Get Paid Up to $1,000: The Dial is Looking for Writers, Journalists, Critics, Photographers and Translators Worldwide

Overview

The Dial is an international publication seeking story pitches from writers, journalists, critics, photographers, and translators worldwide. The publication focuses on culture, politics, and literature, with a specific emphasis on stories and perspectives originating outside the traditional Anglosphere. This opportunity is well suited for international contributors, essayists, fiction writers, and poets, particularly those based in regions like Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East who have local knowledge of communities, cultural movements, and political developments that receive limited international coverage.

Who can apply

The opportunity is open to international contributors working outside the United States and other English-speaking media centers. Applicants do not need to be traditional news reporters and can include cultural critics, photographers, translators, essayists, fiction writers, and poets. Contributors should possess strong knowledge of local communities, cultural movements, political developments, or literary traditions, and be able to demonstrate why they are well-placed to tell the proposed story.

What you get

Selected contributors receive payment for accepted work. Original reporting and standard reporting or criticism features can earn approximately $800 to $1,000, with earnings reaching up to $1,000 per article. Literary submissions and unpublished works have different compensation tiers, ranging from approximately $250 to $400 depending on the type of contribution. Rates may vary based on the specific format, assignment, and editorial arrangement.

Requirements

Submissions can include original reporting, essays, cultural criticism, fiction, poetry, and literary translations. Features typically range between approximately 2,000 and 3,000 words, though length depends on the scope of the proposed work. Pitches should present a clear story or argument, explain why the piece matters to an international audience, and outline the contributor's relevant expertise, access to sources, or personal connection to the story.

How to apply

Interested individuals should review the publication's official website, About page, and submission guidelines before submitting a pitch. Contributors need to develop an original idea fitting the publication's focus on culture, politics, and literature, clearly communicating the relevance of the story to a global audience. Applicants must submit their pitches according to the publication's stated process and confirm payment terms directly with the organization.

Key dates

There is no specific closing deadline for this ongoing call for international pitches.