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Topic: Mother Jones
| Author | Message |
| deadline | Posted – 8/23/2006 5:24:36 PM | show profile Has anyone pitched or written for Mother Jones? Just wondering how long it has taken to hear back from them and did you pitch to the editor or through their email address for queries? Thanks. |
| Angela Dobbs | Posted – 8/24/2006 11:29:32 AM | show profile I wanna know this, too... |
| newyorker | Posted – 8/24/2006 12:58:21 PM | show profile the information is right on mother jones website - do a little research. |
| newyorker | Posted – 8/24/2006 12:58:25 PM | show profile the information is right on mother jones website - do a little research. |
| deadline | Posted – 8/24/2006 1:22:42 PM | show profile I did look at their Web site and read the HTP. I was just wondering if anyone had been through the process and might be willing to talk about their experience. The Web site has a general email box. I wanted to know if people actually pitch there or send it to an editor. We do so many people here just assume people haven?t done any research? It just comes across a little nasty when someone chimes in just to say something like that. |
| midwestwriter | Posted – 8/24/2006 2:02:06 PM | show profile I just pitched something to Mother Jones yesterday using the MB "How to Pitch Guide" it may take a while but I will let you know how it goes. |
| Angela Dobbs | Posted – 8/24/2006 2:21:41 PM | show profile Yeah...I was just wondering what it's like to write for them, too.... Geez... People are touchy. |
| deadline | Posted – 8/24/2006 2:22:13 PM | show profile Did you pitch by email? Did you send it to a specific editor? I have read the HTP, but I am worried about sending it to just a general box. Thanks. Good luck to you. I hope they take it. |
| midwestwriter | Posted – 8/24/2006 3:26:16 PM | show profile Yes I pitched by email and no, I didn't send to a specific editor although I did look at their masthead and think about it. I figure I'll follow the advice first (maybe that is too conservative, I don't know.) And I plan on persistently following up. I might do some rummaging around for emails to follow up with. Thanks for the luck! |
| more food | Posted – 8/25/2006 3:59:55 PM | show profile i have i pitched them before and they replied me within days to tell me they weren't interested. but the editor i dealt with was super nice and asked me to send her other ideas. |
| deadline | Posted – 8/25/2006 5:15:40 PM | show profile Hi More Food, Did you pitch to an editor or use the general email. It's nice to know they got back to you so quickly. And they must have seen something they liked in your work. Good luck with your next pitch. |
| jmm | Posted – 8/27/2006 7:25:49 PM | show profile I pitched to them in 2001 or 2002. I pitched an editor involved with certain kinds of stories because I knew he would be the one to evaluate mine. He is no longer there. They rejected my story but he was very respectful and kind. They ran it through an editorial meeting, and I could tell from what he said that they had considerered it. He was thoughtful about the topic and talked about it and their needs . That made me feel good. It was the nicest rejection I have ever received. It was by email. He acknowledged the email promptly and got back to me within a reasonable amount of time but I can't remember exactly how long it took. |
| jmm | Posted – 8/27/2006 7:28:15 PM | show profile I would recommend pitching the way they ask you to. I might have done that at first, or put the editor's name as attn to, I don't remember. I am sure I tried to at least try to follow the guidelines for pitching. Sorry, just can't remember all of it. |
| deadline | Posted – 8/28/2006 5:01:22 PM | show profile Thanks everyone, I sent my pitch. We shall see what they think, but thanks to those of you who posted. Hear anything yet Redsocks? |
| deadline | Posted – 8/29/2006 4:42:14 PM | show profile I meant midwestwriter. Sorry about that. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/29/2006 10:55:15 PM | show profile I had a friend that wrte an article for them and she said they accepted her query within a month. |
| waldo | Posted – 9/4/2006 4:47:17 PM | show profile | email poster motherjones.com & the mag I have written for Mother Jones' web site. That was back in 2002. The editor I worked with was terrific. I also dealt with Monika Bauerlin a bit, and she was also very respectful and direct about what the mag needed/had planned re stories I had pitched. Also nicest rejections I have ever gotten. It would be worth looking at the state of the magazine now. I think they may be having some financial problems, BUT I am not sure. I think researching the magazine's focus now they have co-EICs and there was a speculative article in SF Chron and others about the mag's direction, leadership etc. best of luck pitching them. they are a nice team from my experience and of course they do great stuff. |
| deadline | Posted – 9/7/2006 9:48:55 PM | show profile If the editor didn?t think a story was right for the magazine, is it possible they would consider it for the Web site? Just wondering if you had specifically pitched to write for the Web? I still haven?t heard anything, and part of me wants to follow up, but I am trying not to be pushy. However, I really think the story is perfect for them and something new has come about since my pitch. Would it be wrong to write again and let them know that a recent event that just took place would further heighten the stories significance? The suspense is killing me. I am eager to find this story a home and get it out there. |
| deadline | Posted – 9/7/2006 9:51:01 PM | show profile If the editor didn?t think a story was right for the magazine, is it possible they would consider it for the Web site? Just wondering if you had specifically pitched to write for the Web? I still haven?t heard anything, and part of me wants to follow up, but I am trying not to be pushy. However, I really think the story is perfect for them and something new has come about since my pitch. Would it be wrong to write again and let them know that a recent event that just took place would further heighten the stories significance? The suspense is killing me. I am eager to find this story a home and get it out there. |
| waldo | Posted – 9/10/2006 2:08:32 PM | show profile mother jones /motherjones.com, mojo news Mother Jones has a very small staff. But as mentioned before, they are in a transition period, having just swapped out their editor in chief for 2 senior staff editors who have been with the magazine for some time. I don't know how all the changes have effected their willingness to work with new freelancers or whether their budgets have shrunk..I would try to contact both the web editor and the magazine staff editors, IF your story has an immediate news hook that would make it perhaps just as (or even more urgent) timely for the site as the magazine (w/lead times). In spite of the changes they are going through, once you reach them they are quite nice people. BUT I bet with the even smaller staff and the changes in leadership, the team there may be very very overwhelmed. I have not been in touch with anyone there for several months. best of luck. |
| deadline | Posted – 9/10/2006 5:05:44 PM | show profile Thanks, Waldo. You?ve been very helpful. I sent my query to the general submissions email address. And I am not sure who has seen it over there, if anyone. I also didn?t address it to a specific editor. Should I follow up using the general email? I think I will give them a few more days. Thanks again. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience. |
| waldo | Posted – 9/10/2006 9:44:33 PM | show profile | email poster you can get the contact names from the masthead on the web site. I might consider directing queries to the web editor - again if it is something especially timely and a good fit for mojo news/motherjones.com. Mother Jones is not a monthly. So, their lead times for the magazine are tricky. As I said, budget constraints could be a consideration and they may now be sticking with writers they know well, particularly in this transition period. (all conjection, but logical conjection..:-)) Depending on your story idea, you could also consider pitching Slate, Alternet.org, Salon...and there's a new mag out called "Good" that might work for you too. I just saw Good on the rack at Barnes & Noble yesterday. Not sure whether they work with freelancers they don't know. But it might be worth checking out too. again, best of luck..I know how it is. I freelance too and it's hard waiting and not knowing what's going on for sure. |
| deadline | Posted – 9/11/2006 2:13:53 PM | show profile | email poster Waldo Thanks again for your help. I am very new to freelancing, but I have worked staff jobs at newspapers for years. I was thinking about Slate or Solon for back-ups. I also checked out Good?s Web site today. As for following up at Mother Jones, I am not sure which editor would be best since there are a few on the master head. Do you know who I would want to address about an international news story, and how would I know if they have seen my query? I guess I wouldn?t know. Is it OK to follow up with more than one editor? If you want to email me off the boards with any other advice that would be fine. Thanks again, Waldo. |
| deadline | Posted – 10/5/2006 1:15:49 PM | show profile Sorry to bring this topic up again, but I was wondering if anyone who pitched around the same time I did (end of the summer) has heard anything. I am still waiting. I am wondering now if they might not respond at all. Just thought I would check in with you guys. Thanks. |
| MCM | Posted – 2/20/2007 12:15:08 AM | show profile It's funny how they now have two editors yet don't have the time nor courtesy to respond to queries. Or even to the follow-up e-mails I have sent in the subsequent months. |
