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Write for Urban Voices

Your city has a story.
We'll help you tell it.

Urban Voices is built by practitioners, researchers, journalists, activists, and engaged citizens who know their cities from the inside. You don't need a journalism degree. You need a story worth telling, a commitment to accuracy, and a genuine connection to the issue you're writing about.

Apply as Intern → Apply as Guest Writer →
50+
Active contributors
30+
Cities covered
300+
Stories published
6
Years independent
Choose your path

Two ways to join the community

We have a structured internship programme for those who want sustained mentorship, and an open guest contributor track for anyone with a compelling story to share — no long-term commitment required.

Internship Programme

Urban Voices Intern

A structured 6-month programme for students and early-career writers who want editorial mentorship, a developed beat, and published work on a national platform.

⏱ ~10 hrs / week · 6 months · Structured
✓
Dedicated editorial mentor — a senior contributor who reviews and develops your work throughout the programme
✓
Your own beat — we assign a topic area matched to your expertise so you build a coherent body of work
✓
Published byline on every article with your full contributor profile page
✓
Certificate of contribution and reference letter on successful completion
✓
Access to Urban Voices editorial network — briefings, expert interviews, and press access
✓
Open to students, researchers, and early-career professionals from any field
Apply for Internship →

Next cohort: August 2026 · Applications open now

Guest Contributor

Guest Writer

Have a story to share with a national audience? You don't need a long-term commitment — just a well-argued piece grounded in evidence and connected to urban India.

⏱ One article or series · Flexible · Open to all
✓
No commitment required — write one piece, or pitch a series. You decide how involved you want to be
✓
Editorial sub-editing included — every piece gets a thorough edit before publication
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Published byline with a contributor profile page linking to all your Urban Voices work
✓
Open to all backgrounds — journalists, planners, researchers, architects, students, activists, and citizens equally welcome
✓
No journalism degree required. Strong opinions grounded in evidence are what we are looking for
✓
Pieces are considered on merit — we do not favour established names over first-time writers
Apply as Guest Writer →

Rolling applications · We respond within 7–10 days

Editorial standards

What makes a great Urban Voices piece

We don't look for credentials. We look for these four things in every pitch, from every contributor.

1
A specific, grounded angle

The best Urban Voices pieces are rooted in a specific place, policy, person, or moment. "The problem with Indian cycling infrastructure" is a topic. "Why Pune's 115 km of cycle lanes went unused — and who is responsible" is a story. Be specific. Name the street, the scheme, the official, the community.

2
Evidence, not assertion

Every significant claim needs support — a government report, a study, an interview with someone who knows, data you have analysed. We fact-check thoroughly and will ask you to substantiate or remove unsupported claims before publication.

3
Fairness — even when you have a point of view

Urban Voices has a clear editorial perspective: cities should work for people. Within that, we expect writers to represent opposing views fairly, give subjects the opportunity to respond, and distinguish clearly between fact and opinion.

4
A clear editorial reason to publish now

Why does this piece need to exist today? It might be a policy announcement, a new study, a development in court, or an anniversary — but every pitch should answer: "Why should a reader in Mumbai or Delhi care about this, right now?"

What happens next

From pitch to published

Here is exactly what happens after you hit submit on the application form.

1
You apply

Fill in the form — takes 5 minutes. Include your name, city, a sentence about your background, and 2–3 lines on the story you want to tell.

2
We review

Our editors read every application within 7–10 working days. We look at your pitch, your proposed angle, and whether it fits our current editorial needs.

3
We commission

If your pitch is accepted, you will receive a brief with guidance on length, structure, sourcing expectations, and a publication timeline.

4
You publish

After editing and fact-checking, your article goes live with your full byline, contributor profile, and social promotion across all Urban Voices channels.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need prior publishing experience?
No. We have published first-time writers alongside experienced journalists. What matters is the quality of your ideas, your connection to the issue, and your willingness to engage with the editorial process. Some of our most-read pieces were written by people who had never been published before.
What topics do you cover?
Anything that affects the quality of urban life in India: transport, housing, air quality, public space, urban planning, governance, civic innovation, climate, sanitation, water, urban heritage, and community life. The common thread is that it must matter to people who live in cities.
How long should my article be?
Most published pieces on Urban Voices are 800–1,500 words. Longer, deeply-reported features of 2,000–3,000 words are welcome if the story genuinely warrants the length. We do not publish content below 600 words — depth and context are the whole point.
Is this paid?
Urban Voices is an independent, non-profit platform. We are not able to offer payment for contributions at this stage. What we offer is editorial development and mentorship, a published byline reaching a national audience, a permanent contributor profile, social promotion, and — for interns — a certificate and reference letter. We are always transparent about this.
Can I republish my piece elsewhere?
Urban Voices takes first publication rights. After your piece is published with us, you are free to republish it elsewhere with a credit line: "This article was first published in Urban Voices (urbanvoices.in)." We ask for 2 weeks exclusivity before republication.
How long does it take to hear back?
We aim to respond to all applications within 7–10 working days. If you have not heard back within two weeks, please send a brief follow-up to hello@urbanvoices.in. We receive a high volume of pitches and occasionally things slip through the net.
I don't have a story ready. Can I still reach out?
Yes. If you have a broad area you want to write in but aren't sure of the specific angle, send us a short note explaining your background and your interest area. We will let you know if there is a gap in our coverage we would like you to fill, or suggest angles worth exploring.
Not ready for the full form?

Send us a quick pitch first

If you have a story idea but are not ready to fill in the full application, drop us a short note here — a working headline and 2–3 sentences on the angle. We will get back to you within a week.

Or apply formally via the buttons above for the full process