MC-Guide

Content Writing

Website 126: cointelegraph.com

How Can You Earn Money Writing For “cointelegraph.com” Website

This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to cointelegraph.com

You will learn what cointelegraph.com wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.

MAGAZINE Cointelegraph Magazine Go beyond daily news. Long-form features · analysis · humor & satire · human stories Beginner goal: Pitch a people-centric story idea + links to your work STORY + sources
Cointelegraph Magazine · Contributor Snapshot
Pay: varies (agree per assignment) Style: people-centric + deep reporting Formats: features · analysis · satire Audience: crypto-curious to expert Difficulty: Beginner → Pro (with process)
This guide is built so a beginner can follow it like a mini SOP: pick the right format, research, pitch, report, write, and earn. It includes many links so you can learn by reading real Cointelegraph Magazine pages and examples.

Content Writing · CTM Beginner Friendly Target: Cointelegraph Magazine

Guide: How to Get Paid to Write for Cointelegraph Magazine (Step by Step)

Cointelegraph Magazine is designed for stories that go beyond the day-to-day. It focuses on the people, trends, and personalities that inspire crypto and blockchain conversations around the world. They publish long-form features, analysis, and even a little humor and satire — all meant to bring blockchain to life.

This guide is for a beginner who wants a real plan: how to read the magazine, choose the right format, find story ideas, report and interview, write a clean draft, pitch properly, and grow into a repeat contributor. You’ll also get pitch templates, checklists, and a simple “pitch builder” you can copy and email.

Important: crypto is volatile and high-risk. Your writing must be careful with claims and avoid “financial advice” language. Always follow Cointelegraph’s policies, disclosures, and editor instructions (see “Terms & Privacy”).

What Cointelegraph Magazine actually wants (and what it does NOT want)

Cointelegraph Magazine positions itself as a publication that goes beyond daily crypto news and digs deeper into the stories, trends, and personalities that inspire blockchain conversations globally. They describe themselves as people-centric and publish long-form features, thoughtful analysis, and a little humor and satire — with the purpose of showing how the technology is affecting real lives today.

This matters because your pitch must sound like a magazine story, not like a press release, a token shill, or a “5 reasons to buy XYZ coin” blog post. If your pitch feels like marketing, or it sounds like you want to promote a project, it will not fit. Your job is to deliver a story readers would finish even if there were no price charts on the page.

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What “go beyond daily news” means

Daily news answers: What happened? Magazine answers: Why does it matter? and who is it changing? Here are practical angles that match a magazine vibe:

  • Human stakes: a founder, a developer, a gamer, a regulator, a trader, a victim, a community leader.
  • Systems: how a protocol, exchange, law, or market structure changes behavior.
  • Culture: memes, identity, local scenes, community rituals, humor, and belief.
  • Second-order effects: unintended outcomes, new jobs, new scams, new ethics questions.
  • Global lens: “how it looks in Kenya / Argentina / India / Korea,” not only Silicon Valley.

A good magazine pitch often reads like: “This is a human story about technology pressure.”

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What to avoid (the fastest “no” triggers)
  • Token promotion: “Our coin is undervalued” or “this project will moon.”
  • Unverified claims: “guaranteed returns,” “safe strategy,” “no risk,” “insider leak.”
  • Thin rewrite: summarizing other articles without original reporting or insight.
  • Fake expertise: pretending you used tools you did not actually test.
  • Anonymous fluff: lots of words, but no names, no numbers, no sources, no proof.
  • Advice disguised as journalism: anything that feels like financial advice.

If you want to earn money here, your first “product” is trust. Editors pay for writers who protect the publication’s credibility.

Daily crypto news Cointelegraph Magazine style How you change your writing
Short updates: price, announcements, breaking headlines Deep reads: people, trends, personalities, consequences Write scenes, interviews, and “why this matters”
Fast turnaround More “leisurely” rewarding read Do pre-reporting and build structure before pitching
Summary of events Interpretation + meaning + impact Add context, background, and multiple viewpoints
Often no original interviews Strong preference for original reporting and voices Include named sources, quotes, documents, and verification
Open these core pages in new tabs and skim them once before pitching: Magazine home · About · Contact / Pitch · Terms & Privacy. Do this first. It saves you from pitching the wrong thing.

Pick the right format (so your pitch feels “native” to the magazine)

Feature Column Q&A

Cointelegraph Magazine publishes multiple sections and recurring columns. When you pitch, you get a “yes” faster if you say: “This is a Feature” or “This fits Crypto City” or “This is a 6 Questions interview”. You are helping the editor immediately place your story into their publication system.

Below is a practical map of the magazine’s major buckets (with direct links). You do not need to master all formats. As a beginner, pick one and get good at it.

Format What it is Beginner-friendly use case Start here (links)
Features Deep dive stories, often big questions or big shifts, written to be engaging and human. Turn one strong topic into a structured, well-reported story with multiple voices. Features page
Journeys Personal stories: how people enter crypto, what changed them, what it cost them, what they learned. Profile a founder, developer, artist, gamer, investor, or “unexpected” participant. Journeys
Crypto City Local scene guide: meetups, personalities, builders, culture, hot spots, what’s real in that city. If you live in a city with a crypto scene, report locally and write like a tour guide + journalist. Crypto City column
Our Man in Shanghai Region-focused lens: “what’s happening in this part of the world” with narrative and insight. Pitch a region you know deeply (language + local context), with careful sourcing. Our Man in Shanghai
Hodler’s Digest Weekly roundup with personality: the best and worst of the week, with context. Good if you can write sharp summaries and add original commentary. Hodler’s Digest
6 Questions Interview format: a structured Q&A that reveals personality and insight. Start with a strong subject you can reach and ask smart questions. 6 Questions
NFT Week NFT-focused column: highlights, culture, artists, projects, and debates. If you follow NFT culture, pitch a “week’s narrative” with voices and context. NFT Week
Art Week Art lens: creators, markets, meaning, and the cultural side of Web3. If you are in art/design, pitch stories about creators and communities (not hype). Art Week
AI Eye / Web3 Gamer Recurring columns with a specific angle (AI, gaming). Often fast, witty, and informed. Only pitch if you truly live in that niche and can deliver a consistent voice. AI Eye · Web3 Gamer
Podcasts Audio stories and episodes. Not the best first entry for a beginner writer, but useful to study voice and pacing. Podcasts
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Beginner pick

If you are new: start with “6 Questions” or a small “Journeys” story

The easiest way to get real reporting is an interview. “6 Questions” gives you a structure, so you can focus on getting a great subject and asking deep questions. A “Journeys” piece is also accessible because the narrative can be personal and clear: “Here’s what happened, here’s why it mattered.”

  • Pick a subject you can reach within 7 days.
  • Record an interview (with permission) and take careful notes.
  • Use quotes as the backbone of your structure.
  • Make sure the story has a point beyond hype.
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Next level

After one success: pitch a Feature (deep dive) with 3–5 sources

A Feature is where you earn bigger trust — but it needs more structure. Before you pitch:

  • Collect 10–15 bullet facts from credible sources.
  • Line up at least 2 interviews (or strong expert quotes).
  • Write a “big question” headline and a 1-paragraph “why now?”
  • Outline the story into 5–7 sections (not 20 tiny headings).
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Pro move

Use the magazine’s own navigation to “reverse engineer” fit

On the Features page you can see how they list stories and show reading time. Study the structure of 3 pieces you like: intro style, how they use quotes, where they add context, and how they end. Then make your pitch outline match that “feel.”

Micro-exercise: choose one of these sentences and finish it in 30 seconds:

A Feature for Cointelegraph Magazine that I can report is about…
A “6 Questions” interview I can deliver is with…
A Crypto City guide I can write because I live there is about…
If your sentence is concrete, you’re on the right track.

Build your beginner portfolio (fast, not perfect)

Clip 1 Clip 2 Pitch-ready

Cointelegraph Magazine asks writers to pitch story ideas and include links to published work. That means your number-one job as a beginner is: create 3–5 “proof links”. They do not have to be famous. They have to prove you can finish an article and communicate clearly.

Think of your portfolio like a small “trust kit.” You want to show: (1) you can tell a story, (2) you can be accurate, (3) you can structure a long piece, and (4) you can edit yourself.

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Your beginner “trust kit” (make this in 1 day)
  • One author page: a simple page with your bio, links, and contact (Notion page, Medium profile, or your blog).
  • Three writing samples: each 1,200–2,000 words, with headings, quotes, and sources.
  • One niche statement: “I cover X through the lens of Y.” Example: “Crypto regulation through everyday consumer stories.”
  • One proof of research: show you can cite documents, data, or on-chain evidence.
  • One short pitch paragraph: practiced and polished, ready to paste.

If you don’t have this, your pitch still can work — but it becomes harder. Make it and you instantly look more professional.

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What your sample articles should look like
  • Clear lead: one paragraph that says what the story is and why readers should care.
  • Sources: link to primary sources when possible (docs, court filings, reports, GitHub, official statements).
  • Real voices: at least 2 quotes, even if small.
  • Structure: 5–8 sections with meaningful headings, not 25 tiny headings.
  • Clean writing: short paragraphs, active voice, no jargon walls.

If you publish 3 pieces like this, you are no longer a “total beginner” in the eyes of editors.

Week What you produce Why it matters
Week 1 1 writing sample + your author page + one niche statement You become pitchable. You have links.
Week 2 Second writing sample (interview-based) You prove you can report, not just rewrite.
Week 3 Third writing sample (analysis or deep explanation) You prove you can handle complexity and still be clear.
Week 4 Pitch Cointelegraph Magazine with your strongest idea Now you have a real shot at paid work.
Pro tip: your samples don’t need to be “about price.” The magazine focus is deeper than day-to-day. Try themes like identity, ethics, scams, community building, regulation effects, gaming culture, or real adoption stories.

Find strong story ideas (the “beyond daily news” method)

STORY ANGLE

A beginner mistake is pitching a topic. Editors don’t buy topics. Editors buy angles. Your pitch should answer: Who is this about? What changed? What’s the tension? Why now?

Use this simple conversion:
Topic → Question → Human stakes → Proof → Format

Conversion

Example: “Memecoins” (topic) becomes a magazine story

Topic: Memecoins.
Question: Why do normal people keep buying them even after losing money?
Human stakes: A small group of traders + influencers + a community that treats the chaos as entertainment.
Proof: Interview 2 traders, 1 exchange risk lead, 1 psychologist or behavioral researcher, plus on-chain data or public reports.
Format: Feature (deep dive).

Angle test

The “5-Point Magazine Fit Test” (use this before you pitch)

  • Person: can I name at least 1 real person or group at the center?
  • Tension: what is the conflict, paradox, or risk?
  • Evidence: what proof exists (docs, data, witness accounts, experts)?
  • Why now: what makes this timely without being daily news?
  • Reader benefit: what will readers understand after this story?

If you cannot answer these, your idea is still a “topic.” Keep developing.

Beginner move

Pre-report for 60 minutes (and your pitch becomes 10x stronger)

  • Find 5 credible sources and link them.
  • Write 8 bullet facts that are verifiable.
  • Identify 3 sources you can interview (with names + why they matter).
  • Write a 1-paragraph “story spine” (start → middle → end).

Now your pitch reads like a real assignment proposal, not a wish.

25 idea prompts that fit Cointelegraph Magazine (steal these)

Prompt type Write a story about… Best format
Human cost A builder who lost everything in a hack — and what they built after Journeys / Feature
Culture How a city’s crypto scene changed local jobs and nightlife Crypto City
Trust How communities decide who is “credible” in an anonymous ecosystem Feature
Regulation A law that sounded small but quietly changed real users’ behavior Feature / Analysis
Work The hidden jobs created by crypto (moderators, auditors, community managers) Feature
Failure “What went wrong?” inside a project collapse — told through 4 voices Feature
Ethics Where AI + crypto creates new scams (and new defenses) AI Eye / Feature
Identity Why some people treat Bitcoin as religion (and what that does socially) Feature
Gaming One Web3 gaming community — what they love, what they hate, what’s real Web3 Gamer / Feature
Art An artist who used NFTs to escape gatekeeping — then faced a new kind of gatekeeping Art Week / Feature
Roundup The most revealing stories from the week — and what they tell us about the market’s mood Hodler’s Digest
Interview A person with a strong point of view and real experience — asked 6 high-signal questions 6 Questions
Geopolitics How a local currency crisis made stablecoins “normal” in one community Feature / Region column
Social science How incentives reshape morality (one on-chain example + human interviews) Feature
Security Inside an audit or incident response story — what it felt like hour by hour Feature
Mythbusting A popular crypto myth that collapses under careful evidence (no dunking; just truth) Analysis
Adoption A boring industry quietly adopting blockchain — and why it’s not as flashy as people think Feature
Community How a DAO actually governs in practice (not theory) Feature / Analysis
Conflict Two groups in crypto who hate each other — and what they both get wrong Feature
Humor/satire A “day in the life” of a crypto timeline (memes, panic, hope, repeat) — but with insight Satire / Column
History What an older tech boom can teach today’s crypto participants Feature / Analysis
Tools A guide to how people verify claims (your own step-by-step “how I checked this”) Feature
Local guide Crypto City: how to meet builders, where the talent gathers, what the scene feels like Crypto City
Values Why “decentralization” means different things to different communities Feature
Future shock One tech trend people misunderstand — explained through a real on-the-ground story Feature
Quick rule: if your idea could be copied into a “Top 10 coins to buy” blog post, it’s not a Magazine idea yet. Push it toward people, consequences, and proof.

Reporting & interviews (crypto-specific sourcing you can trust)

SRC PROOF

Cointelegraph Magazine’s credibility depends on accuracy and multi-layer review. So your reporting should be built around repeatable verification. That means: real sources, primary documents when possible, careful quotes, and clarity about what is known vs unknown.

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How to run a great crypto interview
  • Get permission: ask if you may record. If they say no, take detailed notes.
  • Start human: “What’s your background? How did you get here?” Then go technical.
  • Ask for specifics: “Give me the exact moment you realized…” “What happened next?”
  • Check incentives: “Do you hold the token?” “Are you paid by the project?” (disclosure)
  • Ask for proof: documents, links, on-chain transactions, public posts, timelines.
  • Mirror back: summarize their claim and ask, “Did I hear you correctly?”
  • End smart: “What’s the strongest argument against your view?”

Do not let interviews become marketing. Your job is to pull out insight and reality.

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Crypto sourcing “triangulation” rule

For high-stakes claims (money lost, hacks, legal issues, “this works”), use a 3-source pattern:

  • Source A: the person telling the story (first-hand).
  • Source B: a document or public evidence (report, filing, transaction, audit, post, dataset).
  • Source C: an independent expert or skeptic who can critique the claim.

If you only have Source A, you may still write — but you must clearly label uncertainty and avoid overclaiming.

Claim type What you should collect How to write it safely
“This hack happened because…” Post-mortem, audit notes, timelines, expert quote Use careful language: “According to…” “Evidence suggests…”
“This strategy is profitable” Public data, backtests, independent critique Avoid advice; focus on risks and limitations
“This law changed everything” Legal text, lawyers, affected users, examples Show real effects, not only predictions
“This community is growing” Event attendance, interviews, activity measures Use numbers carefully; show what “growth” means
“This project is decentralized” Governance rules, token distribution, control points Explain tradeoffs; ask who can actually change things

Interview question bank (copy-paste)

Origins

Start of the story

  • What were you doing before crypto entered your life?
  • What was the first moment you felt “this matters”?
  • Who influenced you early on?
  • What is the biggest misconception people have about your work?
Reality

What it looks like day to day

  • What is the hardest part nobody sees?
  • What would surprise a normal person if they sat next to you for 8 hours?
  • What is the most common failure mode?
  • Which metric do you personally watch (and why)?
Belief

Values and motivation

  • Why do you believe blockchain can change things (or why it needs to be changed)?
  • What do you think crypto is wrong about right now?
  • What is your strongest doubt about your own view?
  • What would make you change your mind?
Accountability

Disclosure and incentives

  • Do you hold tokens in projects you talk about?
  • Who funds your work? Are there sponsors or investors?
  • What conflicts should readers know about?
  • Where can I verify the claims you made today?
If a source refuses all disclosure and everything is “trust me,” that’s a warning sign. A serious magazine piece requires verifiable reality.

Pitching Cointelegraph Magazine (contact page + email templates)

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Cointelegraph Magazine says that if you’re interested in writing, you should pitch a story idea and include links to your published work. Start with the official contact/pitch page: cointelegraph.com/magazine/contact-us/.

The user-provided email contact is: andrewfenton@cointelegraph.com. You can also find the editor’s author page here: Andrew Fenton – author page. If you are unsure which contact method they currently prefer, use the contact page first and follow any instructions there.

Step 1

Decide the format in your first line

In your pitch, say what you are offering: Feature, Journeys, Crypto City, 6 Questions, etc. Editors instantly know how to evaluate it.

  • Bad: “I want to write about crypto adoption.”
  • Good: “Pitch: Feature — Inside the stablecoin economy of one city (with 4 interviews).”
Step 2

Write a “why now?” that isn’t daily news

A magazine “why now” is usually about a shift: a cultural phase change, a regulatory turning point, a new wave of scams, a community breaking apart, a surprising adoption pocket. Not “price went up.”

  • “This year, X changed in how people use Y.”
  • “A new pattern is emerging across multiple communities.”
  • “The consequences of Z are finally visible.”
Step 3

Prove you can report: list sources you will use

Add a short “reporting plan” line:

  • Names of 2–4 people you can interview (or the type of expert if names are not confirmed yet).
  • Primary documents you will reference (reports, filings, audits, datasets).
  • How you will verify key claims.

This turns your pitch into a low-risk decision for the editor.

Step 4

Show your clips (links) and keep it simple

Include 2–5 links to your strongest relevant writing samples. If you have a crypto-specific sample, include it first. If not, include your best narrative or investigative sample — editors hire writing skill, not only niche.

Pitch Builder (copy/paste template)

Fill the brackets quickly. Keep it under ~250–350 words. Your goal is clarity, not volume.

If you submit via the contact page form, paste the pitch into the message area and include the same links. If you email, send to: andrewfenton@cointelegraph.com.
Follow-up rule: if you don’t hear back, wait politely (about 10–14 days) and send one short follow-up. Do not spam. Editors remember professionalism.

Writing Cointelegraph Magazine style: structure, tone, and “magazine flow”

LEAD

Cointelegraph Magazine pieces are meant to be engaging reads: narrative, clear, and meaningful. On the Features page you can see “minute read” labels and author lines, which signals the editorial expectation: these are curated stories, not random blog posts. Your structure should help readers feel like they are moving through a real story.

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The “Magazine Feature Skeleton” (safe structure)

Use this skeleton for most long-form features. It works even if you are new:

  • 1) Cold open: a scene, a character moment, or a striking fact (not a definition).
  • 2) Nut graf: “Here’s what this story is really about and why now.”
  • 3) Context: the background readers need, in simple language.
  • 4) The tension: what conflict, tradeoff, or risk is driving events.
  • 5) Voices: quotes and perspectives from multiple sides.
  • 6) Consequences: who benefits, who loses, what changes in practice.
  • 7) Resolution / open question: how it ends, and what the reader should remember.

This prevents “rambling essay syndrome,” which is the #1 beginner problem.

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Voice and tone (simple rules)
  • Write like a human: avoid corporate language and filler.
  • Explain jargon: define once, then move on.
  • Use short paragraphs: 1–3 lines is fine.
  • Prefer verbs: “builders argue,” “users fear,” “auditors found,” “the community split.”
  • Balance: show competing views, especially in controversial topics.
  • Do not preach: show evidence; let readers think.

You can be witty, but never mean. Humor should reveal truth, not bully a person.

How to write analysis (without turning it into opinion fluff)

Analysis rule

Make analysis evidence-first, not emotion-first

Analysis is not “what I feel.” Analysis is “what the evidence suggests.” A good pattern:

  • Claim: one clear statement about what is happening.
  • Evidence: 3–5 proof points (documents, data, quotes, examples).
  • Counter: the strongest opposing argument.
  • Conclusion: what is likely true + what remains uncertain.

That is how you stay credible in a polarizing industry.

Anti-hype

Write “risk” as a real section

Crypto stories often fail because they ignore risk. Add a section titled: “Where this could go wrong”. Readers respect you more. Editors trust you more.

Clarity

Use analogies, but don’t overdo them

Good analogies connect complex ideas to familiar ones. Bad analogies oversimplify and mislead. Keep analogies short and always return to the real mechanics.

Humor & satire: how to do it safely

Cointelegraph Magazine explicitly says it uses a little humor and satire. That doesn’t mean you can write “mean internet dunks.” It means you can use humor to reveal patterns: hype cycles, contradictory beliefs, social status games, fear and greed loops. The best satire is not about destroying people — it’s about showing the system’s weirdness.

Satire style Works when… Avoid when…
Timeline parody (“a week in crypto” as a character) You’re making a point about behavior patterns You target a private individual or spread rumors
Irony (“decentralization” that depends on one admin key) You use facts and show the contradiction You don’t have proof and you only “imply”
Light sarcasm It stays respectful and self-aware It becomes personal or cruel
Absurdity (“if you pitch this…”) style It teaches readers how to spot scams/hype It looks like financial advice or investment recommendation
Good magazine writing is empathy + accuracy + tension. If you can deliver those three, you can earn here.

Editing, fact-checking, ethics & AI use (protect your byline)

CHECK

Cointelegraph describes a multi-layer editorial process (writer, reviewer, staff editor). You should assume your draft will be questioned and improved — which is good. Your job is to make the draft easy to verify and safe to publish.

Fact-checking workflow (beginner friendly)
  • Make a “claims list”: every number, every big statement, every cause-effect claim.
  • Attach proof: link each claim to a source (doc, dataset, direct quote, transcript).
  • Mark uncertainty: label what you cannot confirm.
  • Verify names/titles: spellings, dates, roles, org names.
  • Verify screenshots: what date/time was it taken? is it representative?
  • Final read: read aloud and remove vague statements.

Editors love writers who deliver a “clean evidence trail.”

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Legal + ethics basics in crypto writing
  • No financial advice: avoid telling readers what to buy/sell/hold.
  • Disclosures: mention conflicts (holdings, sponsors, affiliations) when relevant.
  • Defamation caution: be careful accusing individuals without strong proof.
  • Scam coverage: focus on verified facts; avoid giving criminals free promotion.
  • Privacy: do not publish private information without consent.
  • Attribution: use proper credit for ideas, data, and quotes.

Cointelegraph’s Terms & Privacy emphasizes informational purpose and separation between editorial and commercial material. Your writing should align with that culture.

AI use: do it safely (and don’t violate trust)

Allowed use

Use AI like an assistant, not like a ghostwriter

  • Brainstorm headlines and outlines, then rewrite in your own voice.
  • Check grammar and simplify sentences after you draft.
  • Generate alternative phrasing, then choose what fits your reporting.
  • Create checklists and structure, then fill with real reporting.

Your reporting is the value. AI cannot replace verified interviews and documents.

Not ok

Do NOT submit unverified AI text or invented facts

  • AI hallucinations are common: fake numbers, fake quotes, fake events.
  • Never invent a quote. Never invent a source.
  • Never claim you tested a product or protocol you did not actually test.

If you cannot defend every line with evidence, remove it.

Pro tip

Keep a “verification appendix” for the editor

Create a small private doc with:

  • Interview timestamps (or key transcript snippets)
  • Links to primary sources
  • Where each number came from
  • What you are uncertain about

It speeds up edits and makes you look extremely professional.

Extra caution: crypto audiences are hostile to errors. One bad claim can damage your reputation. Slow down, verify, and be clear about uncertainty.

Money: how you get paid, how to negotiate, and how to be efficient

$

Cointelegraph Magazine payment details can vary by assignment, length, and editor agreement. Some public writer-market listings mention ranges, but the only number that matters is what you agree with the editor in writing. Treat any public rate as a rough reference, not a promise.

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How to ask about pay (polite and professional)

After an editor expresses interest, you can ask:

  • “Thank you — what fee do you have in mind for this assignment?”
  • “Is there a standard rate for this format/length?”
  • “Do you pay per piece or per word? And what is the payment timeline?”

Ask once, clearly. Don’t negotiate aggressively before they want the story. First win the assignment. Then clarify terms.

Efficiency: how to earn more per hour
  • Choose repeatable beats: one niche you can cover faster each time (gaming, regulation, local scenes).
  • Reuse your process: same outline skeleton, same interview questions, same fact-check checklist.
  • Pre-report early: don’t write before you have the story spine.
  • Keep a quote library: organize interview quotes by theme for faster drafting.
  • Turn one project into 2–3 angles: Feature + Interview + follow-up analysis.

When you improve your workflow, your effective hourly rate rises even if the fee stays the same.

What to clarify Why it matters Simple wording you can use
Fee / rate No surprises after you deliver “What’s the fee for this assignment?”
Length expectation Avoid under/over delivering “Is this targeted to a 6–10 minute read or longer?”
Deadline + revision window Plan your time properly “When would you like the first draft, and how many revision rounds are typical?”
Payment method + timeline Cashflow planning “How do you handle invoicing and payment timing?”
Rights / exclusivity Can you repost later? “Is there an exclusivity period? When can I republish an excerpt?”
Career tip: even if your first fee is modest, a Cointelegraph Magazine byline can be a strong portfolio asset. Use it to get bigger clients, higher-paying outlets, or repeat assignments.

After publishing: turn one article into repeat paid work

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A beginner often stops after one published article. A professional uses one publication to build a pipeline. Here’s the simplest path:

After publish

Make a “Portfolio Upgrade” page in 30 minutes

  • Add your Cointelegraph Magazine byline link at the top of your author page.
  • Add a 2-line case study: “What the story was, what sources you used, what you learned.”
  • Add one testimonial-style line from the editor if they complimented your work.

This helps you pitch higher-paying outlets and clients.

Repeat

Pitch a follow-up angle immediately

Before you forget your reporting, pitch one follow-up idea:

  • Interview someone you couldn’t include in the first story.
  • Turn a section into a “6 Questions” Q&A.
  • Write an analysis piece: “What this story reveals about the industry.”

Editors prefer writers who bring a “series mindset.”

Network

Stay useful to editors (without being annoying)

  • Send 1 short idea every 4–6 weeks if you have something strong.
  • Keep ideas specific and reportable.
  • Show you understand the magazine’s tone and formats.

This is how you become a recurring contributor over time.

Asset What you do Why it earns
One flagship feature Make it your “best work” sample Higher trust = higher pay later
One repeatable beat Cover the same niche repeatedly Faster writing = better hourly rate
One pitch system Reuse templates + checklists Consistent output = consistent opportunities
Editor relationship Be reliable, accurate, calm Repeat assignments without re-proving yourself
If you want to learn by example, open the Features page and read 2–3 story intros. Notice how quickly they establish stakes and meaning. Then imitate the structure (not the wording). Read Features.

Final checklist + FAQ + resource library (everything in one place)

Use the checklist below every time you pitch Cointelegraph Magazine. It keeps you safe, clear, and professional. Then read the FAQ for common beginner mistakes. Finally, use the resource library links to study the publication directly.

FAQ (beginner questions)

Can a complete beginner write for Cointelegraph Magazine?
If you are a beginner writer but you can report (interview people) and you can write clearly, you can start. However, you should create 3 writing samples first so you can include links. Start with “6 Questions” or a small “Journeys” story because interviews create real material quickly.
Do I need to be a crypto expert?
You need enough knowledge to avoid basic mistakes, but expertise can be built. The key is honesty: don’t pretend. Report carefully, interview experts, and verify claims. A strong writer who respects evidence often beats a hype-driven “expert.”
How long should my pitch be?
Short. Usually 250–350 words is enough. Include: format, why now, reporting plan, outline, and links. If it is too long, editors may not read it fully. If it is too short, it sounds like you didn’t pre-report.
Should I send a full draft without being asked?
Usually no. Pitch first. If they assign it, they’ll confirm expectations, timing, and terms. A pitch is how you reduce wasted effort and avoid writing something they can’t publish.
Can I use AI to write the article?
Use AI only as a helper (outline, clarity, proofreading). Do not rely on AI for facts, quotes, or claims. Your credibility comes from reporting and verification. If you wouldn’t defend a line in front of an editor, remove it.
What if my pitch is rejected?
Treat rejection as feedback. Improve your angle, strengthen your reporting plan, and pitch again later. Meanwhile, publish the story as a sample on your own blog (if it doesn’t violate any confidentiality). Every strong sample increases your future chances.
One final reminder: the fastest way to earn from serious publications is to be a “low-risk writer.” Low-risk means: you meet deadlines, you verify claims, you disclose conflicts, and you communicate clearly. Do that for 3–6 months and you can build a reliable paid writing pipeline.

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