Between a pandemic, With climate change and technological advancements that continue to reshape nearly all lifestyles, the past year has been an indicator of work in the United States. At WIRED, we believe that some of the people best positioned to cover this rapid evolution – from growing pains to engineering pivots and everything in between – are the ones who know these industries from the inside out. This is why we are launching a new program called WIRED Resilience Residency. Aimed at professionals whose careers have been turned by these forces, the Resilience Residency offers a unique opportunity for non-journalists to report compelling stories from their changing fields and start new conversations about the future.
For six months, starting in June, residents will collaborate with WIRED’s award-winning editorial team on ambitious storytelling projects about their industries. An artist could tell how performers are reinventing theater, dance and live music. A city planner could explore how cities are actually changing in the wake of the pandemic. These projects can take many forms, including written features, photo essays, data visualizations, podcasts, videos, social media experiences and beyond. WIRED will be posting residents’ work on its channels throughout the program. During the process, residents will become familiar with WIRED’s reporting and writing standards, receive feedback on their work, and work with experienced members of our staff.
Our goal is for everyone – residents, WIRED employees and our public – to benefit from the exchange of expertise, perspectives and experiences. To this end, we invite and encourage applicants from underrepresented communities, as well as industries that do not regularly appear on our pages. WIRED is a publication about change, and we want our coverage to reflect the full diversity of transformations happening across the country.
Call for applications
The deadline for submit material for the WIRED Resilience residence is May 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Documents submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Interested candidates should provide:
- A cover letter of 500 words maximum introducing yourself and explaining your interest in WIRED and the residency program
- CV or CV
- Contact details of at least two professional references, including name, affiliation and email address
- A project proposal of no more than 800 words describing how you plan to cover your sector during the six month residency at WIRED. The proposal doesn’t need to present specific stories in detail, but it should give us a good idea of what issues you want to focus on in your area and how you would execute your storytelling. Some questions to guide you: How is technology or the pandemic reshaping your industry and how is it affecting people? What changes are you most excited about? What changes worry you the most? What stories or perspectives on these issues are you not seeing in the media right now, and how would you incorporate them into your work? How can WIRED ‘s resources support that?
Applicants also have the option of including work samples, via links or PDFs, that demonstrate skills or experiences relevant to the proposal. This can include examples of published writing or research, portfolios of creative work, service projects in your community, speaking engagements, etc. These samples are not required in your tender documents, but as they help us assess your ability to complete the proposed project, they are recommended.
