Pitches wanted (travel) | $200 to $300 per article

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: MATADOR NETWORK

Matador is seeking ongoing freelance travel pitches.

Matador Network is seeking freelance pitches across a broad range of topics. Please spend some time browsing the various categories on our site to see what types of stories and topics cover. We cover travel worldwide, but most of our readers are based in the US.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

• Experiential stories

• Reported pieces around travel

• Stories that appeal to a 20-to-40-something age range

• Well-researched op-eds relating to travel

• Stories on niche communities: being in a niche community, about niche communities, etc. What is a niche community? Think: a ping-pong enthusiast community in Bhutan, or a group of Seattle baristas pushing the bounds of latte-foam art. We're open to ideas!

• Articles around destinations and experiences that may disappear in the coming years.

• Pitches around sports fandom and sporting event travel, including F1 and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026

• Location-specific stories about any of the 16 cities hosting the World Cup, but especially Monterrey and Guadalajara, MX.

HERE ARE A FEW RECENT ARTICLES WE REALLY LIKED:

• Sober Music Festivals: Where and How to Party Alcohol-Free

• I speed-hiked a 19,700-foot peak in the Himalayas. Here's what went wrong.

• Yosemite Entry Reservations May Become Permanent. But Should They?

• Duck Farts at Ernie’s: Finding the 'King of Alaskan Drinks' in Sitka

WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR:

• Hotel or restaurant coverage (do not pitch us stories focused on a single hotel)

• Lists or roundups

• Guides to cities/destinations

• Diaries/blog-style trip recaps/personal "how TK place changed me" stories

• Promotional stories (please, don't pitch us on "why TK place is the perfect family vacation")

• News stories

• Shopping/affiliate/commerce stories

Rates range from $200 to $300 depending on the depth of research and interviews, writer experience, and photo availability. We will be assigning articles on an unscheduled basis, based on both a compelling pitch and our changing monthly budgets.

TO APPLY:

• Please share examples of relevant past published work (3-4 URLS and/or a portfolio link)

• Include your pitch (tell us the story you're going to write, not just the topic)

• Please include a proposed headline that matches Matador's tone and style

• A brief background of your writing experience

• Please include your email address in the pitch

• You do not need to include proposed word count or deadlines, your phone number, or links to photos.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING BEFORE YOU PITCH:

• Please do not follow up with editors via email. We have one editor who reviews pitches and often get 200-300 pitches per call.

• You can only submit this form one time. If you include more than one pitch, please separate them clearly in the form. (A row of asterisks is good)

• Don't use this form to propose anything other than editorial articles (no partnerships, social media content, PR agencies, etc)

We look forward to reading your pitches, and thank you!

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Submissions: Via the webform

• Website: https://matadornetwork.com/

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: Matador Network is a digital travel publication that focuses on adventure, culture, and exploration. It offers travel guides, stories, and personal essays that highlight unique destinations and cultural experiences around the world. The platform aims to inspire and inform travelers by providing resources on sustainable travel, outdoor adventures, and off-the-beaten-path journeys. More information here.

• Read through its selection of recent articles/stories, categorized into: Travel, Culture, Food and Drink, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Outdoor

• Review the submission guidelines here.

• Check out our collection of pitch excerpts on this page and find more sample pitches at The Open Notebook and at SuccessfulPitches.com.

• Do not forget to end your pitch with (1) a short introduction about yourself; (2) a few lines highlighting your writing experience, relevant credentials and publication credits; and (3) links to your strongest work or portfolio, and online profile.

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