The Vancouver Media Co-op is now paying for stories! For a six month trial period, we'll be requesting pitches from contributors, and paying $100 for one story each month. See below for information on VMC travel subsidies.
We prioritize local stories that examine an underreported issue, and that features interviews and voices that are often marginalized in the media. Stories can be print/online pieces, video reportage, radio pieces, comics, and photo essays.
Some of the issues we'd like to see covered include:
Gentrification in Vancouver // Organizing for migrant justice // Workplace organizing & hotel workers struggles // Projects that create alternatives to capitalism // International solidarity organizing in Vancouver // LGBT-Q organizing and resistance // Disability activism in BC // Organizing for environmental and climate justice in BC // Indigenous struggles in Vancouver and across BC
Pitches are welcome from anyone; but priority for payment goes to those who have previously contributed to the VMC.
To pitch an article, create a profile on the VMC. Once you're logged in to the site, fill out the form on this page:
mediacoop.ca/node/add/pitch
Make sure to select "Vancouver Media Co-op" from the drop-down menu.
If you do not have a Media Co-op account (which you can also use to post photos, audio, video and stories directly to the VMC), you’ll need to set one up:
mediacoop.ca/user
*NOTE* Media Co-op accounts are temporarily being screened for spam, so new contributors who don't yet have an account may not be able to immediately upload their pitches and others may have trouble logging into their profiles. If you encounter any difficulties, please send your pitch directly to vmc@mediacoop.ca
The Vancouver Media Co-op currently pays a flat rate of $100 for accepted stories once they are submitted. Articles should be 650 words and up. A VMC editor will work with each contributor on their story, folks submitting may be asked to edit or rework their pieces if necessary. VMC editor members are not eligible to submit pitches for payment at this time. If your pitch is selected, you will not be eligible to apply for payment the following month.
Pitches should capture the content, tone and style of the story you plan to submit; if the content submitted differs significantly from the pitch, the VMC reserves the right to withhold payment.
Deadline for pitches: January 10
Response to pitches: January 20
First draft deadline for accepted articles: January 30
Final draft deadline: February 5
The next call for pitches will go out in late January.
VMC travel subsidies: The VMC has set aside $300 to provide a travel subsidy for a journalist to work on a story outside of Vancouver once every three months. If you have plans to cover an underreported story outside of Vancouver, please send an outline that includes the story you wish to cover and your estimated budget to vmc@mediacoop.ca. The deadline to apply for the next travel subsidy is March 1, and it will generally be awarded upon completion of the story. At least one original story completed using the travel subsidy must run on the Vancouver Media Co-op.
In solidarity,
The VMC Editorial Collective
The site for the Vancouver local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.