Volunteer Writers — Rock & Art | Remote, Worldwide

Company Description

About Rock & Art

Rock & Art is an independent cultural journalism and knowledge platform exploring art, music, literature, identity, bodies, sexuality, politics and subcultures through critical, intersectional perspectives.

We are not a conventional news outlet or magazine. We practice slow journalism: research-driven, long-form and contextual work that seeks to understand culture rather than simply report on it.

Rock & Art is built around the belief that journalism can be a method of producing public knowledge. Our work connects cultural criticism, research, documentation and collective knowledge-building, creating an independent and lasting resource for readers, researchers and communities.

Our editorial practice is guided by intellectual curiosity, evidence, context, editorial independence, and a commitment to complexity and responsible representation.

We are currently building an international volunteer community of writers, researchers, editors, fact-checkers, knowledge curators and cultural contributors who want to help develop Rock & Art as a long-term cultural knowledge project.

This is a fully remote, worldwide volunteer opportunity. You can apply from anywhere in the world, provided you can collaborate remotely and communicate effectively with the team.

All positions are voluntary and unpaid. They are not employment positions and do not include salary, fees or financial compensation.

Job Description

We are looking for Volunteer Writers who want to contribute to Rock & Art through thoughtful, research-driven cultural journalism.

This is not a role for producing quick news stories, SEO filler or content designed primarily to generate clicks.

We are interested in writers who want to take their time with a subject, investigate it, place it in context and give readers something more valuable than a summary: a way of understanding it.

Your work may become part of a larger body of knowledge within Rock & Art, connecting with other articles, research, cultural histories and ongoing editorial clusters.

You may write about subjects including, but not limited to:

• music and sonic cultures;
• literature and literary cultures;
• visual and radical arts;
• film and popular culture;
• fashion and subcultural style;
• gender, sexuality and identity;
• bodies and kinky culture;
• political and cultural movements;
• memory, history and cultural heritage;
• subcultures and countercultures;
• representation, power and cultural politics;
• emerging cultural practices and critical futures.

We are particularly interested in writers who can identify meaningful connections between culture, history, politics, society and lived experience.

What you will do

As a Volunteer Writer, you may:

• Develop and pitch original article ideas.
• Research subjects using reliable primary and secondary sources.
• Produce long-form essays, cultural criticism, analysis and research-based features.
• Provide historical, political and cultural context rather than treating subjects in isolation.
• Conduct interviews or incorporate documented voices where appropriate.
• Attribute and document sources accurately.
• Work with editors through the Rock & Art editorial process.
• Revise drafts based on substantive editorial feedback.
• Contribute to larger editorial clusters and knowledge projects.
• Identify connections between your work and existing Rock & Art content.
• Follow the principles and standards of the Rock & Art Editorial System (RAES).

You will not be expected to know RAES before applying. Relevant processes and editorial standards will be introduced as part of the collaboration.

What we are looking for

You do not need to be a professional journalist to apply.

We are interested in people who can demonstrate strong writing, research ability and genuine engagement with their subject.

You may be:

• an experienced cultural journalist or writer;
• an emerging writer building a portfolio;
• an independent researcher or scholar;
• a student or graduate in the humanities, social sciences, arts or related fields;
• a cultural worker, artist or practitioner with a particular area of knowledge;
• someone with substantial independent knowledge of a cultural field or community.

We value intellectual curiosity over credentials.

Strong candidates will generally demonstrate:

• excellent written English;
• strong research and analytical skills;
• the ability to develop an argument rather than simply describe a subject;
• an understanding of the importance of context;
• careful use of sources and evidence;
• intellectual honesty;
• openness to editorial feedback;
• sensitivity when working with complex or contested subjects;
• reliability and respect for agreed deadlines.

Knowledge of other languages is welcome, particularly where it allows you to bring perspectives, sources or cultural contexts that are underrepresented in English-language cultural journalism.

Our editorial approach

Rock & Art is committed to journalism that asks questions rather than assuming answers.

We believe:

Context must precede judgement.

Evidence matters more than assumption.

Complex subjects deserve complexity.

Representation carries responsibility.

Editorial independence matters.

Knowledge is collective.

We do not expect every contributor to share the same opinions or interpretations. We do expect contributors to engage seriously with evidence, acknowledge uncertainty, represent other people’s work and perspectives responsibly, and be willing to reconsider an argument when the evidence requires it.

Additional Information

What you can expect from Rock & Art

Although this is an unpaid volunteer position, we want the experience of contributing to be meaningful and professionally structured.

You can expect:

• a clearly defined editorial process;
• editorial guidance and feedback;
• access to Rock & Art’s editorial frameworks and standards;
• the opportunity to develop published work for your portfolio;
• attribution of your published work;
• the opportunity to contribute to a growing international cultural knowledge project;
• opportunities to collaborate with writers, researchers and editors from different backgrounds;
• the possibility of developing into additional editorial or research responsibilities as the project grows.

We will not promise unrealistic workloads or expect volunteers to treat Rock & Art as a full-time job.

We would rather have a writer who can consistently contribute one strong piece than someone who agrees to an unrealistic schedule.

Time commitment

This is a flexible volunteer role.

The expected commitment will depend on the type and scope of work undertaken. Contributors may participate on an occasional, project-based or ongoing basis.

What matters most is reliability: if you agree to take on an assignment or deadline, we need you to communicate clearly and follow through.

Important information about this opportunity

Location: Remote — worldwide
Position type: Volunteer
Compensation: Unpaid / no financial compensation
Employment status: This is not an employment position
Commitment: Flexible, agreed according to the contributor’s availability
Language: English
Experience: Open to emerging and experienced writers

How to apply

Please submit:

1. A short introduction explaining who you are and why you would like to contribute to Rock & Art.
2. Your CV or a brief overview of your background.
3. 2–3 writing samples, preferably examples of cultural journalism, criticism, essays, research or analytical writing.
4. A short description of one or two subjects you would like to explore for Rock & Art.

Your proposed ideas do not need to be fully developed pitches. We are interested in seeing what makes you curious, what questions you ask and how you think about a subject.

If you do not have published writing samples, you may submit academic, independent or unpublished work.

We welcome applications from people who are traditionally underrepresented in cultural journalism and from contributors whose knowledge and perspectives can broaden the cultural record.

We are looking for people who want to contribute to something lasting—not simply produce another piece of content.

If that sounds like you, we would like to hear from you.