Freelance Contributor (Military/Defense)

Popular Mechanics is seeking a military/defense freelancer to contribute to our website. After working through a piece or two together, if the relationship seems to be fruitful, this person would ideally become a regular contributor. Stories are typically 800-1,200 words and payment is $800/piece.

We're specifically looking for pitches that touch on some of the following:

-Stealth technology

-Emerging technology re: submarines, fighters, aircraft carriers, tanks, etc. (think: what's possible, not just what's practical)

-Big firsts

-Military tech developments coming from U.S. adversaries like Russia, China

-Retellings of significant events in military history (the most expensive plane crash in history, the flight test mechanic who accidentally took a ride on the tail of a plane, etc.)

*This is not a complete list, but should give you an idea of the kinds of stories we want to tell

What we're not looking for:

-Writethroughs (for the most part); we don't always need reporting, but we always want an original idea and research

-Stories focused on strategy (we virtually always let the technology/machine take the lead in our pieces)

-Daily news about the wars in the Middle East or Ukraine

Please send writing samples and pitches to me at courtney.linder@hearst.com.