We have just two rules: 1) Follow the facts. 2) Tell it like it is.
We look to work with reporters who have strong journalism backgrounds and in-depth knowledge of the energy and environment beat. Our reporters are wary of dogma and care about helping readers make sense of complex issues.
Read about The Narwhal’s commitment to more thoughtful, inclusive journalism.
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Jobs at The Narwhal
We have no job openings at the moment. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates!
Fellowships
We are not currently accepting applications to our fellowships. Please visit our fellowships page for more information.
Freelancing for The Narwhal
The Narwhal’s capacity to accept freelance pitches is extremely limited, and we must unfortunately decline most of the pitches we receive.
Those interested in contributing are welcome to reach out with a short introduction to [email protected]. (Please do not CC The Narwhal’s Proton Mail account.)
We are especially eager to hear from writers who are Black, Indigenous or people of colour. Go here to read about our commitment to more thoughtful, inclusive journalism.
Freelancers who are given an assignment are expected to provide an annotated draft with sources for all facts reported.
We work with some of the best energy and environment reporters in the business. Our rate is generally $1 per word for professional journalists working on features, and may vary depending on experience and assignments. The Narwhal pays per assigned word but may from time-to-time negotiate a project price during the assignment phase.
Before pitching, please subscribe to our newsletter to familiarize yourself with The Narwhal’s style, tone and subject matter. Our reporting is primarily focused on the extractive industries — mining, forestry, fishing and oil and gas extraction — and large-scale conservation.
Please also review our Code of Ethics before pitching.
Due to a very large volume of pitches, if you do not hear from us in two weeks, please feel free to take your story proposal elsewhere.
What we look for in a pitch
When reviewing a pitch, we ask:
- How does your story either advance a constructive conversation on an issue or shine a light on a story that’s being overlooked by other media outlets?
- Has this story been told before or are you proposing to tell a story a different way than it has already been told? If the story has been covered before, please detail where and when it was published and how your story will be different.
- How will your story help readers make sense of what’s really at play?
- How does your story question prevailing narratives?
- Why tell this story now?
- What is your experience with similar stories and with the subject matter?
- Are there any multimedia elements to this story?
- What is your timeline?
Freelance photography rates
As of October 1, 2024, The Narwhal offers freelance photographers base rates of $300 for a half day (up to 4 hours) and $600 for a full day. For large or multi-day projects, or projects submitted on spec, we will arrange a project fee as appropriate.
Opinion submission guidelines
As of January 2026, we are not currently accepting submissions for opinion pieces. We will update this page if that changes. The information below is for reference only.
The Narwhal occasionally publishes opinion pieces that are original, timely and well written. We prioritize submissions from experts and marginalized voices.
Please do:
- Review The Narwhal’s reporting on relevant topics. We are less likely to publish an op-ed that repeats our current reporting but will on a case-by-case basis consider submissions that complement existing stories.
- Read through our Code of Ethics.
- Limit your submission to a maximum of 750 words.
- Expect edits and fact-checking. If your submission is accepted, our editorial team will work with you to improve a piece of writing for brevity, accuracy and clarity.
- Consider what matters to the public. We exist to help our readers better understand the world.
- Include hyperlinked sources for fact-based claims made in your piece. Like our readers, we want to know where you’re getting your information from.
The Narwhal only accepts submissions for consideration on spec, so we do not accept pitches for opinion pieces. We do not pay for opinion submissions.
Please email your submission to [email protected] and include a short author bio and headshot.
Due to a very large volume of submissions, if you do not hear from us in two weeks, please feel free to take your piece elsewhere.