We're thrilled to announce a slew of new editors who will be sharing what they want from freelancers in the IIJ's 2024 conference. Register today to get our lowest rate! 

Hear how to successfully pitch:

• Betsy Agnvall, editor at AARP, which is the U.S.'s largest circulation magazine;

• Estelle Tang, editor at The Guardian, one of the hottest online publications; 

• Angilee Shah, the CEO and editor-in-chief of Charlottesville Tomorrow, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom;

  

• Jenny Hollander, digital director of Marie Claire; 

• Valeria Fernández, managing editor of palabra, a multimedia platform telling stories of Latino and other under-covered communities;

  

• Mimi Wong, editor-in-chief of The Offing;

• Raha Naddaf, a story editor for the New York Times Magazine;

• Emanuele Berry, executive editor for This American Life, the quintessential long-form podcast destination;

  

• Carren Jao, senior editor at Stacker, who commissions culture pieces.

Don’t miss out—register here today!

You'll hear from over 50 speakers, including a dozen editors, in live interactive panels over Feb. 29 and March 1. Registration is just $49 early bird, if you sign up before Dec. 22.

And with registration comes our bonus bundle, which includes:

• Q&As with renowned editors—including Raha Naddaf, story editor, New York Tims Magazine; Mimi Wong, editor-in-chief, The Offing; and Carren Jao, senior editor, Stacker—talking about what they want in a pitch

  

• IIJ-created pitch guides with rates and contacts for outlets featured in our previous webinars, including The New York Times, Business Insider, Bloomberg Businessweek, Science Magazine and many others

• Expert guides covering a range of topics, from negotiating contract terms to tracking freelance income and applying for grants and fellowships

We hope to see you at the conference!

Land Travel Pitches With Top Outlets—Register for Our Webinar Today!

Please join us Friday, Dec. 8, from 12-1:15 ET for our webinar on travel freelancing designed for independent journalists. Learn about effective storytelling, how to pitch the top editors, and ways to get the bylines that will boost (or launch!) your career.

RSVP here to attend.

Speakers include: Starlight Williams, travel editor, National Geographic; Tacey Rychter, travel editor, New York Times; Amanda Finnegan, By the Way editor, Washington Post; and Katherine LaGrave, deputy editor, Afar Magazine. The panel is moderated by independent journalist Meena Thiruvengadam.

DC Freelancers: Discount Code for the National Press Club’s Building a Business Workshop!

If you’re in the greater Washington D.C. area, please check out the National Press Club’s in-person freelancing business workshop in Washington D.C. on Dec. 8—and use our discount code IIJ2023 for $10 off your registration fee.

Participants will learn strategies for winning pitches, managing freelancing as a business, and building the writer and editor relationship to sustain that business. Editors in attendance represent publications including AARP Bulletin, Industry Dive, Politico magazine, Slate, The Washington Post, and Washingtonian. 

Click here for the full schedule and confirmed list of speakers.

IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis is presenting on setting up a freelance business, and would love to meet up at the famous NPC taco bar afterwards with anyone who attends!

Pitch Callouts, Fellowships, and Other Opportunities

NPR’s Reflect America Fellowship

The Reflect America fellow will join NPR’s Climate Desk and report on vulnerable communities. The fellow will build their climate reporting skills, analyze climate science, and work on investigative stories.

 Pay: $36/hr

The deadline to apply is Jan. 26 at 11:59 p.m. EST

To apply or for more information, visit their website here.

PBS Kids for Parents Call for Freelancers

PBS Kids for Parents is looking to connect with freelancers for upcoming assignments!

Pay: $350+/500-800 word piece

Email clips and any connection you have to PBS Kids to [email protected]. They’re not looking for pitches at the moment! 

The Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program

Apply to the KSJatMIT fellowships to delve into science, technology, and journalism, and specialize in a sect of science.

Pay: $85,000

The deadline to apply is Jan. 15

To apply or for more information, visit the website here.

Business Insider Call for Pitches

Business Insider is looking for essay pitches on “grandparent babysitting burnout” or when grandparents are fed up of having to babysit their grandchildren.

Pay: $250+

Email story ideas to [email protected] 

Essence GU Call for Pitches

Essence GU is looking for stories about winter fashion trends, wellness, and the upcoming election season.

Email story ideas to [email protected] 

Interesting Reads

• Read Maggie Harrison’s “Sports Illustrated Published Articles by Fake, AI-Generated Writers” for Futurism. In it, she talks about how the famed magazine was caught using nonexistent writers and what this means for the larger conversation around AI and journalism.

• Read Janus Rose’s “Wikipedia Editor Who First Noted Henry Kissinger’s Death Has Become an ‘Instant Legend’” for VICE. In it, she discusses how the editor, Asticky, became the first to update the war criminal’s page.

• Read Sarah Scire’s “A picture is worth a thousand words? Meet the nonprofit newsrooms hiring editorial cartoonists” for Nieman Lab. In it, she delves into the world of journalistic illustration and how some digital outlets are turning to cartoons to accompany their editorial work.

• We're always eager to connect with freelance journalists of color who'd like to be involved in the work of the IIJ or contribute to future programs. Email [email protected] to volunteer—or if you have an idea for a partner, funder or topic we should explore.

Calendar

We love growing the IIJ family and connecting with fellow freelance journalists, so please come to one of our events! Here are the upcoming IIJ events and presentations by IIJ leaders:

• Dec. 8 travel and lifestyle freelancing webinar. RSVP here to attend.

• Dec. 8 National Press Club’s building a freelance business webinar. Buy tickets here.

• Jan. 19 insurance for freelancers webinar. RSVP here to attend.

• Jan. 31 at 2 pm IIJ founder Katherine Reynolds Lewis speaks on an AIR panel about freelance business dilemmas.

• Feb. 9 sports and fitness journalism webinar. RSVP here to attend.

• Feb. 29-March 1 IIJ freelance journalism conference. RSVP here to attend.

• April 12-April 14 presentation at the 2024 Women in Journalism workshop at the Reynolds Journalism Institute. For more information, click here.