WRITE FOR THE HOTJEM

 

We want your voice, your perspective and your story. Have a story, idea or pitch worth sharing?  We want to hear it.

The HotJem is a publication for the modern diaspora, covering the culture, conversations, experiences and ideas shaping how we live, work and connect today. We welcome original contributions from people with something interesting, relevant or thought-provoking to say.

Have a completed article or an idea you think would make a great THJ story or pitch? Send it our way. If you think it’s a fit for The HotJem, we want to hear from you.

 

 What Can You Write About?

We’re interested in stories and perspectives that fit the world of The HotJem and speak to the interests and experiences of our audience.

Click on a topic below to see the kinds of stories we’re looking for.

Culture is at the heart of The HotJem. We’re interested in the ideas, traditions, experiences and conversations shaping how people understand themselves, their communities and the world around them.

Possible topics: Culture and identity, diaspora life, belonging, generational perspectives, traditions, cultural change, community, social conversations and the ways different cultures influence one another.

The things we do, experience and care about every day.

Possible topics: Travel, food & drinks, health & wellness, relationships, everyday experiences, personal interests, life transitions and the choices that shape modern life.

We cover the entertainment and sporting worlds that our audience follows and cares about.

Possible topics: Music, movies & TV, celebrities, pop culture, sports, reviews, profiles, interviews, entertainment news, sporting events, athletes and the business and culture surrounding entertainment and sport.

Style is more than what we wear. It’s how we express ourselves.

Possible topics: African fashion, street style, men’s style, beauty, fashion trends, personal style, designers, emerging creatives and the relationship between fashion, culture and identity.

We’re interested in how people build, earn, manage and think about money, as well as the businesses, ideas and opportunities shaping economies and communities.

Possible topics: Business, entrepreneurship, money, investing, saving, earning, side gigs, freelancing, remote work, financial independence, African businesses, emerging markets, economic trends and opportunities.

Technology is changing how we work, communicate, create, make money and experience the world.

Possible topics: AI, digital culture, social media, apps, emerging technology, tech businesses, digital tools, innovation and the impact of technology on everyday life.

Have something to say? We welcome thoughtful perspectives on issues, trends and conversations relevant to our audience.

A strong opinion piece should have a clear point of view and give readers something to consider and not simply repeat what everyone else is saying.

We cover news and developments that matter to our audience, particularly stories connected to Africa, the diaspora and the wider world.

We’re interested in more than simply reporting what happened. A strong submission can help readers understand why something matters, what it means and how it connects to our audience and is relevant to them.

Possible topics: Current events, social developments, major developments affecting communities, explainers, analysis and stories with a clear connection to our audience.

Sometimes the most interesting stories are the ones we’ve lived ourselves. We’re interested in personal experiences that offer a compelling perspective, reveal something about modern life or give readers a reason to see something differently.

Possible topics: Life experiences, moving between cultures, relationships, career or financial journeys, identity, personal growth, travel experiences and unexpected moments.

 

Have an idea that doesn’t fit neatly into one category? Tell us about it anyway. Our categories are here to give you a sense of what we cover, not to limit a genuinely good idea.

 

What Makes A Story Right For The HotJem?

The topic is only part of the equation. We’re looking for stories that are interesting, relevant and meaningful to our audience and that fit the broader perspective of The HotJem. That doesn’t mean every story has to be specifically about Africa, the African diaspora or black community.

We also look at stories, people, ideas and developments from around the world when there is a meaningful connection to our audience or a broader conversation worth bringing to them. Think about the story, not just the subject: Why would someone who reads The HotJem care? What does the story tell us, reveal, challenge, explain or make us think about? That’s what we’re interested in.

 

Before You Submit

Before submitting an article or pitch, please review our Editorial Guidelines. They explain what we look for, our editorial standards and what you should know before submitting your work.

  • Your submission should be original, relevant to The HotJem audience and aligned with our editorial standards.  All submissions are subject to editorial review.
  • Submission does not guarantee publication, and accepted contributions may be edited for clarity, accuracy, length, structure and style.

 

 

The HotJem welcomes original articles, stories and pitches that are relevant to our audience and fit our editorial coverage. Before submitting, please make sure you understand what we cover and what we expect from contributors.

 

 

Who You’re Writing For

The HotJem speaks to the modern diaspora, with a primarily adult audience interested in culture, lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, business, money, technology and the wider world. Our readers are curious, culturally aware and interested in stories that reflect real experiences, offer useful information or give them something worth thinking about.

You don’t have to write specifically about Africa or the African diaspora. What matters is that your submission has a clear reason to belong on The HotJem and would be relevant or interesting to our audience.

 

What We Accept

For completed articles or stories, submit finished, polished work that is ready for editorial review. We may edit accepted submissions for clarity, accuracy, length, structure and style, but contributors should submit complete work rather than unfinished drafts. If you have an idea but haven’t written the piece yet, send us a pitch. Tell us what you want to write about and why you think it would be a good fit for The HotJem.

 

Length

Submit a complete piece that is appropriately developed for the subject. There is no fixed word count, but we value clear, focused writing and will consider length as part of the editorial review process.

 

Original Work Only

Submissions must be your original work. Please do not submit material that has been copied from another publication, website or creator. If your work has previously been published elsewhere, let us know when you submit it.

You are responsible for ensuring that you have the right to submit the work and that it does not violate another person’s copyright.

 

Keep It Accurate

We expect contributors to make a reasonable effort to ensure that facts, names, dates, statistics, quotes and other information are accurate.

If your article relies on research, interviews or information from other sources, use reliable sources and identify them appropriately.

 

AI-Generated Content

The HotJem expects contributors to submit work they have written themselves.

AI tools may be used for limited assistance such as brainstorming, research organization or proofreading, but submissions should not be generated wholesale by AI and presented as your own writing. You remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, voice and integrity of anything you submit.

 

Photos & Other Media

Only submit images, graphics or other media that you have the right to use. If an image belongs to someone else, do not assume that finding it online means you can use it. When submitting images with your article, provide the appropriate credit and source information where applicable.

 

Editorial Review & Editing

Every submission is subject to editorial review. The HotJem may edit accepted contributions for clarity, accuracy, length, structure, grammar and style. We may also make changes to headlines, subheadings and other editorial elements. Submitting an article does not guarantee publication. We may decline, hold, edit or request changes to a submission at our discretion.

 

Submission Process

Use the submission form on our Write for The HotJem page to send us your article, story or pitch.

Please select the category that best fits your submission. If your idea crosses more than one category, choose the one you think is the strongest fit. Our editorial team may recategorize it during the review process. Please submit one article or pitch per submission. If you have a question or need to explain something about your submission, you can use the optional notes field or contact our editorial team directly.

 

Compensation

Unless otherwise agreed in advance, unsolicited submissions are unpaid.

From time to time, The HotJem may commission contributors for specific assignments. When we commission a piece, compensation will be discussed and agreed upon before the assignment begins.

 

What Happens After You Submit?

Your submission will be reviewed by our editorial team. We may contact you if we have questions, would like to discuss the idea further or are interested in publishing your work.

Because of the volume of submissions we may receive, we cannot guarantee a response to every submission. Please do not follow up repeatedly about the status of a submission. If we’re interested in moving forward, we’ll be in touch.

 

One Last Thing

A good submission for The HotJem doesn’t have to be about Africa or the African diaspora.We’re interested in stories that make sense for The HotJem and its audience. That can include culture, lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, business, money, technology, news, opinion and personal experiences, as well as stories that connect to the wider world.

Submit Your Article or Pitch

    What are you submitting?*

    Completed Article / StoryPitch

    What category does it belong to?*

    Have a Question?

    If you have an idea that doesn’t fit neatly into one of these categories or you have a question about contributing that isn’t answered in our Editorial Guidelines, contact our editorial team at: editorial@thehotjem.com

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