El Tecolote is a bilingual (Spanish-English) nonprofit newsroom committed to uplifting the voices of San Francisco’s Latinx communities through bold, community-centered journalism. Founded in 1970 in the Mission District, we cover local news, culture and public service stories across platforms, including our biweekly print edition, website, social media, newsletter and WhatsApp service.
Much like our namesake — the owl, a symbol of wisdom and vigilance — we aim to inform, defend, and reflect the needs of our readers, especially working-class, immigrant and other underserved communities.
What we’re looking for
We’re interested in original reporting that reflects the concerns, culture and resilience of our communities. This can include:
• Watchdog or accountability reporting
• Local government, labor, housing, health, education or immigration news
• Profiles of artists, organizers, or everyday community heroes
• Cultural reporting rooted in Latinx experiences
• First-person or opinion pieces with strong reporting or analysis
• Spanish-language explainers or public service pieces
• Photo essays and multimedia stories
Fees and payment
We are a small nonprofit newsroom, and while our budget is limited, we believe in compensating freelancers fairly for their time and labor. Our base rates typically range from $100–$300 per story, depending on the type of assignment, the level of reporting required and the contributor’s experience. This includes written reports, photo essays and video stories. We offer higher rates for deeply reported, investigative or visually complex pieces, and we actively seek funding partnerships to support more ambitious freelance work.
We are committed to transparency and equity. If a story requires extensive field reporting, translation, or tight deadlines, we will discuss appropriate compensation in advance.
We provide photography support for assignments. Spanish translation is handled by our in-house team.
Payment is made upon submission of a final, approved draft. If your pitch would benefit from grant support or collaboration with another outlet, let us know — we’re open to co-publishing and collaborative funding opportunities.
How to pitch us
- Send your pitch to pitches@eltecolote.org with a clear subject line.
- Include a few concise paragraphs explaining your story idea, the people or communities involved, why it matters now and what makes it unique.
- Include writing samples or links to your previous work, especially if you haven’t written for us before.
We review pitches on a rolling basis and do our best to respond within two weeks. If your pitch is time-sensitive, please flag that in your subject line.
Tips for strong pitches
- Think local, but also think impact. What does the story reveal, challenge or uplift?
- Be specific. What scenes, voices or events will ground the narrative?
- Keep it short and clear. We don’t need a full draft — just enough to show your idea, your approach and your voice.