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Vox Media is proud to reintroduce its Writers Workshop for its second year. The fully remote program pairs 15 Vox Media editors and reporters with 15 talented people pursuing a career in journalism, and is designed to connect those who are historically underrepresented in media with opportunities to work with industry leaders and sharpen their skills. People transitioning into the industry, rising college seniors, recent graduates, and those looking to jumpstart their careers are encouraged to apply.
Applications for the 2022 cohort are open from now until Sunday, May 22nd. Those selected will be notified by June 3rd. Visit the application here.
The workshop helps those enrolled hone their reporting, story building, and pitching skills. They will also learn how to navigate the media industry while building relationships with expert voices across Vox Media’s respected newsrooms. This year’s workshop takes places remotely and includes 1:1 mentorship with industry leaders Morgan Baila, senior news editor, Vulture; Marisa Carroll, features editor, New York Magazine; Serena Maria Daniels, Detroit city editor, Eater; Hector Diaz, manager, social, SB Nation; Corin Faife, senior reporter, The Verge; Elena Goukassian, copy editor, New York Magazine; Emily St. James, senior correspondent, Vox; Dee Lockett, senior editor, New York Magazine; Michael Mahardy, senior editor, Polygon; Justin Miller, deputy editor, Intelligencer; Zosha Millman, TV editor, Polygon; Sie Morley, community editor, SB Nation; Choire Sicha, editor at large, New York Magazine, Lissa Soep, senior editor, Vox Media Podcast Network, and Tae Yoon, New York editor, Thrillist.
Each mentor will work with one person to help them develop, refine, and strengthen story ideas they want to pitch to internal and/or external publications. Story pitches picked up by Vox Media publications will be paid the standard freelance fee for those respective brands. The 2021 mentors helped their mentees successfully pitch over a dozen stories on topics such as the lingering trauma protesters face (Vox), Silicon Valley’s Koreatown (Eater), sustainable prayer rugs (Vox) — as well as to external publications like Elle and Nerd Street.
“Pursuing a career in media can be intimidating, especially when you don’t see yourself reflected in the people who dominate the industry,” said Mariya Abdulkaf, Senior Producer at The Verge and founder of the Writers Workshop. “Our hope is that this program helps chip away at barriers to entry for underrepresented communities, and better connect them to opportunities to have their work published here at Vox Media, and at high-profile outlets across the country.”
“At Vox Media we are always looking at how to build a better media industry and improve what’s now, what’s next, and what’s possible,” said Pam Wasserstein, President of Vox Media. “Through the Writers Workshop we are excited to offer support to a new cohort of journalists and help give them the tools they need to bring visibility to their work in an ever-changing media industry.”
Mentees will also have the opportunity to join exclusive Q&A sessions with Vox Media editors-in-chief and senior reporters. This year’s sessions will feature Sarah Jeong, deputy features editor, The Verge; Amanda Kludt, group publisher of Eater, POPSUGAR, Punch, and Thrillist; Nilay Patel, editor-in-chief, The Verge; Lindsay Peoples, editor-in-chief, The Cut; Sam Sanders, podcast host, New York Magazine; Swati Sharma, editor-in-chief, Vox, and Sade Strehlke, editor-in-chief, POPSUGAR.
The program will be held remotely over the course of the summer on select dates between June and August.
Fifteen slots are available for talented individuals who are interested in exploring a career in journalism. Applicants with interests in a variety of coverage areas and a diverse range of experiences are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates have a passion for storytelling, enthusiasm for developing their reporting and writing skills, and are collaborative and open to getting feedback to improve their work.
This is not a full-time commitment, but applicants must be able to attend all three remote workshops (dates listed below).
Workshop 1 | Developing a story idea & identifying sources
Wednesday, June 15, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET
Workshop 2 | How to pitch your stories
Wednesday, July 13, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET
Workshop 3 | Networking in journalism
Wednesday, August 10, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. E
Applications for the 2022 cohort are open from now until Sunday, May 22nd. Those selected will be notified by June 3rd. Visit the application here.
About Vox Media
Vox Media is the leading modern media company, reaching audiences everywhere they are.
Known for editorial properties including Vox, SB Nation, New York Magazine, The Dodo, and NowThis, the company’s portfolio features the most relevant, respected, and engaging editorial properties and voices. The company is also home to award-winning storytelling businesses such as Vox Media Studios and the Vox Media Podcast Network, as well as innovative technologies that support the entire media industry, including the Concert advertising marketplace.
Vox Media proves that quality can scale.
About Vox Media Corporate Citizenship
Vox Media’s corporate citizenship is built on the belief that, as the leading modern media company, it is our responsibility to build a better media industry.
At Vox Media we are committed to building and sustaining a company and an industry that is diverse, inclusive, and safe for our people and our audiences. As a community of journalists and storytellers, business professionals, creators and technologists, we believe it is a moral and business imperative to amplify voices, share our best practices, and give back to our industry and the communities we live and work in.
