Freelance Lifestyle & Entertainment Writer

At Narcity, we’re building the future of local media, and we want you to be a part of our Global Neighbourhood. Narcity Media is a digital-only media publication that owns and operates Narcity.com and MTLBlog.com. Our staff and network of world-class creators interact with millions of Millennials and Gen Zs monthly through our websites, social channels, mobile apps, syndication partners and email subscriptions.

Our audience is interested in the national, the local and the hyper-local — simultaneously. That is why our teams of writers, editors and content creators keep our audience informed on everything from breaking news and trending content to the best travel spots to add to your bucket list and restaurants to eat at. Readers may come to Narcity to find out where to go for dinner, but they’ll leave with information on the biggest stories of the day to talk about over their meal.

Narcity Media’s Editorial team is made up of energetic multi-platform content creators who know how to engage with Gen Z and Millennial readers, helping them discover the undiscovered by highlighting the most interesting news, places, people and ideas in their cities and beyond.

Your mission:

Narcity Media is looking for motivated and experienced Freelance Lifestyle & Entertainment Writers to contribute to our editorial team, with a focus on those based in one of the following markets:

Canada

Toronto
Vancouver
Montreal
Edmonton
Ottawa
Calgary

USA

Texas (Dallas, Austin, Houston)
Georgia (Savannah, Atlanta)
Florida (Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa)
California (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco)
Arizona (Phoenix)

We are seeking storytellers with experience writing SEO-focused lifestyle & entertainment content who are excited to create engaging and relatable stories for Narcity.com. They should be able to engage both locals and readers from outside their market.

The Freelance Writers should be able to cover everything from the local lives of celebrities and athletes to stories around dating, health, fitness, beauty and interiors in our cities, publishing stories like these:

I Spent $40 On Home Decor At Dollarama & The Before & After Pics Are So Satisfying (PHOTOS)
9 Unwritten Toronto Dating Rules Every Newcomer Should Know Before A First Date
A Toronto Plastic Surgeon Reveals Which Surgeries She Performs The Most & How Much They Cost
15 Big-Name Hollywood Celebs That Sometimes Call Ontario Home In The Summer (PHOTOS)
I Compared Goodlife Fitness To LA Fitness In Toronto & Here's Which One I'll Be Signing Up For

We’re looking for writers with a strong network of sources in the lifestyle & entertainment sectors and a knack for finding unique local or national angles that will resonate with what our Gen Z and Millennial audiences are searching for.

The writers should have a record of publishing original, exclusive, or timely stories while being equally passionate about producing evergreen, search-focused content.

Before pitching, please visit our sites to get a feel for what kind of content we publish: Narcity Canada & Narcity USA.

What you’ll do:

Research and write SEO-focused lifestyle & entertainment articles that drive reader engagement and grow Narcity’s audience with compelling packaging
Consistently demonstrate a deep knowledge of what is happening and trending in your market
Maintain a strong network of local sources in the relevant industries
Deliver on Narcity’s voice and tone and respect SEO, brand and quality guidelines
Ensure all information is properly cited and factually accurate

Your qualifications:

Exceptional verbal and written English skills
Experience writing lifestyle & entertainment content for a digital publisher
An education in Journalism, Communications, or a related field is considered an asset
Knowledge of SEO best practice & experience optimizing content for search
Availability to contribute on a regular basis and deliver to tight deadlines
Familiarity with various style guides, especially AP Style, an asset

Position type & story rates

This is a freelance position that will be compensated on a per-story basis. Rates will be agreed upon when a pitch is accepted. Currently, our rates fall between $50 and $300 CAD depending on the article topic, length, and the amount of work involved.

How to pitch/apply:

Please send an email to pitches@narcitymedia.com with the following:

At least 3 lifestyle & entertainment story ideas targeted towards Narcity readers, including:
Proposed headlines (make sure to familiarize yourself with how we do headlines at Narcity)
A few sentences on each idea, including what makes the article original/unique, who you would speak to, who your sources would be, etc.
At least 3 links to previously published work relevant to Narcity’s coverage
An updated CV or link to your LinkedIn profile
Links to your social media handles to help us get a sense of your voice & personality
Your availability for assignments (how many pieces per week/month are you able to contribute?)
Your willingness/ability to distribute content created for Narcity on your own personal social channels (X, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)

*P.S. We really, really love PDF CVs. it allows candidates to truly showcase their talents in the format they have chosen to display them. Follow this link to learn how to convert your resume into a PDF.

What happens after I pitch?

If we love your pitches, our Editors will be in touch with you to arrange a paid trial assignment and discuss story structure, word count, deadline, and the fee for your work.

If your trial is successful, you’ll be fully onboarded as a Narcity Freelancer!

If your pitches aren't in line with what we're currently looking for, we’ll let you know, and always aim to provide some feedback.

All submitted work must abide by Narcity’s Editorial Standards.

Equal Access and Opportunity Commitment:

Narcity Media is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage our people to grow and thrive by being their true selves. We are committed to removing systemic barriers in the workplace and building a company that reflects the community that we serve at every level. We are devoted to building a company that is part of the solution and not the problem.

The same goes for our applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at Narcity Media regardless of age, national origin, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, socioeconomic status, or marital status. If you need any accommodations at any stage of the recruitment or onboarding process, please contact us at people@narcitymedia.com

If this resonates with who you are, get in touch — we can’t wait to talk with you!