| Employer | The Cap Times |
|---|---|
| Location | Remote |
| Type | Part time |
| Apply by | Deadline not specified—Apply ASAP! |
| More details | https://captimes.com/about/pitch-us-freelance-stories/article_4c06650f-ef9b-46a3-8e53-61695219caff.h |
| Posted on | June 16, 2025 |
Description
The Cap Times employs a team of reporters, editors and visual journalists to produce award-winning local journalism. We also welcome pitches from freelance journalists to complement our coverage.
If you’re a freelance journalist interested in working with the Cap Times, here’s what to know:
Our typical rate for a freelance story ranges from $100 for short assignments like reviews to $150 for news articles with several sources. The rate for more in-depth reporting, such as a 2,000-word cover story, can range from $500 to $700. Rates are determined by assigning editors on a case-by-case basis.
To share your story pitch with an editor, contact either Editor Mark Treinen, News and Investigations Editor Keegan Kyle, or Food and Culture Editor Lindsay Christians. Only submit pitches to editors via email. Please don’t contact editors by phone with pitch ideas.
Make sure your pitch addresses questions such as: What the story is about? Why write it now? What sources of information will you rely on? How will this story break new ground or advance from previous reporting? Why should readers care? How is this a Madison story?
Your pitch should also outline a proposed timeline for filing and note any key dates. If the story may require additional resources, such as photography, language interpretation and/or archive access, let us know.
If you’re new to working with the Cap Times, please tell us about yourself and why you’re qualified to write this story. A link to or example of previous reporting can be helpful to understanding your background.
Journalists from historically underrepresented communities are encouraged to submit story pitches. The Cap Times is committed to reducing career barriers for women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities and other journalists who have been underrepresented in news coverage.
If an editor approves your pitch, you must complete a freelance contract and payment forms to get paid. Payment is distributed after stories are submitted and accepted by editors. In some cases, editors may request additional work before accepting a story, such as revisions or verifying information with another source.
The Cap Times expects freelance journalists to operate with the same set of ethics and principles that apply to staff reporters. For example, we seek out primary sources for statements of fact and avoid relying on second- and third-hand sources.
If you have additional questions about freelance reporting for the Cap Times, please contact an editor via email.