GGWash is looking for writers! Read our pitch guidelines.

The information contained in this post is no longer up-to-date. To write for GGWash, submit your pitch here.

Great news: we’re expanding our freelance pool!

While volunteer contributions are still a vital part of GGWash’s publication, we recognize the need for more voices in this space. So we are making more room for paid journalists and writers on our site.

GGWash is a mission-driven nonprofit whose publication conducts journalism through the lens of a shared vision for the future.

We’re looking for journalists and opinion writers who can write about urbanism in an engaging, entertaining way – in other words, wow us with your prose game.

What are we looking for?

We want reported features, opinion columns, Q&As, historical pieces, news articles, and briefs that explain the issues, conflicts, changes, and challenges that are happening in the region right now. Some examples of questions we are pondering: How does Metro’s financial health impact transit throughout the region? How the hell did the rent get so high - and what can slow its rise? What will it take to reduce traffic fatalities, injuries and their effects on communities? Where is the region growing and where is it not, and what does that mean for land use, transportation, housing, and climate change? How will the pandemic and shifting work models shape the region?

Below are some examples of the types of content we’re looking for.

“Make it make sense” aka the explainer

How do we explain this? We love a good explainer: an article that unpacks a complex subject in a way we all can understand will go to the front of the line.

We have written explainers, for example, about historic districts, congestion pricing, affordable housing, Business Improvement Districts, and many more.

Hindsight is 20/20

We appreciate articles that look at the past to help us understand moments in the present.

Take this piece about what happened to an all-Black development in Montgomery County. Or this opinion piece explaining the history of zoning in Montgomery County by looking at one house.

We also enjoy multipart series like this one about the history of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library system.

If your historical pieces can help us better understand how our region has grown and developed, we want to hear from you.

News briefs

Articles don’t have to be long to pack a punch. News briefs are a great way to get useful information to readers in a highly digestible package. This article about Metro phasing out its SmarTrip cards is a perfect example. Oftentimes a brief like this one about traffic deaths in DC can update us quickly on things we need to know. Also, with so many transportation, housing, and planning projects in flux, it’s nice to get an update on where something is in the process, like this brief about the latest design plans for Dave Thomas Circle.

Other types of articles

Features that use a forward-looking lens, humor, new research, and other elements can effectively drill down on an issue or problem and help the reader understand it better. GGWash’s publication is looking for features on a variety of topics.

Here’s a piece about how Druid Lake Park Drive, an urban planning nightmare for decades, could be revamped to fit Complete Street principles, and how it could change the lives of residents in surrounding neighborhoods.

A sense of humor can also go a long way — take this housing trend listicle. Here’s a piece about which neighborhood in the region has the highest density. Other great features zero in on new studies and findings, legislation, or find the meaning in meetings.

A viral moment turned into a thought-provoking feature about bike safety, trucks, and who owns the road.

So, what’s the pay?

We offer $300 for pieces between 500-1,000 words (The sweet spot is between 500-750 words). We are also seeking short informative news briefs between 250-450 words at a rate of $150 per piece.

What are the differences between compensated and volunteer contributions?

Volunteer submissions are a crucial part of what we do. We have a long history of providing a high-visibility forum for residents who have something important to share, and we encourage submissions at any time.

Compensated contributions: This is a contractual arrangement. We’ll set deadlines, and expect you to stick to them. We may be more hands-on when it comes to story angles and the editing process. This is a good fit for individuals with journalism or other professional writing experience, though we will gladly consider contributions from others, as well.

Volunteer contributions: For many, volunteer contributions are the best fit.

If you have a personal stake in what you’re writing about – for example, you’re actively advocating for a transportation project in your neighborhood and you want to write about that project and why it matters – a volunteer piece is most appropriate. Or if you are a subject matter expert who has deep insight into a policy or issue, but you are new to writing, a volunteer piece may be a good fit.

Whether you’d rather write when the inspiration strikes, or if you just want to volunteer your time to help this small newsroom, we welcome your contributions.

What’s the best way to write about these topics?

The subjects of our posts represent a range of urbanism-related topics, but the goal of all of them is to help readers learn something new. We want to be sure all Greater Greater Washington posts are conversational in tone; have a headline and a clear introduction that gives readers the most important information upfront; and enough supporting information to help readers understand what they’re reading better.

How to pitch us

Please submit your pitch using our pitch form.