What is Shelfy Editorial?
As the digital journalism landscape continues to crumble, we’re building a new home for thoughtful, enduring culture journalism as part of the Shelfy platform. We hope to be a refuge for cultural news and criticism that elevates our collective understanding, and inspires more of the thoughtful engagement with art and culture that we love to see in our community.
Our Editorial Values
future-proof
Our approach to topics is release date, genre, language, location, and stream count agnostic. The focus is on depth, resonance, and enduring value - an archive that stands the test of time.
If a piece won’t resonate 5 years later, is it worth writing?
essential
Valuing reader’s time by only putting out the essential. Articles that are concise and impactful, a content calendar that is driven by what needs to be said rather than arbitrary schedules. We expect thoughtful curation on shelfy profiles, and want this to carry through to our Editorial philosophy.
In the constant content deluge, what makes this piece worth stopping to read?
exploratory
Focus on spotlighting underrepresented people and topics that we don’t think are getting proper shine. While we aren't against discussing the mainstream, our focus leans towards the cultural vanguard.
If we were only to write about 10 subjects per year, why is this one worth featuring?
experimental
Committed to standing out in a sea of digital sameness, we experiment with formats, visuals, and structures.
How can the presentation/format augment the delivery?
authentic
We value authenticity over echoing the crowd. Our pieces radiate individual perspectives, even if they swim against the tide. We’d rather be genuine than play it safe with neutral, hedged viewpoints.
Does this piece have personality or is it somebody else’s words filling a page?
Pitch Us
If these values resonate with you, feel free to pitch us here: Shelfy Pitches.
Tips for Pitching
What topics are you looking for?
We're interested in a wide range of topics within culture, spanning trends, subcultures, and niche interests across music, fashion, film, technology, literature, and more. Our goal at Shelfy is to provide a platform for exploring the depth and diversity of cultural phenomena, shedding light on underrepresented voices, and delving into the nuances that shape our cultural landscape. Whether it's an analysis of emerging music trends, an exploration of avant-garde fashion movements, or a deep dive into how tech is shaping behaviors, we welcome pitches that offer fresh perspectives, thoughtful insights, and engaging narratives.
The ideal balance is a perspective that is niche enough to be distinctive, but still broadly relatable to a diverse audience. We plan to be highly selective in our editorial choices, prioritizing pieces that strike this delicate balance.
What kinds of pieces are you looking for?
Op-eds that challenge or illuminate prevailing cultural narratives with personal insight or viewpoints.
Analytical pieces that dissect cultural trends, shifts, and phenomena with a critical eye, aiming to understand the 'why' and 'how' behind what's trending.
Reported features that offer in-depth exploration of lesser-known cultural stories, especially those highlighting underrepresented communities and voices.
Visual essays and multimedia stories that leverage unique formats to tell compelling cultural stories.
Anything else?
We're focused on covering topics that go beyond the current zeitgeist. For example:
Not for us: “J Cole and Kendrick are beefing”
For us: “J Cole’s verse on ‘Planez’ is an abomination, and other transgressions”
In other words, we're interested in criticism and analysis with a long-term view rather than news and gossip (despite how important and fun those can both be!).