Pitches wanted (labor, inequality) | $400+ per piece

[This opportunity was posted 30+ days ago and has expired.]

I am always open to pitches on labor and how we work. Below is the pitch guide. Most of my fees start at $400.

We are a vertical about inequality. The stories exist on their own but also in conversation with each other: We’re describing things as they are, interrogating the people and systems that got us here, envisioning more just futures, and grappling with the limits of our current imagination.

WHAT KINDS OF STORIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

The vertical is a place to document the current abyss while also thinking deeply about the collective work of getting out of it. Our approach includes timely news analysis about developing stories, long-form narrative reporting, wide-ranging essays that engage with difficult ideas, “as told to” pieces about daily life in bad systems, and photo essays. Our stories explore policies, systems, and ideas, but always through the frame of how we live.

Pitches don’t have to be overly long, but they should be clear about what you want to do. A couple of short paragraphs explaining the subject and your idea should be enough. A few sentences that could conceivably act as your thesis statement or “nut graf” are useful and encouraged. (Think of it as answering the question: So what is this story actually about?) If there are other pieces on the subject that have run before it, a couple of sentences distinguishing your pitch from what’s been published already or demonstrating how it can develop the story will go a long way. If you have direct experience with the subject, let me know about that, too. And don’t worry if you don’t have clips; first-time and unpublished writers are encouraged to pitch.

HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY?

The rate will depend on the piece—how long it is, the difficulty of reporting involved, the time it will likely take to pull together. I don’t really accept short takes on my desk, so most of my fees start at $400. Kill fee minimum is $50.

WHAT’S THE GENERAL PROCESS LIKE?

I try to respond to every pitch I get—whether to say yes or no or to follow up with some additional clarifying questions if the subject seems promising—but sometimes I can’t. If you want to follow up with me because you think I’ve missed your pitch, please do. If it’s taking too long and you want to pitch elsewhere, please do.

Once a pitch is accepted, we’ll agree on a rate, word count, and timeline to file. I’m available to talk through or troubleshoot the piece during the reporting and writing process, so don’t feel like you have to work it all out in a vacuum.

Once you file, I try to be as transparent as possible about my editing timeline. If I am working on a few other pieces before I can get to yours, I will tell you that and include a window when I expect to have your edits back to you. In general, I think open communication is a good thing and helps us both respect each other’s time. Rinse and repeat until we’re done with the draft, and then I’ll let you know when it’s scheduled to run.

If anything changes, I’ll let you know as soon as I can.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

[This opportunity was posted 30+ days ago and has expired.]