FAIR.org is a website of media criticism. The media issues we focus on include corporate ownership, over-reliance on official sources, and the lack of independent or alternative perspectives. A typical FAIR story focuses on US media coverage of a story currently in the news or an issue that receives perennial coverage, e.g., Afghanistan. We also occasionally cover news about the media—for example, layoffs of journalists, labor disputes or media mergers—and stories of activism that challenges media bias, censorship or policy.
FAIR’s primary audience is twofold. Many of our readers are media activists, interested in documented proof of media bias that will aid efforts to change it. We are also read by journalists, who are often skeptical of charges of media bias and resistant to anything that strikes them as shrill or heavy-handed. Both these audiences need well-documented articles based on concrete examples, not on assumptions or rhetoric. A good FAIR piece contains plenty of quotes from the coverage it is reviewing, illustrating its points with instances of clear bias (as well as examples of exceptionally good coverage). It also includes links to its sources for all fact-based claims.
As an anti-censorship media watch group, FAIR observes certain principles. We do not call for censorship of any viewpoint, but rather for the inclusion of excluded viewpoints. FAIR is pro-journalist, seeing working reporters as potential allies rather than enemies. We do not take positions on non-media-related issues, instead focusing on media coverage of such issues.
As an online publication, FAIR.org does not have word limits, but a typical story runs 1000–2000 words. It’s rare that a freelance piece will be more than 2000 words.
We use AP style. All links and citations should be included as parentheticals in FAIR style, with media outlet names bolded—e.g., “(Wall Street Journal, 11/23/21).”
Freelancers receive $300 per article, paid within two weeks of publication. To help our message find the widest possible audience, we request that writers grant FAIR the right to approve republication of their articles; any proceeds from such reprints would belong to the writers. We also ask that you grant us the right to publish your piece in the Nexis media database. FAIR publishes under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Creative Commons license, which allows for published work to be copied, distributed, displayed and performed for noncommercial purposes if full attribution is given and no alterations are made to the work.
Submissions from BIPOC, women and LGBTQ writers are particularly encouraged.
We do accept article submissions, but also encourage pitches that clearly outline the central critique and include several examples of what you are critiquing in the form of excerpts/quotes. Address submissions, queries, or questions to Julie Hollar (jhollar@fair.org) or Jim Naureckas (jnaureckas@fair.org).
