Write for us
// Join the bureau
Manifesto: Samosa Meets Chai is written by students, for students, across Karnataka. No campus PR, no brand partnerships, no influencer fluff. We cover the real stuff: hostel curfews, reval scandals, underground bands, canteen economies and the subcultures nobody else prints. If you notice things, we want you.
The SMC writing rules
01 Write how you talk at the tapri. 02 Name names, sensibly. 03 Back every claim with receipts. 04 Zero corporate buzzwords.
Who we’re looking for
- Reporters who can turn a hostel rumour into a sourced story.
- Photographers and illustrators for the frames that carry a dispatch.
- Culture writers for fests, gigs, drip and canteen dispatches.
- First-years and anyone without a journalism background. Curiosity and receipts matter more than a CV.
How it works
- Apply. Tell us who you are, your campus and the desk you want to write for.
- Meet your desk editor. They reply by email and help shape your first story.
- File. Report it, write it, send the receipts. Your editor works through drafts with you.
- Get your byline. Your story goes up on the site under your name or a pen name.
Frequently whispered questions
Do I need experience?
No. Send one idea and a few lines on why it matters. Your editor works through the first piece with you.
Can I write under a pen name?
Yes. Your editor needs to know who you are; readers don’t. Pen names are welcome, especially for sensitive stories.
Do I get paid?
We tell you what a piece pays before you start writing, so there are no surprises.
Will my college come after me?
We protect sources. If a story could put you at risk, say so in your application and your editor plans it with you, including publishing under a pen name.
Can I pitch just one story?
Yes. Use the pitch box on this page to email the editors a single idea. No commitment needed.
Apply in four parts
The form has four short sections. Pen names welcome.
- 1. About youName or pen name, email, college and city bureau.
- 2. What you want to doWrite, shoot, draw or edit; the desk you want; how often.
- 3. Your first storyOne headline, a three-sentence pitch and any photos or links.
- 4. Last thingA line on why SMC, and your OK for editors to edit and fact-check.
⚡ A desk editor replies by email.
