Hi! 👋🏾 We’re Prism, an independent, nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color. Our mission is to share stories from grassroots perspectives. Our reporting aims to challenge damaging narratives and empower social justice movements. You can read more about our mission here.

We believe journalism is a powerful tool for our vision for collective liberation and justice, and we believe that people on the frontlines of injustice are also closest to the solutions. That’s why we want to hear from you. Prism features perspectives and stories that are most often left out of mainstream news coverage, so we especially encourage pitches from BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+ people, and others from historically oppressed communities. Whether from emerging voices or experienced writers, we’re interested in well-researched, topical pieces with a compelling voice and strong narrative.

Prism accepts pitches that cover issues across the U.S., U.S. territories, and wherever the direct consequences of U.S. policy and imperialism are felt.

How to pitch to Prism

Please review our pitch guidelines below and pitch Prism using this form. We will no longer be accepting submissions via editors’ emails and previous pitch inboxes.

Prism works a 4-day workweek and we are closed on Fridays. If your pitch has been accepted, you will hear from us within one to two weeks. We are currently unable to respond to every submission. 

Pay for accepted pitches is $0.50/word paid within 15 business days upon publication.  To learn more about the kinds of stories we’re looking for, check out our latest coverage and commentary, and follow us on Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook to get a sense of our community and what moves us.

Before pitching to Prism, please consider the following:

• What is missing from the reporting you currently see on this topic? What are the coverage gaps or gaps in information? What analysis is missing, and what historical grounding is absent? What is the root cause of the problem? 
• What community is most impacted by the news, and are they centered in existing reporting? 
• Who are the most vulnerable people impacted by this news, policy, etc., and how is it playing out in their lives?
• What people or grassroots organizations have been working on these issues for a long time but are absent from the conversation? 
• What people/grassroots organizations know more about this subject than I do, and who can provide additional insights into what is happening?

NOTE: Review Prism’s code of ethics section on AI and generative AI here. Prism does not utilize generative AI tools (such as Chat GPT, DALL-E, or Midjourney) to create original content, pitches for articles, or images because these tools can create inaccurate or biased information. Our commitment is to human-authored, fact-checked journalism from pitch to publication. Pitches generated by AI will be automatically declined without response.

New to pitching? Here are basic outlines for story and article types

News

News stories answer “Who, what, when, where, and why.” These stories include original reporting and explain what happened and why it matters. News stories are usually time-sensitive.

Features

Features stories are longer, reported pieces with a stronger narrative framework. Key Elements are character-driven, have a strong sense of place, and dive deep into issues and systems.

Op-eds

Op-eds are informative, persuasive articles that advocate for a specific point of view or position. They include a distinct perspective and arguments grounded in facts and backed up with sources, and they anticipate counterarguments. Op-eds are usually time-sensitive and responsive to events and policies. 

Q&As

Q&A articles typically begin with an introduction that sets the context and establishes the framework for the discussion. The conversational exchange between the subject and the reporter is designed to capture the unique personalities involved, adding depth and authenticity to the dialogue.

Explainers

An explainer aims to provide in-depth analysis, context, and understanding of complex or significant news stories. Explainers break down intricate topics, events, or issues into simpler terms, making them more accessible to the general audience.

Personal Essays

Personal essays are grounded in a personal narrative. These may include anecdotes or “scenes” and tie the personal story to larger societal issues.

Right to Write

Our Right to Write (R2W) project welcomes stories from across our verticals and coverage areas from the currently or formerly incarcerated, as well as the proxy journalists, writers, organizations, and community members working with incarcerated writers. These stories can be personal essays, op-eds, features, reported news stories, or explainers. We accept pitches, complete drafts, and as-told-to pieces. All stories must be under 1,600 words.