MC-Guide
Content Writing
Website 23: Youthtoday.org
How Can You Earn Money Writing For “youthtoday.org” Website
This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to youthtoday.org.
You will learn what Youthtoday.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 Write for “Youth Today” (Step by Step)
This guide helps you understand how to write and submit articles to Youth Today, the leading independent news source for professionals in the youth service field.
Whether you are a social worker with an opinion or a freelance writer looking to break into social impact journalism, this guide breaks down the submission process, topics they love, and the difference between unpaid op-eds and paid reporting.
Section 1 · Understand the Publication
What “Youth Today” actually looks for
Youth Today is not a magazine for teenagers. It is a professional trade publication for the adults who work with youth. This includes social workers, foster care administrators, juvenile justice attorneys, after-school program directors, and policy makers.
They publish high-quality journalism and opinion pieces that help these professionals do their jobs better or understand new laws.
They focus on specific “beats” related to child welfare:
- Foster Care & Adoption: Systemic issues, aging out, funding.
- Juvenile Justice: Alternatives to detention, legal reforms.
- Out-of-School Time: After-school programs, camps, funding.
- Education & Training: Vocational training for at-risk youth.
- Mental Health: Trauma-informed care and substance abuse.
Imagine you are writing for:
- A busy program director running a youth shelter.
- A legislator deciding on funding for after-school grants.
- A researcher looking for the latest data on youth homelessness.
Your writing must be professional, evidence-based, and solution-oriented.
Section 2 · The Two Paths
Opinion Essays vs. Reported Journalism
Before you write, you must decide which “bucket” your idea fits into. The submission process—and the potential for payment—is different for each.
Guest Opinion Essay (Op-Ed)
This is the most common entry point for beginners or experts.
- Goal: Persuade the reader about a specific policy, problem, or solution.
- Format: 600–800 words. Strong voice. First-person allowed.
- Who writes this: Practitioners, students, directors, advocates.
- Money: Usually unpaid (pro-bono). You do this for authority, portfolio clips, and advocacy.
- Link: Submission Guidelines.
Reported News / Feature
This is traditional journalism.
- Goal: Inform the reader about news, a new trend, or an investigation.
- Format: Interviews with sources, quotes, data, objective tone.
- Who writes this: Freelance journalists and reporters.
- Money: Often paid. You must pitch the editor directly with a “story idea,” not a finished essay.
Section 3 · Topic Selection
How to choose a winning topic
Editors at Youth Today receive many submissions. To get accepted, your topic must be timely and relevant to their professional audience.
- Responses to current news: “How the new federal budget impacts rural foster care.”
- Proven solutions: “We reduced truancy by 20% using this mentorship model.”
- Workforce issues: “Why youth workers are burning out and how to fix it.”
- Youth Voice: Essays co-written with youth about their lived experience.
- Generic advice: “Why helping kids is good.” (Too vague).
- Product promotion: “Buy my new software for tracking attendance.” (This is an ad).
- Academic papers: Do not send a 20-page PDF with footnotes. Send a readable 700-word summary.
- Parenting advice: The audience is professionals, not just parents.
Section 4 · Workflow
Step-by-step submission plan
Follow this precise workflow to maximize your chances of acceptance for a Guest Opinion Essay.
Read 3 recent articles
Go to the Opinion Section. Read three recent posts. Notice:
- The tone (serious but readable).
- The headline style.
- The length (usually short paragraphs).
- The bio at the bottom (who is the author?).
Draft your 700-word essay
Write your draft. Use this structure:
- The Hook: Start with a statistic, a brief story, or a hard truth.
- The Problem: Explain what is wrong with the current system.
- The Evidence: Use data or real-world examples to back up your claim.
- The Solution: What should policy makers or program directors do differently?
Prepare your “submission package”
Youth Today requires specific items. Have these ready:
- Word count: Ensure it is between 600 and 800 words.
- Headshot: A high-quality professional photo of yourself.
- Bio: 1-2 sentences. “Jane Doe is the director of [Org] and has worked in foster care for 10 years.”
- Contact info: Your phone number and email (for the editor only).
Email the editor
According to their guidelines, you should email your submission to the designated editor (check the website for the current email, usually listed on the submission page).
- Subject Line: Guest Opinion Submission: [Your Title]
- Body: Brief polite note. “I am submitting this op-ed about [topic]. It is relevant because [reason].”
- Attachment: Attach the Word doc and your photo.
Section 5 · Money & Career
How you actually “make money” with this
Since op-eds are typically unpaid, how does this help you earn? You must view Youth Today as a high-authority platform.
Publishing an Op-Ed builds your name as an expert. This leads to:
- Paid Speaking Gigs: Conferences pay speakers who are published in reputable trade journals.
- Consulting: Organizations hire consultants who demonstrate thought leadership.
- Book Deals: Publishers look for authors with a platform.
If you want direct cash for words:
- Pitch News: Do not send an opinion. Pitch a “reported story.”
- Example: “I want to interview 5 directors about the new grant cuts.”
- Payment: Freelance rates vary, but reported journalism is a paid service. Negotiate with the editor before writing.
| Content Type | Direct Pay | Indirect Value |
|---|---|---|
| Guest Op-Ed | Rare / Unpaid | High (Portfolio, SEO, Authority) |
| Reported News | Yes (Freelance rates) | Medium (Clips for other jobs) |
| Sponsored Post | Yes (Paid by you) | Marketing (Buying attention) |
Section 6 · Ethics
Ethics and Standards
Writing for the youth sector requires high ethical standards.
Section 7 · Final Review
Pre-Submission Checklist
Before you hit “Send” on your email to the editor, ensure you have:
Content Check
- [ ] Word count is 600–800 words.
- [ ] The tone is professional, not casual blogging.
- [ ] You have offered a solution, not just a complaint.
Technical Check
- [ ] File is a .doc or .docx (Word document).
- [ ] High-res headshot attached (JPG/PNG).
- [ ] 2-sentence bio included at the bottom of the doc.
- [ ] Your phone number is included for the editor.