Reporters wanted (public policy) | $1.25 per word

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: REMAPPING DEBATE

Deadline: 25 August 2025

Craig Gurian, Editor at Remapping Update, is looking for a reporter:

Remapping Debate is looking for a highly experienced reporter or three to do freelance pieces for us from time-to-time. They would be deeply reported stories generally ranging from approximately 2,500 to 3,500 words for which we’d pay $1.25 per published word.

FREELANCE FOR REMAPPING DEBATE

You must be willing to push interviewees hard (though that might make them less willing to talk to you next time), slog through documents in some cases, and deal with an editor whose sins include saying things like, “I know that’s interesting and newsworthy, but it’s not the specific story we want probed.” Plus which, the editor title is not nominal: I would be closely editing your work notwithstanding all your years of experience.

The stories will be on domestic public policy only, across a wide range of topics, including housing, health care, education, taxation, market failures and successes, regulatory failures and successes, identarianism, immigration, law, justice, civil rights, and public safety.

I’d strongly encourage you to look at original reporting, story repair, and data visualizations from the first iteration of Remapping Debate (2010-14), as we’re just getting restarted.

We will often be looking to reframe a question from “what is adequate?” to “what is optimal?” Or from a universe of current and practices to an exploration of alternatives (those tried in the U.S. in the past; those tried elsewhere, past or present; and those that have so far only been imagined).

You have to be sufficiently heterodox to be comfortable asking the kind of questions many outlets find taboo (discussions of education policy come immediately to mind). Likewise, if, political pretending, demonizing, fetishizing, and romanticizing, whether on right or left (1), we might not be a great fit.

As you can see here, for example, our site is configured to allow for inline boxes, annotations, section or chapter jump-links, footnotes, and document tables. Pop-ups and bottom boxes, too. Sidebars as well.

Please email freelance at remappingdebate dot org with what I should know and what I should have. I will review promptly.

(1) So, for example, market fundamentalism on the right. Or the demonization of immigrants on the right (and its mirror image on the left: failing to see people, but rather paying homage to Perfect Heroic Beings). Or essentialism of different flavors on left and right.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST: Unless otherwise stated, include (1) a cover letter explaining how you meet the requirements or why you are the right fit for the job; (2) a one-paragraph summary of your relevant experience, credentials and publication credits; (3) your strongest clips or links to published work; and (4) a resume detailing your writing experience.

--------------------

CONTACT INFORMATION (please do not share the email address publicly):

Questions/applications: freelance@remappingdebate.org

Website: https://www.remappingdebate.org/

--------------------

LOOKING FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES? Find additional jobs on Extra. Check out the upcoming deadlines on our PLUS+ Calendar. Filter the listings by category (worldwide opportunities, high-paying leads, paying publications, and non-pitching jobs). Use the search form on the homepage to find opportunities relevant to your interests.

WANT OUR DIGEST delivered to your inbox? Go to your email settings and make sure the notifications for Write Jobs PLUS+ are turned on. Want more tips? Read the welcome notes here.