First For News accepts work from outside contributors: freelance journalists, working professionals with substantive expertise, founders and executives with real perspective on their industries, and academics whose work translates for a general readership. This page describes the submission practice.
What the Publication Publishes
Reported features and analysis pieces on subjects the publication covers (national news, politics and policy, business and the economy, technology, health and science, lifestyle, culture).
Opinion pieces from contributors with real credentials and a clear argumentative line.
First-person essays with a fresh voice or a specific angle other outlets have missed.
Practical reporting on regional and state-level stories that connect to bigger national questions.
What the Publication Declines
Promotional material framed as journalism.
Submissions composed primarily of AI-generated text, without substantive original reporting or expertise.
Pieces already published elsewhere, or shopped to multiple outlets without disclosure.
Material that violates copyright, includes unverified claims about identifiable individuals, or otherwise falls short of the publication's accuracy and sourcing standards.
Submission Standards
Length: most contributed reported pieces run 800 to 1,800 words. Opinion pieces run 600 to 1,200 words. Longer is fine when the subject warrants; shorter is fine when the point is sharp.
Style: clear, direct, and accessible to a general readership.
Sources: link to primary sources, public records, and underlying studies where possible.
Bio: include a two-sentence biographical note with the relevant credentials, current affiliations, and any disclosures appropriate to the subject.
Format: send drafts as plain text, a Google Doc link, or an attached Word document. Images attached separately, with caption and credit.
How to Pitch
Pitches and completed drafts go to [email protected] with a clear subject line. A short pitch of two or three paragraphs explaining the piece, why now, and why you are the writer for it is often more useful than a finished draft, and typically saves both parties time. Please include links to two or three pieces of prior published work where available.
Editorial Process
If an editor is interested, you will receive a reply, typically within five to seven business days. Accepted pieces go through one or two rounds of edits before publication. The editorial team may suggest cuts, request additional sourcing, or recommend structural revisions. The publication will not alter the meaning of a contributor's piece without discussing it with the contributor.
Rights and Disclosures
By submitting work to First For News, you confirm that the work is your own, that it does not infringe the rights of any third party, and that you have disclosed any commercial or personal relationships relevant to the subject of the piece. The publication requests a non-exclusive license to publish, archive, and promote the piece on the Site and its associated channels.