EDITORS ON THE HUNT

THE GUARDIAN NEWSLETTER ECOSYSTEM IS CALLING FOR STORY IDEAS INSIDE THE NEWSLETTER THE LONG WAVE.

About the Long Wave: The Long Wave is a weekly newsletter dedicated to exploring Black life and culture globally. It is primarily written by columnist Nesrine Malik and was originally edited by Jason Okundaye. 

The newsletter is written and edited by Nesrine and Jason, they are the editorial leads and has largely captured the title as an institutional authority of contemporary Black British culture. Malik operates from within The Guardian’s opinion structure with a global lens, while Jason Okundaye’s work is closely tied to London’s Black cultural and intellectual scene. 

Read their work: https://www.theguardian.com/world/series/the-long-wave and Malik’s archive at https://www.theguardian.com/profile/nesrine-malik. 

The most direct way into this ecosystem is not pitching the newsletter itself, but aligning with the Opinion desk and contributing work that fits the same level of context and perspective; 

The Guardian’s contributor guidelines are here: https://www.theguardian.com/info/2017/oct/06/contribute-to-the-guardian. 

Email the newsletter team at thelongwave@theguardian.com.

THE OBSERVER IS COMMISSIONING STORIES FOR FUTURE ISSUES

About the Observer: The desk is now shaped in part by Ellen Peirson-Hagger, recently appointed Deputy Books and Arts Editor, whose work spans literary criticism, culture, and education across outlets including The Guardian, and the Financial Times. 

The editor is especially interested in new author profiles tied to new books, essays that connect literature to broader cultural or political shifts, and criticism that lands in real time with the arts calendar. Pitches are routed to the appropriate desk based on fit and timing of author profiles tied to upcoming book releases (summer and fall 2026 publishing cycle) arts criticism tied to exhibition calendars as well as essays on cultural memory and publishing trends work here.

Hagger’s work: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ellen-peirson-hagger, and reach out through her site: https://ellencph.co.uk/. 

The formal submission route remains through The Guardian/Observer contributor guidelines: https://www.theguardian.com/info/2017/oct/06/contribute-to-the-guardian

The Observer commissions typically 6–12 weeks ahead of print cycles

ESPN IS COMMISSIONING STORIES FOR FUTURE CYCLES

ESPN works on seasonal editorial calendars and writing and video storytelling assignments are tied to: sports calendar milestones, event programming windows and digital feature packages of athlete profiles tied to summer and fall sports calendar including but not limited to playoffs, NFL and NBA drafts, major awards ceremonies.They are also interested in human-interest sports stories linked to cultural narratives.

To engage, start with ESPN’s editorial structure and contributor pathways: general editorial contact runs through espn.editors@espn.com, with additional newsroom access via their contact page https://www.espn.com/espn/news/story?page=contact-index. 

https://www.espn.com/espn/staff. 

ESPN journalists and editors are most active on X (Twitter) and increasingly on Instagram for story promotion, where assignment signals and coverage priorities surface in real time.

Follow key editors:

Kevin Merida (longform + narrative features leadership)
X: https://x.com/meridak

Ryan Spoon (oversees digital storytelling strategy and content direction)
X: https://x.com/ryanspoon

Rob King (historically oversaw SportsCenter and editorial programming decisions)
X: https://x.com/ESPNRobKing

Kaitee Daley (drives digital editorial priorities and audience-facing storytelling)
X: https://x.com/kaiteedaley

Patrick Hruby (longform features, investigations, and cultural sports narratives)
X: https://x.com/patrick_hruby

EDITORIAL MOVES

The Guardian appointed Assistant Editor and Writer, Micha Frazer-Carroll to The Long Wave

About Micha: Micha Frazer-Carroll is a London-based author, journalist, and editor specializing in the intersections of mental health, racial justice, and cultural criticism

Micha Frazer-Carroll has been appointed Assistant Editor and Writer for The Long Wave, The Guardian's weekly newsletter covering Black life and culture. 

She has held editorial positions at gal-dem (Opinions Editor and Arts & Culture Editor) and HuffPost. She also founded Blueprint, a magazine dedicated to lived-experience mental health narratives.

Freelance Bylines: Her reporting and criticism have appeared in Vogue, Dazed, The Observer, and New Statesman.

Contact Micha at: michafrazercarroll@gmail.com Website:  official website and projects page.

Journalism Portfolio: Her Muck Rack profile lists michafc@hotmail.com as a contact for her freelance work.

Ellen Peirson-Hagger has been appointed as the Deputy Books and Arts Editor at The Observer. 

About Ellen: Ellen Peirson-Hagger is a UK-based journalist and editor focused on books, arts, and culture. As the Deputy Books and Arts Editor at The Observer, she commissions and shapes literary and cultural coverage. Before this role, she worked as a senior writer at Tes Magazine, and has contributed to outlets including The Guardian, the Financial Times, and the New Statesman.

Personal website: https://ellencph.co.uk/ 

Muck Rack profile: https://muckrack.com/ellen-peirson-hagger

Prowly profile: https://prowly.com/profiles/journalists/ellen-peirson-hagger 

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ellencph

Guardian/Observer reviews and features:
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ellen-peirson-hagger

Sydney Pulaski has been appointed Editorial Associate at Glamour USA

On April 28, 2026, Sydney Pulaski was appointed Editorial Associate at Glamour USA. She transitions into this role from her previous position as Assistant to the Global Editorial Director at the fashion and lifestyle platform.

About Sydney: She’s known for her work in curated fashion and personal styling, frequently sharing her "curated edits" and style finds through her personal website and Instagram. Prior to her current role at Glamour, Sydney built a background in fashion curation and administrative support as an Assistant at Glamour.

In her new role as an Editorial Associate, Sydney's responsibilities involve supporting the editorial vision of the magazine, including but not limited to:

Content Production: Assisting with the creation and coordination of editorial spreads, often involving researching clothing and accessories to match specific themes. (2) Event Support: Helping execute major publication events, such as the Global Beauty & Wellness Awards. (3) Brand Voice: Contributing to the magazine's digital and print presence through market research and selecting trends that resonate with the Glamour audience. (4) Administrative Coordination: Managing communication between the editorial team, press offices, and stylists to ensure smooth production of photoshoots

Official Website: sydneypulaski.com

Instagram: @sydneypulaski

Professional Profile: Sydney Pulaski on LinkedIn

EDITORIAL ACCESS: Media Credentials Opening & Closing March 1st.

Introduction

BET AWARDS + BET EXPERIENCE 

BET Awards 2026, Culture’s Biggest Night

Date: June 28, 2026 Location: Peacock Theater, Los Angeles

BET Experience (BETX), Culture’s Biggest Week

Dates: June 25–27, 2026 Location: Los Angeles, LA Convention Center

About the BET Awards + BET Experience: This four-day celebration of Black excellence and shared experience brings together the voices, stories, and moments that define the culture, anchored by the “BET Awards,” Culture’s Biggest Night, airing live Sunday, June 28, at the Peacock Theater, and BETX, an immersive, fan-first experience taking over Los Angeles June 25 – 27.

BET Press Contacts

Mercedes Smith: Mercedes.Smith@bet.net 

Autumn Griffin: Autumn.Griffin@bet.net 

Erica Knox: Erica.Knox@bet.net

SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SIFF 2026) 

Dates: May 7 – May 17, 2026 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA

About SIFF 2026: The 2026 edition of the Seattle International Film Festival runs for 11 days across multiple venues in the city, including SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Cinema Downtown, and Seattle Center spaces. It opens with the film I Love Boosters at the Paramount Theatre on May 7 and closes on May 17 with The Invite.

Media accreditation is open now for the May 2026 festival and includes access to screenings, interviews, and press materials

Apply here: https://www.siff.net/media/news/pr-fest26-first-look

ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2026

Dates: July 3–5, 2026 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana (Convention Center + Caesars Superdome)

About: ESSENCE Festival of Culture is currently anchored by major on-site and experiential activations from Coca-Cola (presenting partner with “Shining Together” immersive spaces and lounges), AT&T (digital experience + creator engagement zones), Walmart (commerce + marketplace-style activations tied to culture and shopping), Disney (content + talent-driven experiential programming), and Ford Motor Company (vehicle showcases and lifestyle test-drive style activations), alongside recurring beauty and wellness integrations from brands like L’Oréal and Unilever across the convention center footprint and Superdome programming zones.

Media credentials do appear to have opened (April 2026 window) but ESSENCE has not publicly posted a stable, direct application link yet—it’s still being distributed through internal/PR channels and rolling updates.

Applications are hosted via the ESSENCE Media Center and close mid-June.

For media credentialing and festival press access the official press contact listed across 2026 releases is Niyah Brooks, who handles festival media relations and press coordination through ESSENCE Communications. 

Her direct contact email is nbrooks@essence.com.

AFROFEST (CANADA)

Dates: July 2026  Location: Woodbine Park, Toronto, Canada

About AfroFest Canada: Africa’s largest free African music festival in North America, produced by Music Africa. It runs as a full cultural ecosystem—music, food vendors, fashion, youth programming, and diaspora business showcases. Media access is handled through organizer approval rather than a public open form.

Info: https://www.afrofest.ca/

MUSIKFEST

Dates: July 31 – August 9, 2026 Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

About Musikfest: Musikfest is one of the largest free music festivals in the U.S., held annually in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and spanning 10 days of live performances, food programming, and brand activations. It’s a high-access event compared to major award shows—media, creators, and cultural storytellers can tap in through ArtsQuest for coverage, artist interviews, and on-the-ground content tied to music, community, and lifestyle.

Info: https://www.musikfest.org Primary media page: https://www.artsquest.org/press/