If you’re reading this, chances are you live in the Bay Area. And if you live in the Bay Area, chances are you have a funny, wild, sad, or helpful story that the world should read. And we want to help you tell it.

The main mission of The Bold Italic, an online magazine owned by Medium, is to celebrate the freewheeling spirit of San Francisco and the Bay Area at large. We want to be a place where locals—including natives, those who have been here for a while, and new transplants—can turn for fresh, compelling, and unexpected stories about where they live. We share perspectives that people can relate to, inspire them, make them laugh, and challenge them to think about something differently.

At TBI, we’re always looking to work with freelance reporters who want to contribute reported or personal articles to the magazine. But you don’t need to be a professional writer to write a story for TBI—if you’ve got something compelling to say and can write about it well, we want to hear from you too.

Recently, that’s meant showcasing tales from a local nanny, how one resident invited everyone in her apartment building over to her place, why it’s still difficult to pee in public as a transgender woman, and what it’s like to be black in SF. Niche or broad, sad or happy, funny or serious: as long as you have something meaningful to say that hasn’t been said elsewhere, get in touch—we’re always seeking new and diverse voices.

Because of that, we believe it’s important that we be as open and transparent as possible about how you can work with us. This post is intended to do just that: lay out what kinds of pieces we’re looking for and the best ways to pitch us. Whether or not you’re a professional writer, we encourage you to read through this before sending us your brilliant idea.

What We’re Looking For

In-depth Reported Pieces

From those with journalism experience, we seek stories that take a step back from the daily deluge of news and explore fresh angles and haven’t been written about elsewhere (you’ll find good examples in this in-depth look into Oakland’s decriminalization of magic mushrooms or this deep dive into how bots have taken over camping reservation systems.)

Personal Essays

Showcasing first-person accounts from the people who live here is a large part of what we do. We’re always looking for colorful and unique essays that make us laugh, lead us to tears, or blow our minds. Our essays range from the lighthearted (read: the struggles of entertaining a Midwestern dad in SF) to the deeply moving (such as this story about the time a man accidentally killed someone).

Unpopular Opinions

We’re all about hearing from people with a fierce and passionate argument, especially if it goes against the status quo. You should have authority in the topic you’re writing about and make sure that your opinion is backed up with facts and cohesive reasoning. In TBI, people have argued for the democratization of egg freezing, why Muni matters in the age of Uber and Lyft, and — to much controversy — why the LA burrito is better than burritos found in the Mission.

Trends

San Franciscans are known for developing obsessions that come and go quicker than the sun on a 59-degree summer day, and the city is often a hub for trends that are about to take off nationally. We’ve recently investigated why artisanal beans are the next Brussels sprouts, reviewed the famous tacro, and dove into some new-age dating shit. Tell us what the next La Croix is.

Profiles

We’re deeply interested in the characters who make our city run — the businesses, the people, the institutions. Our profiles have color, personality, and meaning. We recently ran a feature on La Cocina, a nonprofit incubator that helps low-income women of color; taken a look at a day in the life of a Golden Gate Bridge painter; and told the history of Chinatown’s oldest bakery.

Cultural Commentary

TBI often runs pieces that take a critical look at larger societal issues — whether they involve local politics, technology, policy, gender, race, or other issues. We’ve run an open letter “from your one black friend,” discussed the viability of the “new” East Cut neighborhood, analyzed the culinary state of SF’s Chinatown, and detailed a sweaty experience in a cuddle puddle.

Humor

In these dark political times, it’s nice to laugh once in a while. We’re interested in your quick-witted pieces that are subtle, easily relatable, and hilarious. Take in these examples to get a sense of what we’re going for: “Gmail’s Smart Reply Is Part of Me Now,” “Living in the Redfin Rabbit Hole,” and “How to Ensure You Miss Every Slack Message.”

Questions Answered

We all have those looming questions we’ve never answered. Could you actually live on $100 a month? We answered that. What would happen if a bunch of ladies catcalled men? We tried it. Can you get your pets high? We’ve got the deets. We’re all about busting myths or figuring out something that you and others might ponder, as long as there’s a story behind it.

Not-Basic Listicles and Guides

We don’t run your typical or overly done listicles or guides — the internet has enough of those. Instead, they should have an unexpected twist. For example, we’ve showcased the best places in which to make out in SF, how to dine like a local at Trader Vic’s, and the best museums to visit while stoned. We’re also open to travel and food stories, but again, they should have an angle that we haven’t seen before.

Beyond SF, Beyond the Bay

We cover more than just San Francisco proper; we want to hear stores from the rest of the Bay Area. We’ve recently published pieces on moving from the city to the Peninsula, Vallejo’s struggle with a cement factory, and what it’s like to live in San Jose. We’re also open to more expansive views about California and the West Coast at large if they can still tie in to life in the Bay Area.

Multimedia Journalism

We’re not all text all the time. We’re always looking for ways to tell stories more visually, whether that’s a moving photo essay, a series of comics or illustrations, a video feature, or a set of infographics or interactive graphics.

How to Pitch

Before emailing, familiarize yourself with The Bold Italic’s coverage

Read through our website to get a sense of the types of stories we look for, and read this post in its entirety. Check to see if your topic has been covered by us and other outlets. If it has, note that you’re aware of that in your pitch, and put a different spin on it. Or choose a new topic.

Send an email to TBI’s editors

• Send an email to info@thebolditalic.com.
• Use the subject line “Freelance Pitch: [Article Title].”
• Include a proposed headline and two to three short paragraphs explaining your idea, how you’ll approach the story, whom you’ll interview / talk to (if anyone), and any relevant reason why your story should be written now. Use this part to air your writing style and show us what we can expect from you.
• If you haven’t written for us before, please include a short bio before the pitch, include your Twitter and Medium handles, and share a few writing samples if you have any.
• Keep in mind that we receive a large volume of pitches and will get back to you as soon as we can, usually within a week.
• We pay $200–300 per story depending on the research required for the piece. If you’re interested in pursuing a longer form project that would require more time, we can explore a higher rate.
• If we accept your pitch, we’ll discuss exact rate, deadlines, and the editorial process.

We look forward to reading your ideas. Have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot us a note at info@thebolditalic.com.