Rock & Art publishes critical cultural journalism from voices often excluded from mainstream media.
While we have an in-house editorial team, we collaborate with external contributors who share our critical lens and commitment to rigorous, politically engaged analysis. We believe the best cultural criticism emerges through collaboration across borders, disciplines, and lived experiences.
What We Publish
We consider pitches for:
Long-form analysis (2,500+ words)
Deep dives into cultural politics, gender, surveillance, resistance movements, and decolonial futures.
Critical essays (1,800-2,500 words)
Theoretical interventions responding to cultural moments, policy shifts, or overlooked phenomena.
Interviews & profiles (2,000-2,800 words)
Conversations with artists, activists, organisers, and thinkers doing work that matters.
Pop culture critique (1,500-2,200 words)
Analysis of film, music, fashion, anime, K-pop, and video games—as political texts, not entertainment.
What We Look For
Critical frameworks
We expect engagement with theory—feminist, queer, decolonial, Marxist, disability justice, etc. Name your frameworks explicitly.
Intersectional analysis
Race, class, gender, ability, geography, and sexuality aren’t additive. Show how they co-constitute power.
Geographic specificity
Write from and about actual places. No abstract “the West” or “the Global South”. Name cities, neighbourhoods, organisations, and movements.
Personal stakes without confessionalism
Use “I” when it grounds your argument. Avoid therapy-style memoir unless it’s doing analytical work.
Non-Anglocentric lens
Even if writing about the UK or the US, don’t treat them as the default. Connect transnationally.
Accessible language
Explain the theory. Don’t assume jargon knowledge. But don’t condescend either.
What We Don’t Publish
We’re not interested in:
- Neutral “explainers” without political stakes
- Liberal both-sidesism or false balance
- Clickbait, listicles, or hot takes
- Academic papers repurposed without translation for public audiences
- Extractive reporting that treats communities as subjects, not interlocutors
- Orientalist, exoticising, or savior-narrative framings
- Promotional content for books, projects, organizations, or personal brands
- Content already published elsewhere (we only accept original work)
Who Should Pitch
We actively welcome pitches from:
- Writers from the Global South (Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific)
- Queer and trans writers
- Disabled writers
- Writers of color (especially outside the US/UK)
- Migrant and diaspora writers
- Sex workers and former sex workers
- Activists and organizers with analytical skills
- Academics willing to write accessibly for public audiences
- Artists who think critically about their practice
You don’t need a journalism degree or previous publications. You need a critical lens and the ability to write clearly.
What We Offer Contributors
While we cannot offer payment, contributing to Rock & Art provides:
Platform & visibility
Your work reaches an international audience of politically engaged readers, educators, activists, and cultural workers.
Editorial mentorship & training
Our team provides substantive editing, fact-checking, and structural feedback to strengthen your work. We work closely with contributors to develop their analytical writing skills, critical frameworks, and ability to translate complex theory for public audiences.
Writing development
All contributors receive personalised guidance on argumentation, structure, voice, and engagement with critical theory. We see each piece as an opportunity for you to grow as a writer and thinker.
Full byline & credit
You retain copyright. We credit you prominently and promote your work across our channels.
Portfolio building
Published pieces become part of your public writing portfolio. Many contributors use Rock & Art pieces in academic applications, grant proposals, job applications, and professional portfolios.
Network & community
Join a community of critical writers and thinkers engaged in similar work. Connect with other contributors doing intersectional, decolonial, and politically engaged cultural analysis.
Long-term editorial relationship
Strong contributors often publish multiple pieces with us, developing an ongoing editorial relationship that supports their growth as public intellectuals.
Editorial Process
- Pitch — Send us 2-3 paragraphs explaining your idea, angle, and why you’re the person to write it.
- Review — Our editorial team reviews pitches. We respond within 2-3 weeks.
- Acceptance — If accepted, we agree on word count and deadline (typically 4-6 weeks).
- Draft — You submit the first draft.
- Editing & mentorship — We provide substantive feedback on argument, structure, framing, use of theory, and writing craft. This is a collaborative process designed to strengthen both the piece and your skills as a writer. You revise based on our guidance.
- Finalisation — We copy edit, fact-check, add images, and optimise for the web.
- Publication — Your piece goes live. We promote via newsletter, social media, and website.
Note: First-time contributors often go through 2-3 rounds of editing as we work together to meet Rock & Art’s editorial standards. We see this as an investment in your development as a critical writer.
How to Pitch
Email: pitches@rockandart.org
Subject line: Pitch: [Your Topic in 5-8 words]
Include:
- Pitch (2-3 paragraphs): What are you writing about? What’s your argument? Why now?
- Angle (1 paragraph): What theoretical frameworks are you using? What makes this critique distinct from existing coverage?
- Your background (2-3 sentences): Why are you qualified to write this? Lived experience counts as a qualification.
- Writing sample (link): One published piece or Google Doc demonstrating your analytical voice.
- Acknowledgement: Confirm you understand this is an unpaid opportunity and that you’re submitting original, previously unpublished work.
We aim to respond within 2-3 weeks. Due to volume, we cannot provide feedback on declined pitches. If you don’t hear back within 3 weeks, assume it’s a no, but you’re welcome to pitch again with a different idea.
Pitching Tips
Do:
- Be specific about place, communities, and time period
- Show you’ve engaged with existing discourse on your topic
- Explain your positionality when relevant
- Pitch pieces only Rock & Art would publish (not generic enough for mainstream outlets)
- Read our published work first to understand our editorial voice
Don’t:
- Pitch breaking news or time-sensitive pieces (we’re not a news site)
- Send finished drafts without pitching first
- Pitch multiple ideas at once (focus on your strongest)
- Assume we know who you are or your work (provide context)
- Pitch work that’s already been published elsewhere
Examples of Pitches We’d Accept
✅ “Disabled queer pleasure circles in London: Accessibility as radical praxis in sex-positive spaces.”
✅ “Sex education for migrants in Toronto: Whose bodies get pedagogy, and whose are presumed dangerous?”
✅ “Singapore’s smart city surveillance: How ‘safety’ rhetoric manufactures compliant citizenship.”
✅ “K-pop’s labor crisis: Unpacking the human cost of manufactured perfection”
✅ “From Operativo Cóndor to content takedowns: How platform capitalism continues South American state violence.”
Examples of Pitches We’d Decline
❌ “10 best feminist books of 2026”
❌ “Why representation matters in Hollywood” (without specific critical intervention)
❌ “My journey as a queer immigrant” (memoir without analytical framework)
❌ “Interview with [artist] about their new exhibition” (promotional)
❌ “Why we need to talk about mental health” (too broad, lacks a critical lens)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a good opportunity for emerging writers?
Yes. Many of our contributors are writing their first public-facing critical analysis. We provide close editorial guidance to help you develop your voice, sharpen your arguments, and learn to write accessibly about complex ideas. Think of it as a mentorship opportunity with publication as the outcome.
What if I’ve never written cultural criticism before?
If you have a critical lens and something important to say, we’ll work with you to develop the piece. Our editing process is pedagogical—we teach as we edit.
Can I republish my piece elsewhere?
Yes. You retain copyright. We only ask that you wait 2-4 weeks after publication on Rock & Art and credit us as the original publisher.
Can I pitch if I’ve never been published before?
Absolutely. We care about the quality of your analysis, not your CV.
Do you accept reprints or cross-posts?
No. We only publish original work that hasn’t appeared elsewhere.
Can I write under a pseudonym?
Yes, if there are safety or professional concerns. Discuss this with us when pitching.
Questions?
Read our about page to understand our editorial approach.
Check our published articles to see what we mean by “critical”.
Still have questions? Email hello@rockandart.org
We look forward to reading your pitch.