MC-Guide
Content Writing
Website 8: Restofworld.org
How Can You Earn Money Writing For “restofworld.org” Website
This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to restofworld.org.
You will learn what Restofworld.org wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.
Guide: How to Pitch and Write for “Rest of World”
This guide helps you understand how to become a paid contributor for Rest of World (RoW), an award-winning non-profit publication. Unlike typical tech blogs, RoW looks for real journalism about technology’s impact outside the Western bubble.
You will learn how to find a story in your local city, how to craft a professional “pitch” (proposal), and how to work with editors to get published. This is a step up from casual blogging—it is a path to becoming a professional reporter.
Section 1 · The Mission
What is “Rest of World” and why is it different?
Most tech journalism focuses on what is happening in San Francisco, London, or New York. Rest of World challenges this. Their goal is to document what happens when technology collides with culture, labor, and politics in the non-Western world.
If you live in Lagos, Bangalore, Jakarta, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, or Kyiv, you have an advantage. They want your local perspective. They are not interested in the next iPhone release unless it specifically changes life in a village in Indonesia.
They specifically look for stories from:
- Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, etc.)
- Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, etc.)
- Asia (India, Indonesia, Philippines, China, etc.)
- Eastern Europe & Post-Soviet states.
They rarely publish stories focused solely on the US, Canada, or Western Europe.
For RoW, “tech” is not just gadgets. It includes:
- Gig Economy: Delivery drivers, ride-hailing apps.
- E-commerce: How people buy/sell locally.
- Labor: Factory work, content moderation, AI training.
- Culture: Gaming, influencers, social media trends.
The story is usually about the people using the tech, not the code itself.
Section 2 · Story Types
What counts as a “Rest of World” story?
Before you write, you must validate your idea. RoW stories usually fall into specific “beats” or categories. If your idea doesn’t fit one of these, it will likely be rejected.
Labor and The Gig Economy
This is one of their strongest sections. Stories about Uber drivers, food delivery couriers (Rappi, Gojek, Glovo), or people working in “click farms” or data annotation centers.
- Example: “How delivery drivers in Sao Paulo are using WhatsApp to organize strikes.”
- Focus: Wages, working conditions, algorithms controlling humans.
Social Media and Culture
How local platforms (like WeChat, Line, KakaoTalk) or global ones (TikTok, Instagram) are changing local culture. This includes influencers, gaming communities, or political misinformation.
- Example: “The rise of ‘Virtual Youtubers’ in rural India.”
- Focus: Unexpected ways people use social apps.
E-commerce and Startups
Not just funding news. They want to know how businesses operate on the ground. How do people pay? How do goods get delivered in places without addresses?
- Example: “Why Amazon is struggling to compete with local sellers in Cairo.”
- Focus: Logistics, payments, local innovation vs global giants.
Environment and Supply Chain
Where does the lithium for batteries come from? Who recycles the e-waste? Stories about the physical reality of digital technology.
- Example: “The hidden environmental cost of Bitcoin mining in Kazakhstan.”
- Focus: The physical footprint of tech.
| Bad Idea (Reject) | Good Idea (Accept) | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| “What is Bitcoin?” | “How Nigerians use Bitcoin to bypass inflation.” | First is generic; second is local & active. |
| “My opinion on AI.” | “Interviews with Kenyan workers training AI models.” | RoW wants reporting (facts/quotes), not opinion essays. |
| “A new app launched.” | “This new app is causing riots in the streets.” | Tech news is boring; Tech impact is interesting. |
Section 3 · Pre-Writing
How to find a story (Research & Reporting)
You cannot just sit at your computer and write for Rest of World. You need to do some “reporting.” Even a beginner can do this. Here is a simple workflow to find a story in your city.
Look around you. Ask simple questions:
- Why is everyone in my city suddenly using this specific app?
- Why are delivery drivers protesting downtown?
- How is my grandmother paying her bills online now?
- What are local politicians saying about “data privacy”?
A “source” is just a human involved in the story.
- The User: A person using the app.
- The Worker: The driver, the warehouse worker.
- The Expert: A local university professor or activist.
Action: Find 2 people involved in the trend. Talk to them. Ask them “How does this affect your life?”
Section 4 · The Pitch
How to Pitch (The most important step)
You do not write the full article first. You write a Pitch (a proposal email). Editors are busy. Your pitch must be perfect. RoW provides specific guidelines.
The Headline (Subject Line)
Make it catchy but descriptive.
Bad: Pitching a story about Brazil.
Good: PITCH: How Brazilian Pix payments are killing credit cards.
The “Nut Graf” (Summary)
This is a journalism term. It means: What is the story in a nutshell? In 2-3 sentences, explain:
- What is happening?
- Who is it happening to?
- Why does it matter now?
The “So What?”
Explain the stakes. Is this a new trend? Is it a danger to society? Is it a unique innovation? Why should a reader in New York or London care about this local story?
Why You?
Briefly explain why you are the right person. “I live in Jakarta and speak the language,” or “I have interviewed 3 drivers already.” Link to your portfolio or previous blog posts (even Medium or Substack links help).
Subject: PITCH: [Proposed Headline]
Dear [Region Editor Name],
I am writing to pitch a story about [Topic]. In [City/Country], a new trend is emerging where [Brief description of the tech/issue].
The Story: [2 paragraphs explaining the details. Mention the specific characters or sources you will interview. Mention the conflict or tension.]
Why Now: [Mention recent stats, news events, or why this is urgent.]
About Me: I am a freelance writer based in [City]. My work has appeared in [Links]. I have access to [Sources].
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Section 5 · Money & Logistics
Payment, Contracts, and “Kill Fees”
Rest of World is a professional publication. This means they pay professional rates. While rates vary by experience and complexity, here is the general landscape.
Based on public “Who Pays Writers” data:
- Short news briefs (300-500 words): Often $200 – $350.
- Standard Features (800-1200 words): Often $0.50 – $1.00 per word.
- Deep Dives: Can negotiate higher flat fees.
Note: Always confirm the fee with the editor before starting to write.
Sometimes, you write a story, but they decide not to publish it (maybe the news changed, or the draft didn’t work out).
- Kill Fee: A percentage (usually 25% or 50%) of the agreed full fee that they pay you even if they don’t publish.
- Make sure to ask: “Is there a kill fee?” in your contract.
Section 6 · Ethics
The Golden Rules of Journalism
Writing for RoW is not like writing a personal blog. You are acting as a reporter. You must adhere to strict ethical guidelines.
- Record Interviews: Always ask permission, then record. You need proof of what people said.
- Fact Check: Every name, date, and number must be verified.
- Protect Vulnerable Sources: If a worker might get fired for talking to you, discuss using a pseudonym (fake name) with your editor first.
- No Plagiarism: Never copy text from other news sites.
- No AI Writing: Do not use ChatGPT to write your article. Editors can tell, and it is factually unreliable.
- No Pay for Play: Never accept money from a company to write about them.
Section 7 · Final Checklist
Ready to Pitch? Check this list first.
Before you send that email to the editor (emails are listed on their “How to Pitch” page), go through this list.