Pitches wanted (immigrants, work, economies) | $250 to $1,500 per article

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: FEET IN 2 WORLDS

Deadline: 28 October 2024

Feet in 2 Worlds is accepting pitches for narrative audio stories about how immigrants are navigating the changing economy and the changing nature of work.

From the transition to remote work during the pandemic to the rise of a gig economy, traditional 9 to 5 jobs are no longer the norm. Industries that used to provide full-time jobs with benefits now rely on overworked independent contractors and part-timers. One of the most vulnerable groups in the labor market? Immigrants, who face a lack of job security because many rely on employment-based visas.

We are interested in the voices of immigrant workers from the bottom to the top of the economic ladder. We want to prioritize lesser told stories about immigrants and work in a changing economy, and the ways that these stories intersect with rights, race, politics, and power. We want pitches that go beyond existing narratives of “immigrants are exploited” or “immigrants are good for the economy.” We want to push beyond stories about the exceptional — and those who achieved traditional success — by also looking at those who came before and paved the way for those successes. We also want stories about immigrants, work, and joy.

We are open to being surprised by pitches that highlight the intersection of something we don’t think about when it comes to immigrants, work, and changing economies.

• Some of the questions we are interested in are: How is the changing nature of work in the U.S. affecting immigrants?

• How did immigrants navigate the changing nature of work in other periods of economic change throughout history?

• How has the U.S. treated its most vulnerable immigrant workers? What did immigrants do about it in the past and what are they doing about it today?

• How have wealthy immigrants interacted with U.S. borders? How have wealthy immigrants shaped the nature of business and trade in the past or today?

• What do immigrants want out of work in this changing economy?

AREAS OF FOCUS:

1) History:

How have immigrants, rich and poor alike, navigated previous periods of economic change — such as the Industrial Revolution or the post-Emancipation economy in the southern U.S.? How did immigrant merchants interact with immigration bans during those periods? How did they conduct business and treat their workers?

2) Organizing at work:

Stories of immigrants trying to gain collective power through unionizing or building political coalitions either in the past or present. What challenges do immigrants face when attempting to unionize their workplace? What are some success stories of immigrants unionizing? If they failed, what stood in their way? Outside of unions, are there other ways immigrants can lobby for better wages or better working conditions?

3) Wealthy immigrants:

Do wealthy immigrants hold advantages in the immigration process? How are they conducting business in the U.S.? How are they shaping the nature of work for Americans and immigrants alike?

4) Freelancing and the gig economy:

How are immigrants navigating employment uncertainty as gig economy workers? Do some prefer autonomy despite the lack of benefits? Did their original ambitions change as the economy shifted?

5) Middle-class workers:

As the middle class shrinks, how are immigrant workers adapting? What challenges are they facing? What does that mean for the future of skill-based immigration visas? What are immigrants’ relationship with the middle class? Do they view themselves as part of the middle-class or aspire to?

6) Access and mental health:

How are immigrants with disabilities navigating access at work? How is work impacting immigrants’ mental health? How are immigrants advocating for themselves or finding support for mental health challenges arising from work or at work?

7) Joy:

Stories of immigrants who love their jobs/careers. How are they navigating the changing nature of work? What do they want out of work in the future?

PITCHES SHOULD INCLUDE:

• Human-centered stories and clear narrative arcs.

• Compelling characters and tape (immigrants whose stories will illustrate the larger themes explored in your piece, as well as experts or community leaders to help frame the stories with context and information that deepens our reporting).

• Sound-rich scenes, narration, and interviews.

• A focus on immigrant communities from different regions, backgrounds, and economic circumstances across the country.

COMPENSATION:

Compensation for accepted stories will depend on factors including the experience level of the producer, the length of the story, and the complexity of the story. Payment for stories ranges from $250 to $1500.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Please send submissions by completing this form.

Questions: Email questions to us at contact@feetin2worlds.org.

Deadline: The deadline to pitch your story ideas is October 28, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Submissions: Via the webform

• Website: https://www.fi2w.org/

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: Feet in 2 Worlds (Fi2W) is a nonprofit journalism organization that focuses on telling the stories of immigrants and communities of color in the United States. Through podcasts, multimedia content, and articles, Fi2W highlights the experiences of immigrant communities, covering topics such as politics, culture, and food. The platform works to amplify underrepresented voices in media by providing a space for immigrant journalists to share their perspectives. More information here.

• Read through a selection of recent articles/stories on its website.

• 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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