Open Call for Creators at The San Francisco Standard

About The San Francisco Standard

Based in San Francisco, our digital news platform delivers in-depth and rapid coverage to over a million monthly readers. Since 2021, we've emphasized accountability journalism with a passionate focus on the city's vibrant culture, expanding into video, social media, and audio storytelling formats.

Role and Opportunities

We invite motivated creators to produce compelling video and audio narratives focused on San Francisco's dynamic landscape. Candidates who are skilled in shooting, editing, and storytelling—and are eager to engage in genuine reporting—are encouraged to submit their work for consideration.

Who We're Looking For

• Video content creators active on social media, skilled in engaging viewers effectively
• Animators and illustrators creating brief, shareable SF-centric videos with an existing audience
• Journalists proficient in multi-format creation, including shooting, editing, and self-publishing online
• Hosts, interviewers, documentarians integrated with modern social media ecosystems
• Storytellers knowledgeable about pacing, captions, hooks, especially tailored to mobile platforms

If your work appears on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or in podcast form, you're exactly who we want to connect with.

Story Themes We Encourage

• Profiles of flourishing local restaurants defying downtown decline
• Insights into organizations addressing homelessness — successes and challenges
• Underground nightlife hotspots absent from mainstream social media
• Animated short videos tackling SF politics with widespread viewer engagement
• Exploration of micro-communities in overlooked city areas and their origins
• Networks connecting artists, activists, and neighborhood communities
• New cultural phenomena emerging within San Francisco and their underlying causes

Our stories demand direct engagement with people, fresh discoveries, and provide a deeper understanding of San Francisco beyond common narratives.

Compensation

• Short videos (under 5 minutes): $300 to $1,000
• Long-form videos (5 to 15 minutes): $1,000 to $3,000
• Podcast episodes: $1,000 to $3,000
• Other media formats: negotiable upon discussion

Alongside payment, your work gains exposure through an established news outlet reaching over a million readers monthly, enhancing your portfolio with credible publications.

Requirements

• Proficient production skills encompassing filming and editing to create captivating videos or podcasts
• A genuine interest in reporting, including interviewing real individuals, verifying facts, and sourcing multiple viewpoints
• A focus on San Francisco or the Bay Area in content themes, emphasizing local relevance in news or policy impacts

Process

Submit completed pieces or story proposals for editorial consideration. Accepted works will undergo fact-checking and may require revisions to meet our editorial standards, underscoring the quality and impact of published content.

What We Do Not Accept

• Personal video essays expressing opinions without reporting
• Content consisting solely of reading others' articles
• Topics extensively covered elsewhere without new insights
• Opinion pieces lacking investigative reporting
• Unverifiable content
• Applications limited to resumes without samples of actual work

Submission Instructions

Applicants should send:

• Either links to finished work accompanied by a brief explanation of reporting methods and background
• Or detailed story pitches including concept, storytelling approach, expected timeline, and links to prior relevant works

All submissions are evaluated carefully. Successful entries will be published and compensated accordingly, contributing to timely, impactful coverage of San Francisco.