Want to get to paid to write about politics?
Maybe you’re one of those news junkies who follows government trends, key political players, or the issues and policies that have an impact on everyday people.
Find a fresh angle, and you can get paid to write about it.
As a newbie freelancer, I was able to get paid to write a political piece for a national magazine. More about that later.
Maybe you want to get paid to write about your political views, opinions, and life experiences impacted by politics and government. There’s a market for that.
And if you’re interested in finding freelance writing jobs and digging deep into government and politics as an investigative journalist, feature writer, or contributing freelancer, you can find political markets to get paid to write those types of articles, too.
Check out this list of political writing markets, study the guidelines, start pitching, and get paid to write:
1. The American Conservative
Interested in political writing from a conservative perspective? You’ll need solid journalism skills to report and write about current events, trends and issues for The American Conservative, a magazine published by the American Ideas Institute.
“We believe in constitutional government, fiscal prudence, sound monetary policy, clearly delineated borders, protection of civil liberties, authentically free markets, and restraint in foreign policy mixed with diplomatic acuity,” says editor Robert Merry.
Rates: Pays $150 and up depending on assignment.
2. The Atlantic
If you want to write for The Atlantic, a magazine that covers news and analysis on politics, business, culture, technology, national, international and political life, read this by former Atlantic staffer Garance Franke-Ruta: “How (not) to pitch: A guide for freelance writers.”
FYI – The Atlantic is also open to working with new freelancers. It’s where I landed my first magazine assignment as a newbie for a piece about the career trajectory of Donald Trump that landed him in the White House.
Want to write for The Atlantic? Study the magazine and pitch an idea with a query first.
Rates: Pays $150 to $1,600 depending on assignment.
3. New Statesman
This progressive-thinking political magazine, based in the United Kingdom, has been covering politics and issues from around the world for more than 100 years.
“Timely, well-written contributions that bring a new angle to topics within the New Statesman‘s remit,” says editor Jason Cowley. “Make sure you’re familiar with the website and what we cover before pitching – following us on Twitter is a good way of doing this.”
Have a story idea for The New Statesman? Pitch editors Julia Rampen or George Eaton.
Rates: Pays $150.00 to $300.00 per article.
4. Salon.com
Salon.com was born from the slow-and-steady demise of traditional print newspapers, and covers politics and other topics with investigative reporting, commentary, criticism, and provocative personal essays. Pitch story ideas to Managing Editor Erin Keane. Note: If you can, be sure to mention you can provide video clips.
Rates: Pays $150 and up, depending on assignment.
5. The National Review
You’ll only find conservative-focused articles in this 60-year-old magazine that features news and commentary pieces on political, social, and cultural affairs.
Want to write for The National Review? Pitch Senior Editor Richard Brookhiser, but current issues and read The Magazine’s Credenda first.
6. Slate
Got a knack for writing witty and opinionated analysis pieces about political issues? That’s the Slate’s niche in the world of online journalism.
“We are a general-interest publication offering analysis and commentary about politics, news, business, technology, and culture,” says Editor-in-Chief Julia Turner.
Pitch story ideas to Political Editor Reid Pillifant.
Rates: Pays $0.23 per word.
7. The Sun
Here’s an interesting way to differentiate yourself as a news and literary magazine…no advertising. That’s the Sun’s approach to focus on great writing.
This magazine has been around for 40 years, and is looking for essays, interviews, and story ideas about political and cultural issues.
“We’ve been described in many ways,” says Editor and Publish Sy Safransky. “Celebratory, fierce, unflinching, thoughtful, truthful, dark, darkly funny, tender.”
And it shows in recent articles on wealth and poverty, Donald Trump as a taboo topic at work, inequalities in education, and much more.
Rates: Pays $300 to $2,000 per assignment.
8. Washington Monthly
Class warfare, the latest insights on the Nunes memo and the FBI, party battles over climate change, and rural America in the 21st century. Those are the kinds of reported stories you’ll find in the Washington Monthly.
And if you have an idea for an investigative piece, opinion-based feature, or even book reviews of political titles, pitch Editor Gilad Edelman.
Rates: Pays $0.10/word
9. Tablet
Do you know where politics and Jewish life intersect? Then pitch a story idea to Tablet, a daily online magazine of Jewish news, ideas, and culture.
Recent freelance political pieces published in Tablet include: “Three theories of the rise of Trump,” “George Loinger’s simple game of catch,” “Mob rule,” among others.
Query news and politics editor Matthew Fishbane, and include a brief summary of your story idea, bio, and writing experience.
Rates: Pays $150 and up depending on assignment.
10. Vox First Person
Got a political view and personal experience you’d like to share and get paid to write? Vox First person wants to hear from you. This news-opinion-style site welcomes opinion-focused articles, essays, and points of view that help explain politics and current events from a first-person perspective.
Rates: Pays $150 and up.
11. Liberal America
When Texas-born Tiffany Willis Clark spent time working with disadvantaged and oppressed populations, the elderly, people living in poverty, at-risk youth, and the unemployed, it changed the way she sees the world. And it’s one reason why she founded Liberal America.
This site covers political and social issues liberals care about. And if you have an idea for a story, send your pitch to tiff@liberalamerica.org.
Rates: Pays $50 and up.
12. PoliZette
PoliZette is a division of LifeZette, and features political articles that offer commentary, insight, and explanation of the sometimes crazy world of politics. Pitch story ideas to Senior Editor Mark Tapscott. But do your homework, he’s a guy who’s been on the front lines of political journalism for more than 30 years.
Rates: Pays $100 to $200 per assignment.
13. New York Observer
Like writing about the latest news from the White House? Or have an inside scoop, opinion, or point of view about New York politics? If you can write for a “sophisticated readership of metropolitan professionals,” pitch an idea to Contributors Editor Kelsey Smith.
Rates: Pays $100 per assignment.
14. The Progressive
If you want to write about the people, events, and issues shaping social and economic justice, civil liberties, human rights, the environment, and democracy, pitch a story idea to Managing Editor Bill Lueders at The Progressive.
Rates: $50 to $1,300 per assignment.
15. The Nation
“We are a weekly journal of left/liberal opinion, covering national and international affairs as well as the arts publishing in both print and digitally,” says Editor and Publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel.
The Nation was founded on principles of investigative journalism and old-school reporting. Stories include analysis of breaking news, politics, social issues and the arts. Check The Masthead to pitch the appropriate editor.
Rates: $225 and up per assignment.
Get paid to write about politics
If political writing is your thing, or you want to break into this niche, and get paid to write, you can. Here’s how:
- Find a market (these are just a few of many political markets where you can get paid to write).
- Study the guidelines.
- Read articles on the publication’s website/and or back issues.
- Come up with a fresh angle or story idea.
- Write a query and pitch your idea.
And in case you haven’t noticed, there’s ample story ideas out there to get paid to write about politics.
What political markets have you written for? Let’s discuss on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Douglas Fitzpatrick is a freelance writer based in Dallas, Texas.
