ExplWorld commissions from writers and photographers who were actually there. Not "spent a weekend and read the internet" there — there long enough to have noticed something a search result would not tell you.
What we commission
- Expedition reports — a long journey, told properly. 2,000–4,000 words.
- Photo essays — 12 to 20 photographs that argue something, with captions that carry weight. Your own images only.
- Field notes — shorter dispatches, 800–1,500 words, from somewhere under-covered or somewhere changing fast.
- City portraits — one city, one angle, 1,200–2,000 words. Not a top-ten list wearing a coat.
What we do not publish
- Listicles, round-ups and "best of" pieces.
- Anything written by a language model, in whole or in part. We ask, and we can usually tell.
- Sponsored content dressed as journalism. If a trip was paid for by someone with an interest in the outcome, disclose it in the pitch — it does not disqualify the story, hiding it does.
- Work published elsewhere, including on your own blog or newsletter.
Rates and rights
We pay per commissioned piece; the rate depends on length, reporting depth and whether photography is included, and is agreed in writing before you start. We buy first publication rights plus a permanent archive licence. You keep the copyright and you are free to republish after three months with a link back.
How to pitch
Send editors@explworld.com two or three published clips and one paragraph on the story only you can tell. The paragraph matters more than the clips. Tell us where you have been, when, and what you saw there that surprised you — not what the place is known for.
We answer every serious pitch within two weeks, including the ones we turn down, and we say why.