The Bold Italic Is Looking for New Voices
A call for contributors and submissions
How do you describe the Bay Area in 2018? You could start with the multitude of crises — lack of housing, dirty streets and the “tech vs. everyone else” culture wars — or you could focus on the people trying to make the city better: the advocates for the underserved, the artists and other creatives who are sticking it out, and the tech workers using innovation for good (yes, they’re out there).
All in all, we may be a region divided in many ways, but we’re all bound by our struggle to remain sane among all the chaos that comes with residing in one of most interesting places on the planet.
For nearly a decade, The Bold Italic has been striving to capture what it’s like to live here — that free-wheeling spirit of San Francisco and the larger Bay Area. The publication started out as an experiment, and we remain proudly unconventional today. Our goal is to bring you new and unexpected perspectives on the serious and the not-so-serious. As TBI’s new editor in chief, I’m making it my first priority is finding new and diverse voices to add to our already fantastic pool of freelance reporters.
That being said, we’re looking for the following:
Contributors. If you’re interested in writing for us regularly—which involves both pitching stories and getting assignments—email info@thebolditalic.com with a paragraph about yourself, recent clips and a few ideas.
One-off submissions. If you don’t necessarily want a contributor role but have an idea for a piece, email info@thebolditalic.com explaining your idea in two to three paragraphs.
Photographers and illustrators. Want to be on our list of people to turn to for visual assignments? Send your portfolio to info@thebolditalic.com.
Before pitching us, please make sure to read through the types of articles we’re looking for below.
Underreported and In-Depth Stories
It’s hard to keep up with the news cycle these days. The beauty of TBI is that we don’t try to. We’re seeking stories that take a step back from the daily deluge and explore fresh angles that haven’t been written about elsewhere (you’ll find good examples in this investigation into the deadly toll of the drug Fentanyl or this data dive into whether Uber and Lyft have actually reduced drunk driving in SF).
Personal Essays
Showcasing first-person accounts from the people who live here is a large part of what we do. We are always looking for colorful and unique essays that make us laugh, lead us to tears or blow our minds. Our essays range from the light-hearted (read: the struggles of entertaining a Midwestern dad in SF) to the deeply moving (such as this story about the time a man accidentally killed someone).
Unpopular Opinions
We’re all about hearing from people with a fierce and passionate argument, especially if it goes against the status quo. You should have authority in the topic you’re writing about and make sure your opinion is backed up with facts and cohesive reasoning. In TBI, people have argued for the democratization of egg freezing, why Muni matters in the age of Uber and Lyft, and — to much controversy — why the LA burrito is better than burritos found in the Mission.
Trends
San Franciscans are known to develop obsessions that come and go quicker than the sun on a 59-degree summer day, and the city is often a hub for trends that are about to take off nationally. We’ve recently investigated why artisanal beans are the next Brussels sprouts, reviewed the famous Tacro and dove into some new-age dating shit. Tell us what the next La Croix is.
Profiles
We’re deeply interested in the characters that make our city run — the businesses, the people, the institutions. Our profiles have color, personality and meaning. We recently ran a feature on La Cocina, a nonprofit incubator that helps low-income women of color; taken a look at a day in the life of a Golden Gate Bridge painter; and told the history of Chinatown’s oldest bakery. Their stories are SF’s stories, and we want to tell them.
Cultural Commentary
TBI often runs pieces that take a critical look at larger societal issues — whether that be local politics, technology trends, policy, gender, race or other issues. We’ve recently run an open letter “from your one black friend,” discussed the viability of the “new” East Cut neighborhood and analyzed the culinary state of SF’s Chinatown.
Humor and Satire
In these dark political times, it’s nice to laugh once in awhile. We’re interested in your satire and quick-witted pieces that are subtle, easily relatable and hilarious. Take in these examples to get a sense of what we’re going for: A Typical San Francisco Friday Night, It’s Time to Leave San Francisco, Gmail’s Smart Reply Is Part of Me Now.
Questions Answered
We all have those looming questions we’ve never answered, such as, Could you actually live on $100 a month? We answered that. What would happen if a bunch of ladies catcalled men? We tried it. Can you get your pets high? We’ve got the deets. We’re all about busting myths or figuring out something you and others might ponder, as long as it’s got a story behind it.
Not-Basic Listicles and Guides
We don’t run your typical or overly done listacles or guides—the Internet has enough of those. Instead, they should have an unexpected twist. For example, we’ve showcased the best places in which to make out in SF, how to dine like a local at Trader Vic’s and the best museums to visit stoned. We’re also open to travel and food stories, but again, they must have an angle that we haven’t seen before.
Beyond SF, beyond the Bay
We cover more than just San Francisco proper; we want to hear stores from the rest of the Bay. We’ve recently published pieces on moving from the city to the Peninsula, documenting Vallejo’s struggle with a cement factory and what it’s like living in San Jose. We’re also open to more expansive views about California and the West Coast at large if they can still tie into life in the Bay.
Multimedia Journalism
We’re not all text all the time. We’re always looking for ways to tell stories more visually, whether that’s a moving photo essay, a series of comics or illustrations, a video feature, a set of infographics or interactive graphics.
How to Pitch Us
Please email all pitches to info@thebolditalic.com. We typically pay $50 per article but can offer more for longer, well-researched pieces. Get in touch, and we can discuss.
We’re grateful to everyone who has published with us in the past and look forward to hearing from more of you.
Cheers,
Clara + the TBI team
