The Medium Verticals that Pay Flat Fees and How to Pitch Them

Editors at medium don’t just pay through the partner program; sometimes they accept pitches to go through an editing process and they pay a flat fee. They’re often looking for pitches and the rates are pretty good. I can never remember what each vertical covers since they all have such cute names, so here’s a handy list. Feel free to comment if you know a pay rate or anything and I’ll add it.

Here are the ones on Medium’s editorial group, which pay about $1/word. The others are partner publications.

There are lots of writing online about how to pitch well. Here’s one article about it. Also consider “Who Pays Writers” when looking at how much they pay. Keep in mind they may pay you more or less depending on your experience, their budget, the work that will go into the article, your negotiating skills, or maybe just based on your race or gender. Hopefully not that last one but that’s a reality of journalism.

Had to include an image. You know how it is. Maybe this represents “pitching.” A dentist made this statue and it’s huge.

1. Elemental
   About: Health and Wellness
   Who to Email: elemental@medium.com (source)
2. OneZero
   About: Tech, Internet, Science
   Who to email: onezero@medium.com (source)
   Jemima Kiss: j.kiss@medium.com
   Yasmin Tayag: yasmin@medium.com
   Mike Zelenko: mz@medium.com (I guess just pick one based on whose name sounds the best?)
   Pay: About $1/word (or $1.25 or $0.13 according to WPW)
3. Gen
   About: Politics, Power and Culture
   How to Pitch: Pitch Guidelines
   Who to email: Michele Legro: mlegro@medium.com
4. Zora
   About: Women of Color
   Who to email: Vanessa De Luca: vanessa@medium.com (source)
5. Forge
   About: Evidence-backed productivity advice
   Who to email: forge@medium.com
6. Human Parts
   As of May 2019, they are not accepting submissions, according to this. Click the link to see if it’s updated, and if they are now.
   What they cover: Personal essays
7. Marker
   About: Business
   Who to email: marker@medium.com
8. Heated
   About: Food
   How to Pitch
   Who to email: Mark Bittman: heatedbybittman@gmail.com
   How Much they Pay: About $1/word
9. Modus
   About: Design
   How to Pitch
   Who to email: modus@medium.com
10. Tenderly
    About: Positive vegan
    How to Pitch
    Who to email: summer@tenderlymag.com
    How Much they Pay: About $0.30/word (personal experience)
11. LEVEL
    About: Men of color
    How to Pitch
    Who to email: level@medium.com
12. The Slowdown
    About: “technology, culture, and creativity — and the weird and wonderful ways they intersect.”
    How to Pitch
    Who to email: theslowdown@slalom.com.
    How Much they Pay: $1.50/word

Let me know if there’s something else I should add, I’ll keep this updated!