Contributor Program
961 is the leading independent news and media company catering to the Lebanese audience. We are a small group of passionate Lebanese devoted to reporting stories that Lebanese want and love to engage with.
We’re happy to bring back our paid contributor program after a few years of hiatus! We also have staff writer positions open.
Why 961
Our main focus is to inform our readers about what is happening right now and why it matters – in an easy-to-understand way. That’s why our articles have been read over 60 million times. We’re on a mission to revolutionize news and storytelling in Lebanon.
Your Role
We are seeking storytellers with experience writing SEO-focused content who are excited to create engaging and relatable stories for 961 based in Lebanon.
You should have a knack for finding unique local angles that will resonate with what our audience (Gen Z and Millennials) are searching for.
Contributors should be able to cover everything from restaurant lists to trending stories and things to do.
We’re currently looking for contributors for these sections (with examples):
- Food & Drink
- Joe And The Juice Is Officially Coming To Beirut
- We Tried These New Knefe Donuts, And We’re Going Crazy For It!
- I Tried FlatWhite’s ‘Coffee In A Can’ Taking Over Lebanese Tiktok, Here’s My Honest Opinion
- Cerelac Ice Cream Is A Thing Now & It’s Bringing Back Lots Of Memories For Lebanese
- Lebanese People Are Sharing Their Weird Food Combos, And You Might Actually Be Down For It
- Travel, Things to Do, and Guides
- 10+ Day Trips You Can Take In Lebanon That Are 30 Mins, 1 hour, And 2 Hours Away From Beirut!
- 20 Beach Resorts In Lebanon Just Shared Their 2024 Prices With Us, Here’s How Much It’ll Cost You
- 9 Lakes And Rivers In Lebanon To Cool Down In This Summer Heat
- 10 Italian Restaurants In Lebanon That Are So Good You’ll Shout “Mamma Mia!”
- Listicles
- 10 Reasons Why You Should Date A Lebanese Woman (FYI, this article is our most popular one with over 500k+ views)
- 7 Reasons Why You Should Date A Lebanese Man
- 15+ Lebanese Sayings That Make Absolutely No Sense In English
- Stories
- History & Heritage
- Diaspora
What You’ll Do
- Research and write SEO-focused articles that drive reader engagement and grow 961’s audience
- You will receive specific assignments but will also be expected to propose your own topics.
- Should have a knack for finding unique angles that resonate with what our young audience is searching for.
- Have the ability to publish original, exclusive, or timely stories while still being passionate about producing evergreen, search-focused content.
- Ensure all information is accurate.
- Create content using 961’s voice and tone
- Before pitching, please visit our site to get a feel for what kind of content we publish.
- Consistently demonstrate a deep knowledge of what is happening and trending in Lebanon and the diaspora.
Your Qualifications
- Exceptional verbal and written English skills. Arabic is a major asset.
- Knowledge of SEO best practices & experience optimizing content for search is a major benefit.
- Availability to contribute regularly and deliver to tight deadlines.
- Have an eye for visuals and be able to pick visually appealing images for the article.
Position
This is a contributor position that will be compensated on a per-story basis. Currently, our rates fall between $5 and $10 USD depending on the article topic, length, tasks, and amount of work involved. Please note, that you must be based in Lebanon for this opportunity.
You have complete flexibility on when and where you work – you’ll gain access to our offices in Beirut to get work done or just hang out with the team.
Next steps after we receive your application:
*Please note that incomplete applications or pitches that do not follow the instructions provided will not be considered.
- Initial review: if we love your pitches or experience, our team will reach out for a trial assignment and discuss the details.
- Trial assignment: Successful publishing of your article on our website and socials means you’ll be fully onboarded as a 961 Contributor.
- Feedback: If your pitches aren’t in line with our current needs, we’ll try our best to provide feedback.