Pitches wanted (human-centered tech) (worldwide) | ~$420 per piece

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: CONTAINER 

Deadline: 19 September 2021

Pitches for Issue 4 are open.

Container is an online magazine about creative technology. It explores why and how people use technology in creative ways for social and cultural purposes.

We are now looking for content ideas for Issue 4, which will be published in November 2021. The deadline for sending ideas is September 19 2021.

We will read any pitches we receive, but we are particularly looking for:

• Stories relating to individuals or groups of people that have been erased from dominant white Western narratives.
• Stories about cities and placemaking.
• Pitches for live events, video content and podcasts.

We aim to commission between three and six pieces of content per issue. This call explains a little bit more about what we’re looking for, how to pitch your idea, and our rates.

We also have a paid residency commission for artists, makers, or creators of any kind to respond to an aspect of creative technology. You can read more about that here.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Container explores the people and processes behind creative technology, with a specific emphasis on voices, people, and perspectives outside the mainstream. Check out previous issues of Container to get more of a sense of what we’re about.

We are looking for:

• Content creators and writers who focus on creative technology or related subjects such as arts and culture, climate, politics, or social justice.
• People working, or interested, in creative tech who have an idea to pitch. This can be a fully formed idea you’d like to cover yourself, or something you would like help to develop with another content creator and/or the editorial team.

Our priority is to represent voices and perspectives that we do not hear from or see as often in the media or tech worlds.

CONTAINER ARTICLES AIM TO:

• Explore new and different takes on creative technology not covered elsewhere in the media.
• Focus on people and processes rather than products (e.g. we don’t do product reviews).
• Break down complex ideas and make them accessible. We avoid overly-academic language and phrasing, and use different formats to communicate ideas clearly, eg illustrated articles, audio or video conversations.
• Be constructive as well as critical – Container seeks to make a positive impact on the world, though we’re not afraid to present radical ideas.

WE ARE INTERESTED IN:

• Deep explorations of a single topic.
• Longform overviews of a wider subject.
• Artistic explorations of creative technology.
• A fresh exploration of a new idea.
• A response to a previous article that gives a different perspective.
• Content created by individuals or groups of people.

Below are some general subject areas to give you a sense of our interests:

• Creative technology and its cultural uses – music, theatre, art, gaming.
• Creative tech communities and ecosystems – who is the community, what they are doing differently, why, and what impact does it have?
• VR and AR.
• The role of technology in the climate crisis.
• Creative technology and wellbeing, rest and mental health.
• Creative technology and data eg from a point of view of inclusion, bias or the climate crisis.

As we are based in Bristol, UK, we have a special interest in the creative tech ecosystem/s in the south west of England and the UK. However, we are keen to develop our global outlook, connecting with people and stories across the world.

CONTENT FORMATS:

We are open to whatever kind of format will work best for the idea.

Here are some formats we have previously published, or would like to publish in the future:

• mid-to-longform feature articles, including investigations (2,000-3,000 words)
• first person essays (600-1,500 words)
• list articles
• illustrated articles
• photo essays
• podcasts and audio content
• video pieces including documentary
• live online events.

RATES

We pay:

• £300 per 1,000 words for written articles
• £200-250 day rate for other freelance contributions (illustrations, event fees etc).

HOW TO PITCH YOUR IDEA

Send your idea or pitch in writing or by video. In the submission you should:

• Discuss the key points of your story (in two or three paragraphs or a few minutes of video).Ensure you mention the key angle or driver of the piece: the issue or theme you want to address.
  Talk about any interviews you plan to conduct.
  Explain what format your content will take.
  If appropriate, include links and images.
  
• Explain why this content is right for Container.
• Introduce yourself and your relevant experience or background, including links to previously published work (if appropriate).

Please also mention any help you feel you may need to develop the idea.

Send your submission to info@containermagazine.co.uk before 5pm (GMT) on Sunday September 19 2021.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Questions / submissions: info@containermagazine.co.uk

Website: https://containermagazine.co.uk/