We commission freelance writing — features, reviews, analysis, and reported pieces — on the beats we cover. The pitches that land are specific, on-brand, and written by someone who knows the subject.
What we are looking for
- Features — 800–1,800 words. Argued pieces, reported features, anniversary essays, industry trend analysis. Tell us what the piece is about, why now, who you have spoken to or will speak to, and a sentence on why you are the right person to write it.
- Reviews — 500–900 words. Films, series, shows, and sports moments. We want a clear verdict supported by considered reasoning. Tell us what you have already watched of the title, your angle, and your filing window.
- Reported news features — 1,000–2,200 words. Things that take real reporting — accountability stories, profiles, scene reports. Pitch the angle, the named sources you can already cite, and an outline of where the reporting still needs to go.
- Newsletters and lists — occasional. Pitches welcome.
What we are not looking for
- Listicles padded out from press releases.
- Spoiler explainers for shows that are too small for our audience.
- Speculative AI-generated text. Anything that reads as ChatGPT output will be rejected and the writer will not be commissioned again.
- Old news re-skinned with a new headline.
How to pitch
Email [email protected] with the desk in the subject line, e.g. “PITCH — Sports — Why the IPL purse rules favour all-rounders”. Keep the body to under 250 words. Lead with the angle in one sentence. Include two or three links to your previous work.
If we want to commission, we reply within ten days. If you do not hear back, we have passed; please feel free to take the pitch elsewhere.
Rates and payment
Rates depend on length and reporting required, with reviews paid on the lower end and reported features at the higher end. Specific rate cards are sent with the commission email. Invoices are paid on publication via bank transfer; no Net-90, no kill fee politics.
How we edit
You will work with one editor through the piece. We line-edit for clarity and craft, not to homogenise voice. Headlines are written collaboratively but the desk editor has final call. Fact-check happens before publication under our Fact-Checking Policy.
House style
Active voice. Specific numbers. Real names. A point of view that is grounded in reporting. We use British English with sensible flexibility for South Asian and global subject matter; if you write a Bollywood feature, do not anglicise actor names or location spellings.
Conflicts
Tell us upfront if you have a financial or personal relationship with anyone in your pitch. We are likelier to commission a piece with a declared conflict that we can manage than one we discover later.
Questions about this page?
Email us at [email protected] and a member of the editorial team will get back to you, typically within one business day.