Submissions
Culture Vertical
The Polis Project is launching a culture vertical, and we want your culture stories. This new section is founded on the belief that culture is political. Art and entertainment are the most powerful way to shape political ethos, and in this era of manufactured consent and propaganda, we are interested in creating a counter-narrative of resistance.
Simply put, we are looking for stories that explore who we are, and how we live. We will publish reviews, cultural criticism, interviews and features. The specifics of what we are looking for are detailed below.
While we are a South Asian woman-run organization, our culture stories will be global. To that end, we welcome pitches from writers all over the world, particularly the global south.
All contributions are paid. Our rates are $100 for interviews, and range from $150 – $250 for reviews, cultural criticism and features. We pay $400 for longform in any of the categories listed below EXCEPT interviews.
Please pitch: [email protected] and [email protected] with “PITCH” and the topic in the subject line. Please make sure to include a brief passage on why you think this story is important, and a brief bio.
1. Reviews and Criticism: Book, film, art, TV. We are keen on titles from small presses that do not have a marketing machine behind them, and under-represented authors and artists. Please do not submit titles for review from the big 5 publishers, unless you’re exposing something structural about the publishing industry. We are also interested in writing that explores and analyzes an artist’s oeuvre, like this review on Ram Guha’s biography on Gandhi. The same imperative applies for film reviews. We are not interested in reviews of big mainstream films unless they are part of a trend or political argument it might be exposing
2. Cultural criticism: This is the heart of the culture section, and comprises analyses that explore cultural phenomena, trends, and political themes. We are looking for strong arguments, and a clear voice to anchor the story.
3. Interviews: In-depth conversations with cultural figures and thinkers discussing their work, influences etc. We welcome conversations across specialties and platforms.
4. Features: Including profiles of cultural figures set within a clear political context. Once again, we’re most interested in underrepresented artists. We also welcome stories on language, art, place, people, and any other interesting narratives on how we live.
Here’s what we’re NOT interested in:
1. Personal essays and screeds
2. Uncritical reviews
3. Book excerpts
4. Anything centered on identity politics
5. Super timely pieces that need a quick turnaround
6. Please do not send full pieces
7. Unfortunately, we are not yet publishing fiction and poetry.
Politics Vertical
The Polis Project welcomes submissions in the form of reportage, long-form narrative non-fiction, photo essays, film, podcasts, video, art and multimedia works. We focus on stories of authoritarianism in policy and practice, state violence, and communities in resistance. While we expect you to be true to local contexts, you must keep in mind our wide international readership.
We do not publish opinion pieces and stories previously reported extensively, nor do we consider material previously published. We are not a news magazine, but we consider in-depth features on current events if critically placed in the broader political context.
We prefer that you send a pitch rather than a finished piece so we can discuss collaboratively the direction to follow. You should hear from us in about a week. All contributors are paid.
Send your ideas and submissions to Aritry Das and Arshu John.
Terms and conditions
Exclusive License. When you grant to The Polis Project, Inc. (“Polis”) your work or content (together with any edits by Polis thereto that are made after reasonable consultation with you) for publication, you grant to Polis and its licensees and assignees the exclusive, worldwide, sub-licensable, transferable right and license to use, host, store, cache, reproduce, publish, display (publicly or otherwise), perform (publicly or otherwise), distribute, transmit, modify or adapt (including, without limitation, in order to conform it to the requirements of any networks, devices, services, or media through which the work is being made available) the work you created for Polis at www.thepolisproject.com and/or any other print or online media affiliated with Polis, as determined by Polis in its sole discretion, for a period of sixty (60) days following the date of its first publication by Polis (“Exclusive Period”). During the Exclusive Period, you agree not to publish or grant any licenses to any third party to publish the work in any media in any manner whatsoever without Polis’ prior written consent.
Non-Exclusive License. Following the Exclusive Period, after consulting with Polis, you will have the right to re-publish the work provided that Polis is accorded credit as the original publisher of the work in the main body of any such publication or article as follows: “This article was originally published in The Polis Project (link to the piece).” Notwithstanding your right to republish the work in other media following the Exclusive Period, Polis and its affiliates will continue to have the right to retain the work in their respective archives.
Original Work. You represent and warrant that the work is your original work and that nothing contained in it will infringe upon or violate any third party’s rights (including copyrights or trademark rights). You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Polis Project, its affiliates, licensees and designees and their respective shareholders, directors, employees, agents or representatives from any liability, damage or cost (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs) arising from any third party claim resulting from a breach of your representations and warranties herein or otherwise arising out of any submitted work.
Credit. You grant Polis the limited right to use your name and biographical information in connection with the work for the purposes of providing credit to you.