# Pitch us your story > We commission freelance reporters, photographers and video editors - especially people reporting from their own communities. Here's how to pitch. - **Publisher:** VOTVS (Fair coverage for everyone) — https://votvs.com - **Author:** VOTVS - **Published:** 2026-08-12 - **Language:** en - **Topic:** Community - **Canonical URL:** https://votvs.com/en/articles/pitch-us-your-story - **Tags:** pitches, freelance, contributors --- The best reporting on a community usually comes from inside it. If you live somewhere the press rarely visits and you know a story worth telling, we want to hear from you - whether or not you have published before. ## What we are looking for - Stories about people and places that mainstream outlets have not covered. - A specific, reportable angle. Not "life is hard here" but "the only clinic for 40km closed in March, and here is what happened to the people who used it." - Access. Tell us who you can actually talk to. ## What makes a strong pitch Keep it to a few short paragraphs: 1. **The story in two sentences.** What happened, and why now? 2. **Why it matters.** Who is affected, and how many? 3. **Your access and sourcing.** Who will you interview? What have you already confirmed? 4. **Format and length.** Written piece, photo essay, or video - and roughly how long. 5. **About you.** A line on who you are and your connection to the place. Links to past work if you have them. > We pay for commissioned work. Rates depend on format and reporting time - we will tell you the fee before you start, never after. ## What happens next We read every pitch and reply, including when the answer is no. If we commission you, you get an editor who works with you through drafts, a factual review before publication, and your name on the piece. ## Working safely If reporting a story could put you at risk, say so in your pitch. We would rather adjust an approach, protect a byline, or drop a story entirely than put a contributor in danger. Send pitches to our editorial address, with "PITCH" and the place you are reporting from in the subject line. --- Published by VOTVS. Free to quote with attribution and a link to https://votvs.com/en/articles/pitch-us-your-story.