Freelance with Us!

There is ample good happening around which we haven’t covered yet. Ranging from individual actions to community-level intervention, there are umpteen stories from the grassroots that can inspire others. We are looking to bring such stories from remote, untapped areas to light.

We are inviting freelance reporters, writers and journalists with a tad bit of experience in the industry to become a part of our mission. If fetching and writing such stories excites you, you are the right place!

How does it work?

Sign up for your Interest
Fill up the form at the end of this page with your details for us to understand why you would an amazing addition to the team.
Pitch a Story
The team approves your profile after a robust review of the filled form. Once selected, you need to pitch your stories in the prescribed format.
Review of the pitched story
The suggested story undergoes due diligence and scrutiny after which it is assigned to you with a deadline.
Submit your Story
Complete the assigned story within the stipulated time adhering to the guidelines given by the Editorial Team
Review of Performance
The team reviews your performance and decides your final per word pay.
Your work begins
Now you can start off with the work and pitch us positive stories from anywhere and everywhere.
Terms and Conditions
  • You’ll be remunerated monthly. The pay gets dispensed on the 5th of every month.
  • For every article draft, we will suggest at least one revision.
  • We pay Rs. 150 for originally captured photographs.
  • The team will prompt if the submitted article looks incomplete, or has inadequate information. In such cases, there’ll be more revisions.
  • Inefficiency in responding to repeated prompts will nullify the assigned task.
  • The pay will be based on the number of words in the final edited article, irrespective of the length of the submitted article.
  • In case the article doesn’t get published, we assure a minimum pay equivalent of 500 words for the assigned tasks.
  • There is a ceiling of 800 words for commissioned articles. So even if the final article is more than 1000 words, the writer will be paid as per 800 words.
  • All decisions regarding the story are at the discretion of the Editorial Team.
  • The writer needs to raise an invoice after submitting the final draft in favour of TOC Media Private Limited.
FAQs
Who can apply?
We are looking to work with people who have worked for a while in the industry and hold some expertise as a journalist/content writer.
How much is the writer paid?
When the story pitch is approved,  you are under probation for the first article. For this assignment you will be commisioned Rs. 1.5 per word. The team will review your work and a final per word pay would be decided for your future assignments. The final per word pay would be between Rs. 1.5 to 5.
Are the reporters paid for submitting a story suggestion?
No, there is no pay for suggesting a story.
Can I repost the final article to my blog/website?
An article once edited is owned by The Optimist Citizen  and all rights to it’s publishing remain with it. You can, however, feel free to share the story link with relevant captions/brief.
If I find a good story from a remote area, can The Optimist Citizen reimburse my travel and accommodation while doing the story?
No, we don’t pay for the travel and accomodation of reporters for any story.
What kind of stories can I suggest?
We are more of a solutions-centered newspaper. Hence, would be really kicked about getting stories from grassroot levels about interventions that are solving some relevant crisis. We also prefer suggestions that would be time relevant and have a fresh narrative. It’s recommended you visit our website and get a fair idea of what stories we write.

You are one step away from becoming a contributor to this positive revolution. Sign up for to write with us.

SIgn Up to Freelance with us