Pitches wanted (North Africa, the Sahel) | $800 to $1,000+ per article

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: NEW LINES MAGAZINE

Erin Clare Brown, North Africa Editor at New Lines Magazine, is looking for pitches:

I am looking for pitches for long form, in-depth reportage from writers across North Africa and the Sahel for News Lines Magazine. Got a story that goes deeper than the news cycle or upends conventional narratives about the people, places, culture and politics of the region? Pitch me!

At New Lines, we love a deep dive, a good yarn, a story anchored in history but that shifts the conversation about a current event. We also love stories about the weird, joyous and wonderful side of a region most news outlets only look at when there's conflict.

Some inspiration for you from past New Lines coverage of the region:

• Francesca Ebel's amazing piece about Ben Ali's billions: https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/the-tunisia-heist/
• Care for a sip of Algerian Wine? New Lines does: https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/the-withering-of-algerian-wine/
• When Kais Saied re-wrote the Tunisian constitution, most media only mentioned the 2014 charter it replaced in passing. New Lines dove in to tell the story of that historic document, and how it nearly failed to emerge: https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/autopsy-for-tunisias-constitution-on-life-support-from-the-start/
• An incredible, haunting story about the countless atomic tests done in Algeria in the 20th century: https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/frances-atomic-legacy-in-algeria/

In your pitch, please include: a smidge of background (2 lines); a short synopsis of the story you plan to tell (the nut graf often works well for this); why you should be writing the story, and why now; who the sources will be for the story and what access you have to them.

Please don't send me: a topic instead of a story ("I want to do a story about Tunisian youth crossing the Mediterranean" is not a pitch); work you've published elsewhere; a pitch that is over 300 words; a story very similar to one we've already published (search the site).

Also, academics (including PhD and masters students) who work on the region, I'd love to work with you on taking small parts of your research and making them consumable for a popular audience.

One last note: Please, please, please, go read a few stories on http://newlinesmag.com to see what we do. If you've got questions after that I'm happy to answer them, but don't send me an email asking if we want 450 words on a spot news story.

Rates: Most of our essays are $800. For stories that require exceptional amounts of reporting/access, that rate is flexible.

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

• Questions/submissions: ebrown@newlinesmag.com
• Website: https://newlinesmag.com

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: Newlines Magazine is a forum for ideas and writing about the Middle East and beyond. It specializes in long-form essays, including reportage, arguments, and memoirs, which bring together politics, culture, and history. Newlines is an initiative of the Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy, a think tank in Washington D.C. More information here.
• Read through a selection of recent Africa-related articles/stories on its website.
• Review the submission guidelines here. Note that these are the publication's general guidelines to help you refine your pitch. You must still follow the editor's specific instructions above.
• Check out our collection of pitch excerpts on this page and find more sample pitches at The Open Notebook Database 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.

* * * * * * * * * *

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 on a daily basis? 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.