Anthropology News Call for Pitches: Signal/Noise

Anthropology News invites submissions on the theme of signal/noise. We are looking for stories about how communities, cultures, and individuals distinguish meaningful patterns from background noise, interpret disruptions, and find (dis)connection amid interference. What counts as signal versus noise, and who gets to decide? How are fuzzy boundaries clarified or precarious structures disrupted? What happens when communication is both necessary and fraught, or what makes messages shared or misconstrued?

Anthropology News encourages submissions in a variety of formats to present compelling stories that make anthropological insights accessible to a wide audience. Think short-form magazine-style stories with scientific bite—low on jargon, high on storytelling—or compelling photo essays or multimedia pieces. Read more about us here and consider how you might tell anthropological stories for a general audience as you consider the direction of your pitch.

Please submit a 300-word pitch outlining your piece’s central theme, along with a 50-word bio, through our submission form (button above). We will accept pitches through February 7, 2025. Authors of accepted pitches will be asked to develop their pieces in collaboration with AN’s editorial team, which will be published on a rolling basis on the AN website through June 2025. Feature articles should be around 2,000 words, photo essays should consist of six to eight high-resolution images with a 750-word introductory essay, and audiovisual work can be developed in consultation with AN editors. Contact us at gro.orhtnanacirema@na if you have any questions.