking regular, non-weed-related pitches. Rate is $0.50 to $1.00 per word. Pitches should be sent to mark.yarm@inputmag.com. Read their features editor’s Twitter thread here and contact them here.
The National Catholic Reporter (NCR) is an independent Catholic newspaper. Their catholic editor is looking for Lil Nas X Montero pitches, especially from Black, queer writers. They will pay $200 for around 900 words. If interested, DM their editor on Twitter or email osegura@ncronline.org. Read their editor’s Tweet here and their writing guidelines here.
PsychCentral.com is a source for mental health information. They are looking for US-based freelance writers who can use empathetic language to write mental health content. They usually pay $150 to $300 per article (800 to 1,500 words). To learn more, refer to their managing editor’s Twitter thread and this page.
China Dialogue is a bilingual website that covers global environmental issues, with a special emphasis on China. They are seeking “feature pitches ASAP on the environmental/social impacts of Chinese investment in Indonesia.” The pitches should ideally be focused on a specific project. They will pay about $300 USD. Pitches should be sent to nithin.coca@chinadialogue.net. For more information, refer to this Tweet and this page.
Contingent Magazine is a history magazine. They are “accepting pitches for an ongoing series of mini-essays about what it means for historians to do precarious academic labor around the world.” They are looking for “pitches from historians who have completed graduate work, and who are working in precarious teaching and/or research positions in academic settings outside the United States.” Pay is $100 per piece (200 to 500 words). If interested, email your pitches to pitches@contingentmag.org. For more information, refer to this Twitter thread and this page.
Unbias the News is “a new, remote cross-border newsroom dedicated to showcasing international journalism that breaks through geographical or structural barriers.” They are inviting journalists all over the world to pitch them underreported stories with global relevance. They will pay 250 euros for personal narratives, op-eds, and shorter pieces. They will pay 500 euros for long reads, multimedia, and investigations. To learn more, refer to their Twitter thread and website.
The Bello Collective is a publication and newsletter about podcasts. They are looking for pitches about translation in podcasting. They will pay $100 per article. Pitches should be sent to editor@bellocollective.com. For details, refer to this Tweet and this page.
Explore is a lifestyle magazine for active outdoor-loving Canadians. They are looking for story pitches. They want spring/summer pieces. Canadian destinations only. Rate starts at $70 for 600 to 700 words. Pitches should be sent to alisonh@mypassionmedia.com. For more information, read their online editor’s Tweet and their contributor guidelines.
The Curiosity Club is a new educational platform that offers real-life lessons to people. They are looking for essays on the themes of sex, bodies, culture, life, money, and more. Rates start at £50 for about 800 words. Pitches should be sent to hello@thecuriosityclub.co.uk. To learn more, refer to their guest editor’s Tweet. To contact them, refer to this page.
Observer is a news, business, and entertainment website. Their editor is seeking pitches for the Innovation section. He wants stories on big tech, big tech and labor, weed, space, Covid-19 and vaccines, electric vehicles, NFTs, and more. Their standard rate is about $200 to $250. They can offer more for bigger stories. If interested, email your pitches to jzakarin@observer.com. Read their editor’s Tweet here and learn how to pitch them here.
Xtra is a Toronto-based digital magazine and community platform that covers LGBTQ2 news, politics, culture, sex, love, and health. They are looking for pitches from trans and queer writers/critics especially Black/brown, disabled, etc. They are looking for: “Cultural criticism (broadly defined): film/TV/art/music/culture commentary. Reviews OK but critique should go beyond a single item. Trend analyses and reflections.” The subject of the conversation doesn’t have to be LGBTQ+ but it should be of queer and/or trans interest. Average word count is 1,000 to 1,500 words. Rate for these pieces will start at $400+ USD. Pitches should be sent to trevell.anderson@xtramagazine.com. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Twitter thread and this page.
BorderLore is a monthly digital journal that documents, shares, and elevates folklife in the US Southwest and Northern Mexico. They are always seeking fresh voices to write about culture, heritage, and folklife in the Southwestern US or Northwestern Mexico. They usually pay $300 to $750 per piece. Pitches should be sent to kimieisele@arizona.edu. To learn more, refer to this Tweet. To contact them, refer to this page.
OurBKSocial.com is a website that covers the borough of Brooklyn. They are looking for Brooklyn-focused pitches. They will pay $80 and up per article (at least 300 words). If interested, send your pitches to ayannap@ourbksocial.com. For more information, read their Twitter thread.
The Independent’s IndyBest is a source for all things shopping. They publish product reviews, buying guides, trend round-ups, and more. Their editor has tweeted, “I’m looking for brilliant gardening writers to cover tried and tested reviews for us.” According to one payment report, The Independent paid £50 for a 500-word review. If interested, email emma.henderson@independent.co.uk. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Tweet. To read IndyBest’s articles, refer to this page.
Decolonial Hacker critically “examines cultural institutions, their alliances, interests, and behaviour.” They are accepting pitches for texts (2,000-3,000 words) on any cultural institution (museum, gallery, opera house, university, etc.) in the world. They will pay $500 AUD for each text. If interested, send your pitches to eugene@decolonialhacker.org. To learn more, refer to their Tweet.
Deadline: April 2nd, 2021
Kitchen Witch is a newsletter that covers “anything that hits the intersection of food and witchcraft—whether that’s a recipe for a honey jar, the history of altar cakes, or even a deep-dive into food-adjacent topics, like ancient Icelandic farting spells and how they relate to food.” They are looking for “food pitches related to the sabbats.” Non-white writers to the front. Pay is $100. Pitches should be sent to kitchenwitchjen@gmail.com. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Tweet and this page.
4W is “a publication for the next generation of feminist writing.” They welcome pitches from both new and previously unpublished female writers. They want “original reporting on the issues affecting women and girls around the globe”, “feminist analysis of the local, national, or global news affecting women and girls”, “well-researched and cited 101-level pieces exploring a particular feminist topic with accessible language”, “first-person essays and personal stories”, and “interviews or profiles of feminists and female thought-leaders.” Their articles are typically 1,000 to 2,000 words. Their rate is $0.05 per word. To learn more, refer to this Twitter thread and this page.
T3 is a UK-based print magazine and website that covers laptops, smartphones, audio, gaming, fitness, living, style, travel, and more. They are seeking US-based health and fitness product reviewers to write 1 or 2 product reviews per month. They will pay over $200. If interested, contact mat.gallagher@futurenet.com. For details, refer to their US managing editor’s Twitter thread. To learn more about them, refer to this page.
The Tri-Cities Dispatch is “a local media non-profit covering the Tri-Cities area of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody.” They are seeking in-depth, hyper-local reporting. They will pay $500 for a long-form article of 1,200 to 2,000 words. If interested, send your pitches to jeremy.shepherd@tricitiesdispatch.com. To learn more, refer to their editor’s Tweet. To contact them, refer to this page.
i-D is a fashion and style publication by Vice Media. Their editor is looking for “funky digital culture stories (think big trends and good memes), film, and TV features that feel i-D.” She doesn’t want first person narratives. Rate is £150 to £200 per piece. If interested, email your pitches to jennamahale@gmail.com. For more information, read their editor’s Tweet and their pitch guide.
Empire Magazine is a British movie magazine. Their news editor is seeking “newsy film story” pitches for their Take 20 section. He is looking for angles on upcoming films, unique perspectives for opinion pieces, and “ideas on how to respond to recent events/announcements/debates in film news.” Rate is 35p per word. Pitches should be sent to john@empiremagazine.com. For details, refer to their news editor’s Twitter thread. To learn more about them, refer to this page.
Chron is the website of the Houston Chronicle (the largest daily newspaper in Houston). They are seeking Houston/Texas-centric feature pitches for their website as they move to increase their culture and lifestyle reporting. They are looking for profiles, reported features, commentary pieces, first-person essays, trend pieces, listicles, reviews, etc. Their rates start at $0.50 per word. Pitches should be sent to sarah.sarder@chron.com. For details, read their editor’s Tweet and their pitch guidelines.
The Portalist is “a haven for science fiction and fantasy fans.” They are seeking contributors who want to review Netflix’s Shadow and Bone series in April. They will pay $150 per piece (1,000 words). If interested, email editor@theportalist.com. Read their Tweet here and learn more about them here.
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29 Calls for Pitches Directly from Editors & Publishers
— Freedom With Writing (@WithWriting) March 30, 2021
