SEND US A TIP
A tip is a story idea that you think we should report on. Is there something you see happening in the military or US defense institutions, or is there something that has happened to you that you would like us to report on? We welcome ideas about what we should be covering, new sources, documents to review or any other tip you’d like to provide. Thank you for trusting us with ideas for our coverage.
We try our best to respond to every tip we receive, but because of the volume of emails we get we can’t always respond to everything. But rest assured, we do read everything and work to verify information in any story we report. And in keeping with our journalistic standards, we do not pay for sources or information.
Please also be aware that this is not an encrypted form. Your name and contact information are not required, but we’d appreciate it if you would provide it so that we can follow up with you. It will not be used for any other purpose.
CONTRIBUTE AN ESSAY
Our reflections are essays by service members and military-connected civilians who wish to tell their stories, and there’s not a topic we won’t discuss. Our community of writers have shared personal stories about suicide, starting over, alcoholism, mental breakdowns, as well as lighter moments like the bonds formed in basic training.
Keep in mind, these are not opinion pieces. They are personal stories told in the first-person about things that have happened to you. The War Horse wants to help you tell those stories because we believe your experiences are important. If your piece is selected, we’ll go through an editing process that could involve revising, restructuring and condensing the original draft. But we do this together, working with you and supporting you throughout the writing process.
Please pitch stories that have time to go through that process. If you have a story that needs to be published in a week, this is not the right place for you.
We will be in touch within 10 days if we can accept your pitch. We try to respond to everyone but because of the growing number of pitches we receive, sometimes you might not hear from us. We pay $300 for each reflection piece.
Reflections pitches must be original, unpublished work. These stories are authored by you (no co-bylines on first-person pieces). Please refrain from submitting a piece that has already been published elsewhere.
REPORT A STORY
We believe in holding the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs accountable by reporting on policies and decisions its leaders make. Our reported stories illuminate serious issues that often go unexplained or underreported, such as rampant sexual harassment and assault in the armed forces, which The War Horse exposed in 2017.
We are seeking deeply reported and strongly sourced stories. Your pitches should be well thought out and explain how the story you want to report, or have reported, relates to broader issues faced by those most affected by war and its impact.
We encourage a broad range of stories, such as 1,500 word features to 2,500 word profiles, all the way to ambitious investigations.
Here are some examples of the range of stories we are seeking:
Pay varies depending on the story type and depth of reporting, however, The War Horse is committed to meeting or exceeding the established pay rates of leading legacy and nonprofit newsrooms.
We have put together a short guide to help you build your idea into a successful pitch for The War Horse. Tips for a successful pitch can be viewed here.
We try to respond to everyone but because of the growing number of pitches we receive, sometimes you might not hear from us. If you have questions, please email pitches@thewarhorse.org.
