Over the last year, Waging Nonviolence has dedicated more time and space to the unfolding genocide in Gaza than any other issue. As the horrific war rages on, and expands to the West Bank and now Lebanon, we are eager to work with new freelance contributors to cover this volatile and quickly evolving conflict.
Specifically, we are looking to commission stories about the many ways ordinary people in the region — as well as the U.S. and Europe — are organizing to end the war. This means stories should address questions of strategy and tactics, giving readers an inside look at movements and how they are building power. We are not looking for stories about one-off protests, general acts of solidarity/support or deep dives into the issue itself.
Individuals are encouraged to send pitches with a 1-2 paragraph description of their story to contact@wagingnonviolence.org. Ideally, pitches will address these basic questions:
- What is the movement angle?
- Why should we publish this story now? (particularly if there is no news hook)
- What is new about this story? (particularly if it is on a subject that has been widely covered)
- Why are you the one to write this story?
- Who and/or what will be your sources of information?
Regarding sources, we prefer to highlight the voices of organizers and activists from under-represented and traditionally marginalized communities — rather than government officials, corporate spokespeople, etc.
We are seeking several types of freelance stories:
Reported features – Timely, reported stories about current event issues, but with a focus on resistance and organizing. (1,500-2,000 words, see example)
Q&As – Interviews with key movement figures that are set up by a couple hundred word introduction. (~1,500 words, see example)
Analysis – Commentaries on current event issues with a resistance/organizing focus, typically written by organizers or close movement observers, relying more on history, personal experience or already published information, rather than original reporting (~1,500 words, see example)
Multimedia: Short video reports or audio pieces that give viewers or listeners a quick snapshot of a movement or campaign, accompanied by a short written introduction. (5-10 minutes, see example)
As a small nonprofit organization, Waging Nonviolence is able to pay $200 for reported features and multimedia pieces, and $100 for analysis and Q&As.
Please note that we try to respond to all pitches, but that it may take up to a week.
Waging Nonviolence is a nonprofit media organization dedicated to providing original reporting and expert analysis of social movements around the world. Through on-the-ground movement coverage and commentary that draws on both history and the latest research, we work to advance the public’s understanding of movements and their key role in shaping social change.
