What We Publish

We are interested in reported news, long-form analysis, opinion with a clear argument, cultural criticism, and historical essays that illuminate the present. We are not interested in personal essays that are primarily about the writer, content marketing in any form, or work that has been published elsewhere.

We value: specificity over generality, evidence over assertion, original reporting over aggregation, and intellectual honesty about uncertainty. We are a small publication and we publish selectively. We would rather run one excellent piece than five adequate ones.

How to Pitch

Send a pitch — not a completed draft — to hello@thefreethinkingtimes.com with "Pitch:" at the start of the subject line.

A pitch should include:

  • What the piece is about, in two or three sentences
  • Why it matters and why now
  • What evidence or reporting you have, or plan to gather
  • Your estimated word count and proposed section
  • One or two examples of your published work, if any

Pitches longer than four hundred words will not be read. We will respond to pitches that interest us within two weeks. If you have not heard from us in two weeks, we are passing.

If We Commission Your Piece

We will agree on scope, angle, length, and deadline before you write. We edit actively — expect substantive editorial engagement, not copyediting only. We will not publish a piece without the writer's agreement to the final version.

We purchase first publication rights. Copyright remains with the author. We ask for a thirty-day exclusive before the piece appears elsewhere in substantially similar form.

What We Pay

We are a new publication building toward sustainability. We will be transparent about our payment rates as our financial situation allows. We will not ask writers to work for exposure.

Letters to the Editor

Letters responding to published work: hello@thefreethinkingtimes.com. Include your name, city, and a brief statement of your relevant background if applicable. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. We publish a selection, not all submissions.