OHF Weekly is currently unable to pay writers. It pains me to tell writers who’ve written for the Associated Press, Billboard, Huffington Post, Latino Rebels, NBC News, Paper, The Guardian, The Washington Post, etc., of our situation. As a lifelong creative myself, I understand all too well how this is not an appealing arrangement for established or new writers. Unfortunately, these are the parameters OHF Weekly must work within. I do not resent writers who view this situation as a dealbreaker. No one wishes the circumstances were different more than me.
Even still there are writers, new writers, freelance writers, award-winning journalists, attorneys, and even a well-known antiracism author, and educators that have lent their voices to this publication, despite our lack of funding. And I am grateful for each one of them.
Why are we essentially writing for free?
Well, I cannot speak for the writers, but I do this because I believe OHF Weekly’s message is relevant. I have been denied opportunities due to preconceptions but also have been provided access thanks to advocacy. I understand the power of allyship and the richer truth of lived experience. People can change when they know change is possible,
I like to think that the writers who submit articles endure the collaborative editing process and subsequent rewrites because they, too, believe in this publication and its message.
So there you have it.
If any writer chooses to pitch OHF Weekly, I encourage them to drop us a line. And if not, believe me, I understand. Know that I want nothing more than to compensate them for their meaningful work. It’s only fair.
Love one another.
Clay Rivers
Our Human Family, Founder and Editor-in-Chief