25 Publications that Pay for Writing About Political and Social Economics

Today, for our latest roundup of publishers, we have a list of 25 publications that pay for writing about economics. 

We’ve researched payment rates and found contact information for all of these publishers, to make it easy for you to connect with the right opportunity.

If you want to browse even more opportunities, be sure to check out our database of over 1,500 publishers that pay writers. It’s easily searchable, and includes thousands of listings just like the ones below.

If you’re new to freelancing, I also very much encourage you to take our course on pitching. You can get the details here.

So, without further ado, here’s today’s list…

1. Economic Hardship Reporting Project (EHRP) is a nonprofit organization that produces compelling journalism about income inequality and poverty in America. They commission “news stories, narrative features, short and feature-length documentaries, nonfiction comics, illustrated works, photo essays, podcasts and radio features about economic inequality in the United States. Personal essays are welcome only if they are completed or close-to-completed. According to their pitch guide, they pay $750 to $1500 for news stories, and up to $2,500 for narrative features and investigative reports. They generally pay $1.00 to $1.25 per word. They also have grants to cover travel expenses, up to $2,000.

2. The Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ) is a nonprofit print and digital magazine that educates the nonprofit sector through research-based articles and resources. Short-form pieces are 750-1,500 words, and long-form pieces are 1,500-2,500 words. They especially look for articles and pitches that cover one or more of their “four justice areas—economic, racial, climate, and health justice—as well as leadership, management, and philanthropy.” According to their guidelines, rates are $300 for articles up to 1,000 words and $500 for articles more than 1,000 words. To learn more, refer to their submissions page.

3. In These Times is a progressive magazine and website committed to covering and analyzing popular movements for economic, environmental, social, gender, and racial justice. Reported stories and investigations range from 1,200 to 4,000 words; opinion and thinkpieces range from 800-1500 words. According to their guidelines, they pay $1/​word for investigative features (plus approved expenses) and for print features (3,300+ words) and $400 for a web-only story up to 1,500 words. To learn more and see all of their rates, refer to their submissions guidelines.

4. Type Investigations is a nonprofit investigative newsroom. They cover the “most urgent issues of our time, including racial and economic justice, climate and environmental health, and civil and human rights.” Their written features are generally 4,000-5,000 words and, according to their pitch guide, they typically pay $3,000-$6,000 (including travel and reporting expenses). For more information, refer to their pitch guide.

5. The Real News Network is an independent, nonprofit news network that is focused on providing uncompromising and fact-based journalism. They cover politics, prisons and policing, racial justice, climate crisis, and economy and inequality. According to their pitch guide, they pay $250–$400 for Short News Article / Dispatch; $400–$600 for Standard Reported Story; $600–$1,200 for In-Depth Feature; $1,200–$2,000+ for Investigative Series or Special Assignment; and $200–$350 for Op-Ed / Commentary. To learn more, refer to this page.

6. Jamestown China Brief offers deep, timely, and fact-based analysis of China’s economic, political, and security issues. They want articles that use primary and indigenous sources of information. They strongly discourage heavy reliance on secondary sources of information. According to their pitch guide, they pay an honorarium of $400 for full-length published articles. Full-length submissions should be 1,500 to 2,000 words. Briefs should be 800 to 1,000 words. For more information, refer to their pitch guide and this page.

7. Overland is a magazine of cultural criticism, essays, and literature. They are interested in articles on economic inequality, housing, arts policy and governance, climate change, and environmental justice. They are looking for thoughtful, provocative and argumentative articles, pieces that will provoke discussion and debate. Articles should be 800 to 1200 words. According to their pitch guide, they pay $170 per published online piece.

8. Governing provides news, analysis and insights for the people making government work. It is a trusted source of record for people who lead, manage and direct public agencies as they work towards well-managed, vibrant and resilient communities. They welcome pitches from journalists for stories and features on issues of interest to state and local government, including the effects of dramatic changes in technology, demography, climate and the economy that are driving societal transformation, as well as explorations of politics, policy, public management, infrastructure, public finance, social issues and economic development. They pay freelancers competitively. To learn more, refer to this page.