With the intent of providing continued intelligent and entertaining content in the PopMatters’ Columns section, we are looking to broaden our staff of columnists and the voice of our writers’ community. We’re particularly interested in writers who live and work outside of the US, but that is not a deciding factor; in all cases, no matter the writer’s locale, we’re looking for those who can approach an array of cultural subject matter from their patch of the world with an international sensibility; that is, contextualize the local with an awareness of its place, historical and current, in the broader world.

Qualified writers are already readers of PopMatters (as but one vital supplement in their varied intellectual diet). They are familiar with the work of our current columnists, as well as other areas of the magazine, and they have a solid sense of what we’re looking for in content and caliber in these essays. We deliberately use the terms “essays” and “columns” interchangeably; as pieces are broad in scope yet grounded in real-world examples, and they are tied to regular deadlines and an established identity (and therein lay the “columnist” element). With these expectations in mind, we have monthly and every-other-month column slots available. Suitable writers are dedicated to regular deadlines and enjoy participating in friendly, ongoing communications with their editor.

Pitch deadline: 21 June
Approved Essays deadline: 19 July
Contact: Evan Sawdey, sawdey at popmatters dot com

The final eight episodes haven’t even been released yet, and already AMC’s Breaking Bad has been given the weighty title: “The Greatest Show in Television History”. While some make the case for The Sopranos and The Wire as the greatest, the fact that Breaking Bad is even in that echelon of discussion is incredible, and depending on how these next eight episodes wrap up, it may just very well clinch it.

Pitch Deadline: 15 June 2013
Final Essays Deadline: 31 July 2013
Contact: C.E. McAuley and Sarah Zupko
Email:  mcauley at popmatters dot com - and - editor at popmatters dot com

Although his first feature film, Citizen Kane, continues to be regarded by the high guard as one of the finest films ever made, Welles spent the rest of his life producing pictures that would either be derided or neglected, if he was even able to complete them. Reduced in his twilight years to acting in wine adverts and second-rate blockbusters in order to personally bankroll projects no real producers would, Welles was always working, even at the very end of his life, on films every bit as potent and radical as the debut that eclipsed his career.

Deadline: None. This is a standing call.
Contact: Karen Zarker
Email: zarker at popmatters dot com

PopMatters seeks intelligent and open minds to review books covering the entire spectrum of popular culture, from the big guns of the megapublishers to the edgy voices coming from the radical indie presses. Ideal reviews provide contextual commentary and bring an historical awareness to the piece—PopMatters book reviews are far more substantial than the average “liked it / hated it” review.

PopMatters seeks feature essays (min. 1,200 words - no max. limit) arguing the pros and cons of anachronism in film, literature, video games, music and other products of pop culture.