Magazine Journalism - Lecture 3, 27/01/14

How to pitch to editors;

Any aspiring journalist dreams of having their article published in a magazine or newspaper, particularly ones that we read and already look up to. Before this can happen, you must master the first essential step that is pitching your ideas to an editor. Freelancer writer Jacqui Thornton gives us the essential information on how to do so;

Show the ability to deliver;

You need to persuade the editor that you can provide and deliver the goods, that you have the confidence and ability to deliver your idea and that you have the access to the people you want to interview.

Think about your pictures;

You need to decide what pictures you are going to use within your article as the editor will want to know what images you are planning on using. It is essential to have your collect pictures and send them with the email/pitch in a low resolution.

Get your style right;

It is key to make sure your ideas and pitch suits the style of the publication you are pitching too. Do your research and learn as much as you can about the specific publication.

Be accurate;

When you are a freelance writer, you do not have the luxury of a lawyer, you must become one. You will need to check your article as no mistakes or errors are allowed and all facts must be correct. Depending on your self esteem you can also get the person who the article is about to double check these factors but it is key that you remind them to check the FACTS and not the STYLE as many will want to change this.

Commission;

When pitching your idea do not focus on the money. Only after your pitch has been commissioned then you can begin negotiating your rates, if the publication has come to you for the article you will have more room to discuss payment. It is key that you ask who your invoice needs to be sent to but never mention any of this until you have been given the approval.

That killer first paragraph;

An editor will always be looking for a killer first paragraph, you need to show the editor that you can write in a compelling style that will hook readers in the first few sentences. In this paragraph you must summarise what your article will be about.

Discuss how your story will effect people;

In paragraph two, also known as the 'nut grab' it keeps readers hooked. Why is it that the readers should care enough about this article to read it? You need to give readers a reason on how it will effect or interest them.

Include who you will interview;

In the third paragraph you must tell the editors who you are planning on interviewing, as a good journalist you will have already done this. Be precise, use their full name and details as well as explaining why they are relevant to this story.

Wrap up, the final paragraph;

Wrap your story up, highlight why this issue is relevant to the reader and how it effects them. Include a bio of yourself including your contacts as a reference.

How to get your pitch noticed;

• Do not include attachments. Editors do not have the time to sit and open attachments on emails, everything needs to be included in the body of the email. 
• The subject field needs to grab the interest of the editor otherwise they will delete the email without reading your pitch.
• Do not ramble on, keep the email short and sweet with 5-7 sentences of what your story is about. 
• Consider your lead time. If you email a publication with a pitch about summer in May, this will be way too late. 
• Always check your spelling and grammar. Make sure your auto-correct is set to a British setting so there are no American spellings. We live in the UK so there is no excuse. 
•  When sending your pitch it is always tempting to send it round to a host of publications. It is key to prioritise which magazine you particularly want your article to feature in, you can either tell them its 'exclusive' or send it 'all around' depending on the circumstances and context of the story. If you are going to send your pitch 'all around' then the style must be individual and suit the style of the magazine.