Skip to main content

To date, IZEA/Ebyline has combined with publishers to produce over 170,000 pieces of content. But none of this would be possible without an outstanding team of freelancers. This group of 12,000 talented journalists spans the globe, representing 73 countries, and provides coverage of over 3,800 topics. Of those journalists, just over 15% are Approved Freelancers.

These individuals have passed a rigorous vetting process to gain full access to the Pitch Board and earn the profile badge that indicates their approved status to publishers. Those who have made it are veteran journalists with experience writing for publications like The New York Times, the Associated Press, ESPN, Vogue, Wired, and more.Becoming a qualified freelancer is no easy feat. Over the past six months, only 18% of submissions have made it through the approval process. But what exactly does it take to become one?

Clips

We generally ask that applicants submit work from at least four or five major regional or national publications, including magazines, newspapers, and their digital imprints. We need to see at least two clips from each of these sources.

Ideal content exhibits comprehensive journalism experience, including coverage of breaking news and the ability to secure interviews.

Links should point to articles of which the applicant is clearly indicated as the sole author. PDFs are also acceptable as long as the content is shown in its original context (e.g. magazine page), legible, and includes the article title, date, and author’s name.

Though this does not apply to every clip submitted, we ask that applicants do provide some number of articles that have been published within the past 12 months.

We cannot accept links to aggregate pages (i.e. a list of links to all pieces written for a publication). We also do not accept links to self-published blogs.

While we don’t accept foreign language submissions for clips, applicants should include this information about your abilities in their Career Summaries.

Mini Bio and Career Summary

Both the Mini Bio and Career Summary may be written in the first or third person, though third person is the more common style. Note that the primary purpose of this text is to give editors a sense of a freelancer’s experience and expertise when they view the profile.

The Mini Bio should be a succinct summary of the freelancer’s work history and experience. Strong portfolios highlight the major publications a candidate has worked for in addition to any topical specialties.

Career Summaries typically consist of two to three short paragraphs. These paragraphs should indicate writing specialties and the territory the candidate covers, if applicable. Applicants should also include career highlights, including work with major publishers and awards received. In the event the candidate has any special language skills, this is also a good time to indicate this skillset. Applicants may also choose to include information on their personal background in this section.

These are general guidelines for what it takes to become an Approved Freelancer, and we do assess every portfolio on an individual basis. We recognize that gaining freelance experience can be a long road and therefore frequently invite applicants who lack the required background to re-apply at a later date. For those awaiting review, we appreciate your patience as we assess each submission in turn. Best of luck, and happy writing!