30 News Publications Paying for Solutions Journalism

Today, we’ve compiled a list of publications that pay for solutions focused journalism.

We’ve researched payment rates and contact information for these publishers, so you can easily contact the right editor.

This is curated from our members-only database of publishers, which includes 2,000+ publishers. If you want full access to the database, be sure to become a paid Litworth subscriber.

For those interested in learning more about solutions journalism, I highly encourage you to take a look at the Solutions Journalism Network. The website has many resources, as well as a very comprehensive directory of published stories, which serves as a valuable resource for finding publications that may be worth pitching. If you’d like to learn more about solutions journalism, they have a free two hour course here.

The Wire China

The Wire China is a weekly news publication focused on understanding and explaining China’s economic rise, and its influence on global business, finance, trade, labor and the environment. They accept pitches only for longform cover stories. They want big stories that give answers -- and solutions. The articles run from 2,500 to 3,500 words. They list pay as "very competitive", which presumably means they pay at least $1 per word, if not significantly more. To learn more, read their pitching guidelines.

Prism

Prism is an independent, nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color. They elevate “stories, ideas, and solutions from leaders, thinkers, and activists whose voices are critical to a reflective democracy.” They especially encourage pitches from BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+ people, and others from historically oppressed communities. They are seeking pitches for their news section, features stories, op-eds, explainers, and stories for their Right to Write project. According to their pitch guide, they pay 50 cents per word.

Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR)

Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) is a quarterly print magazine and website that covers “cross-sector solutions to global problems.” They are based at Stanford University’s Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. They aim to inform leaders of social change. For the print magazine, they accept 6 types of editorial articles: book review (1,700 words), case study (4,000-6,000 words), feature (4,500-6,000 words), field report (1,700 words), viewpoint (1,500 words), and what's next (700-800 words). For the website, they look for shorter works (1,200-2,000 words). According to an old tweet by their editor, they pay $600 for 800-word articles and $1,500 for 1,700-word articles. They pay $600 for 1,700-word book reviews. For more information, refer to their submission guidelines.

Grist

Grist is a non-profit online publication that covers climate and sustainability. They welcome “a wide range of freelance pitches, from reported essays to in-depth investigations to changemaker profiles and Q&As.” Their “core topics include clean energy, sustainable food, environmental justice, livable communities, and reinventing the economy through cutting-edge science and cleantech.” Articles range between ​800 to 2,000 words. According to their guidelines, pay starts at $0.80 per word. Details here.