Pitch the desk.

he CDN front section runs reporting that meaningfully advances the construction reader's understanding of the trade — contracts and litigation that set comp, megaproject schedules and overruns, materials economics, labor agreements, permitting and policy shifts, and the people moves that drive them. We publish six original pieces a week, plus the Daily Dispatch newsletter.

We don't publish vendor announcements, generic thought‑leadership, conference recaps, or anything that reads like a press release. We don't publish AI‑generated copy. We don't run unmoderated guest columns.

Send us a pitch that is specific, sourced, and arguable. The desk reads every pitch personally — usually within one business day — and we reply to every serious one. The five things that improve the odds:

1. A concrete news peg. A ruling handed down, a filing made public, a contract awarded, a delay confirmed. Not "a trend".
2. A specific source path. Tell us who you can put on the record, or what document is the spine of the piece. "Industry contacts" is not a source.
3. A clear thesis in one sentence. Not the topic — the claim. "Tier‑1 contractors are quietly absorbing LCA consultancies to pre‑empt the 2027 disclosure rules" beats "Decarbonisation reshapes contractor M&A".
4. What you've already reported. Two paragraphs of what you know, not what you'd like to find out.
5. Why now. One sentence on the time pressure — a publication window, a hearing, an embargo.

News tip

Anonymous or named. Use Signal at +1 (646) 555-0142 for sensitive material, or SecureDrop via the link in the footer of every issue. Email: tips@constructiondaily.news (PGP key on request).

Reported feature

A pitch for an original feature you would file yourself. Include a 2–3 paragraph synopsis, your proposed source list, and three published clips. Email: pitches@constructiondaily.news.

Op-ed / commentary

800–1,200 words, with a clear argument and a specific audience. We accept perhaps one in twelve. Email: opinion@constructiondaily.news.

Letter to the editor

Responding to a specific piece we have published. Up to 300 words. We edit for length and clarity; we publish a selection each Friday. Email: letters@constructiondaily.news.

Press releases

We do not maintain a press list. Material announcements only, and only those genuinely consequential to readers. Email: desk@constructiondaily.news.

We pay on acceptance, not on publication, at the following base rates. We commission flat‑fee, not by the word — the rate reflects expected scope, not length.

• Short reported piece (600–900 words): $750 base, up to $1,200 with primary‑source documents.
• Feature (1,200–2,000 words): $1,800 base, up to $3,500 for multi‑week investigations.
• Op-ed / commentary: $400 flat.

Standard contributor agreement: first publication exclusive for ninety days, then non‑exclusive worldwide rights to republish in any CDN channel. You retain copyright. Translations and syndication paid separately.

Pitches go to the relevant beat editor and the standards editor. You will hear back from a person — not an autoresponder — within one business day for tips, and within five business days for reported pitches.

If we commission, we send a short scope document, a deadline, and the relevant editor's calendar for a 20‑minute kickoff call. Most CDN features take three to six weeks from commission to publication.

If we pass, we say why in one or two sentences. Many of our best pieces started as pitches we declined and the writer revised — please don't take a "not yet" personally.