Pitches Wanted (History, True Crime, Subcultures, etc.) (Worldwide) | $2 per word

Ted Scheinman, Senior Editor at Smithsonian Magazine, is looking for pitches: Writers, I'm doing my semi-regular call for print pitches. To help you target those pitches, I'll describe three history-focused departments where I'm particularly open to freelance ideas:
- For American Icon, the ~750-word essay that opens each issue of the magazine, I'm always looking for smart pitches that highlight some cultural product, structure, foodstuff, etc. that is uniquely and revealingly American (and for which there’s a timely or novel angle!)
- For shortish features in the front of the book, I'm looking for rich narratives that involve some manner of new historical discovery or interpretation. here's one great example (by VanessaBraganza): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/secret-codes-lady-wroth-first-female-english-novelist-180978365/
- Single-pages — got a good Weird History story that would work in short form? A story that involves a smart graphic or infographic treatment? hit me up! Three good examples: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ohio-golf-course-hopewell-earthwork-subject-lawsuit-180976653/

..and of course I'm also open to pitches for longer features, too, including:

- true crime (https://smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/theft-carnegie-library-books-maps-artworks-180975506/)
- fascinating journeys into subcultures (https://smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/california-search-for-ultimate-wild-fig-heats-up-180979538/)
- profiles that helps us see the natural world in a new way (https://smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-old-man-and-the-tree-180979242/).

No deadline — these departments appear in each issue of the magazine. You can email scheinmant@si.edu.

Rate: In print, usually $2 per word. Open to international writers? Yes indeed!
- Submissions: scheinmant@si.edu
- Website: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/