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How to Pitch

Decode commissions a small number of stories each month — investigations, reported features, and explainers at the intersection of technology and society in India. We work with journalists, researchers, lawyers, and writers who bring deep knowledge and rigorous methods to their subjects.

What We Commission

  • Investigations into digital systems and their documented real-world consequences
  • Reported features on communities navigating — or harmed by — technology
  • Explainers that make complex systems legible without sacrificing accuracy
  • Voices grounded in evidence and specific in their argument

What We Do Not Commission

  • Reviews, trend pieces, or gadget coverage of any kind
  • Opinion without any data or reportage
  • Stories that could be written entirely from a desk
  • Rewrites of press releases or official statements

What a Good Pitch Includes

  • 01 A specific thesis — what you know, not just what you are curious about
  • 02 Evidence that the story exists: documents, data, sources already spoken with
  • 03 Why this story matters now, and to whom
  • 04 Your reporting plan and a realistic timeline
  • 05 Any access, legal, or ethical considerations worth flagging

We pay competitive freelance rates. We edit collaboratively and give reporters meaningful credit and visibility. We acknowledge every pitch and aim to respond within two weeks.

Send us your pitch.

Send pitches to [email protected]

Email Your Pitch