Your district, every newsroom.
List your story once and reach every approved buyer for your beat and region. Get paid from escrow, under a contract that leaves your rights with you.
Join the pilotPitching alone, or on Daylight
| Pitching directly | On Daylight |
|---|---|
| National and foreign editors are hard to reach | Your teaser is seen by every approved buyer covering your beat and region; briefs come to you |
| One outlet at a time, weeks of silence | Several buyers can make offers on the same teaser |
| Paid late, or never | The buyer funds escrow before you start; release on acceptance or automatically after 7 days |
| A dropped story means no money | The contract includes a kill fee paid from escrow |
| Your idea can be taken | Blind teasers, a confidentiality step, and a timestamped log of who viewed the details |
| All rights taken for one fee | You keep copyright and byline; licences are limited by language, territory and term |
| Paperwork | Contracts, statements and invoices are generated for you |
| Unknown to editors | A track record from completed deals that buyers can see |
What you need to join
- Be 18 or older.
- Your PAN, a bank account in your name, and a short video call with our team. We never collect your Aadhaar number.
- During the pilot: three published bylines, or two references from editors or journalists.
- Declarations about any public office, political role or PR work. Buyers see these as yes or no.
- A pen name if you prefer. Your legal name appears only on contracts, to the other party.
Your name stays yours
- Pen names, with your legal name shown only on contracts
- District is the finest location we ever store; we never ask for GPS
- Teasers are never public, and you can bar named buyers
- Contacts stay hidden until escrow is funded
- Notifications never include story details
- Block and report, quick account hiding and deletion on request
What a buyer sees
Identity verified
Questions
Does Daylight buy my story?
No. You sell directly to the buyer. Daylight runs the marketplace, the contract, escrow and disputes.
Will my name appear on the published story?
Yes, unless you choose otherwise. The standard contract requires your byline or pen name, and you can withdraw your byline if the buyer changes the work materially.
Can I still sell to editors I know?
Yes. Use a direct deal: invite your client, and use our contract and escrow for 2% on your side.
When do I get paid?
Within 2 working days of escrow being released: when the buyer accepts, or automatically 7 days after delivery if there is no dispute.
Does Daylight edit or check my work?
No. Daylight never edits content. Buyers do their own editing and checks before they publish.
What if I feel unsafe?
Use Block and Report, and see our list of independent organisations. Daylight does not provide protection, but it acts on its own platform at once.