Pitches wanted (arts, culture, Midwest US) | $1,000 per article

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: BARN RAISER

Deadline: 15 March 2024

Lydia Moran, Editor at Barn Raiser, is looking for pitches:

We are commissioning a series of arts and culture stories. Stories (including creative nonfiction, reported stories, and photo essays) will explore the work of artists, environmental stewards, community organizers and artistic and social justice movements informing Midwestern creativity and social change, with a focus on reimagined or nontraditional forms of cartography and mapping. Stories in this series will explore work made by people living in rural areas and small towns or work that reflects what's happening in rural communities and small towns within Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Native Nations that share this geography. The theme of mapping could be expressed through the story’s subject or its construction. For example, a story could explore the work of someone who is combining art and data to map the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/Relatives (MMIW/R) crisis, a photo essay could create a map of the work of citizen environmental stewards, etc. Pitches that highlight the work of artists who are members of communities that have been historically marginalized will be prioritized.

Interested writers or photographers: Please send a 200-300 word description of your idea to Lydia at moralyd@gmail.com and 2-4 links to recent and relevant work (if possible. If you don't have clips, please explain). If accepted, we will work together to determine the best timeline for your project. Each project comes with a $1,000 stipend. Deadline for pitches is March 15. Writers and photographers currently living in the Midwest U.S. will be given preference.

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

• Questions/submissions: moralyd@gmail.com
• Website: https://barnraisingmedia.com/

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: Barn Raiser publishes independent news, analysis and information to support diverse, civically engaged and dynamically connected rural and small town communities. It aims to champion the free exchange of public dialogue by bringing together underrepresented voices and perspectives on the intractable issues facing communities and policymakers. More information here.
• Read through its selection of recent articles/stories, categorized into: Politics, Native Life, History, Environment, Culture, Religion, Agriculture
• 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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