There are several ways you can interact with PublicSource journalists. Beyond reaching out to us directly, you can pitch freelance stories, first-person essays or send us story ideas, news tips or securely transmit other important information.

First-person essays, story tips or ideas

If you have a personal story you want to write for us, a story tip or an idea that you think PublicSource reporters should look into, fill out our short form below.

Here are some examples of first-person stories others have written for us.

SHORT PITCH FORM

Freelance stories

If you’re a local freelancer who wants to report a story for us, please use our more in-depth form below to pitch your story to PublicSource. This form will also give you a good idea of what we’re looking for.

We’ll reach out to you if we want to know more, so please leave a good e-mail contact. If you don’t hear back from us within a week, our editors have reviewed your submission and decided the pitch was not for us.

We pay our storytellers; rates vary depending on the story.

LONG PITCH FORM

Leak to us

Part of our mission at PublicSource is to hold those in power accountable. Our community is key in helping us investigate those who breach public trust. If you know of government officials, companies or institutions in the Pittsburgh region abusing power or doing something wrong, we provide guidelines on how to contact us while protecting information you share and your identity. (Remember that no form of communication is 100 percent safe. Make a plan about how you’ll handle it if someone learns you contacted us.)

LEAK TO US