But the good news is, per an article in Pacific Standard, the Alhambra Source website may still survive as USC communications professor Sandra Ball-Rokeach is currently trying to find new sources of support to replace the grants that are scheduled to go away.

The overhead for this community news experiment launched in 2006 is low. Ball-Rokeach, together with USC colleague Michael Parks, sought to address the changing demographics of Alhambra and a paucity of coverage by the LA Times and Pasadena Star-News. From Joel Smith‘s article:

The site’s commitment to using community contributors rather than professional reporters has produced some journalistically unorthodox but popular stories: first-person accounts of being a second-generation immigrant, for instance, and a piece by the Alhambra High student body president, who explored the question of why he was the only Latino in a leadership position in a school that was half Latino…

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Still going strong after 13 years, Dwell sets itself apart from other design magazines by providing insights on modern design and architecture that are as fresh as they are practical . “We don’t want people to create an artificial idea of how they live in their home,” said editor-in-chief Amanda Dameron. “We tell the owners to clean their house as if they’re having a good friend over. Don’t go buying pricey flowers!”

Dameron says that even though her team receives more than enough pitches, one of the best ways to distinguish your submission is to get behind a camera. ”We put a lot of resources behind how we tell our stories visually. So when we’re reviewing initial ideas, having good pics always helps.”

Get contact info, pitch suggestions and more at How To Pitch: Dwell

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

– Nick Braun

As Sara Horowitz, founder of the Freelancer’s Union, once said, “One of the challenges for all freelancers, though, is it can be feast or famine.” Sometimes you could be raking in the assignments; at others, editors could be strangely silent when you want to hear from them the most.

In the latest Mediabistro feature, magazine veterans give tips on how to foster your relationships with editors to keep the assignments, and the paychecks, rolling in.

Read more in 6 Tips for Landing Repeat Writing Assignments.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

When it comes to journalism, the credentials of your sources can make or break your article. Fortunately, there are a number of tools that can help you weed out the nobodies from the knowledgeables online.

By now, you’ve surely heard of HARO (Help a Reporter Out), but founder Peter Shankman, said writers can also look to trade organizations for leads. “Each trade or industry has an organization behind it that serves as spokespeople for the industry,” he explained. “They’ll always take your call.”

Get more tips in “6 Surefire Ways to Find Sources in the Digital Age.”

– Nicholas Braun

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Talk about an informative field trip stop. Last month, a group of students from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication came to LA and got to listen to the following LA Times entertainment journalists panel March 12: Steven Zeitchik, Amy Kaufman, Chris Lee, John Horn, Mary McNamara, Meg James, Scott Collins and Dawn Chmielewski.

The event was part of an ASU west coast swing titled “Covering the Business of Entertainment,” which has also encompassed visits to studio lots. From the Reynolds Center report about the panel discussion:

Kaufman said that reporters have to be careful about what information is on and off the record. It’s not a good idea to ruin a relationship with a publicist or contact, she added.

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Journey is a bimonthly magazine that covers travel, both between states and international, in a manner that appeals to residents of Washington and other Northwestern states. With 75 percent of its content penned by freelancers, the pub is always looking for writers who can identify with the AAA publication’s readers.

“There are certain angles that make sense for a Northwestern audience and others that don’t,” explained editor-in-chief Rob Bhatt.

He also stressed that the publication likes destination pieces that don’t leave anyone out on the fun. ”We’re more of an experiential market than a luxury, high-end shopping audience,” he said.

For more details on which sections are ripe for pitching, How To Pitch: Journey.

– Nicholas Braun

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to over 150 “How To Pitch” articles, hundreds of articles on journalism and media jobs, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Bicycling, the world’s largest cycling magazine, is looking for writers who can cover the hobby from new and fresh perspectives. “There has to be a bigger story besides the fact that you rode someplace cool,” said senior editor Emily Furia.

Bicycling tries to appeal to the biking community as whole, as opposed to other cycling publications that focus on specific subcultures. And, with half of the content in the mag provided by freelancers, these editors are more than willing to take on new scribes who lack experience or whose ideas need polishing. “In the case of freelance pitches, we will typically work with the writer to refine the story angle and format,” said Furia.

Get all the details and editors’ contact info in How To Pitch: Bicycling.

– Nicholas Braun

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Instinct, the bimonthly magazine for gay and bi-sexual men, is always on the hunt for quality content from freelance writers.

Editor-in-chief Jeff Katz told Mediabistro that he appreciates writing that has a casual but personal voice. “Our tone is approachable and fun. We want to say the things you’d hope your best friend would tell you, so we’re also a little bit sassy, sometimes a little provocative,” he added, “but we’re honest.”

Katz is also looking for stories that pertain to issues facing the LGBT community. “As gay rights change and people are getting married and adopting children, we want to continue to reflect those stories. In the upcoming issue, we’re doing a piece on finances to discuss how marriage laws play into power of attorney,” he said. “I don’t think that’s a story that would’ve been done 10 years ago, but it’s a nice change.”

The best part? 30 percent of all pitches are accepted. For more, read How to Pitch Instinct [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

 The first, second and third installments of our popular series, Personal Essay Markets highlighted 45 pitchable pubs for first-person stories. Today, we bring you online outlets for the final piece.

E-zines that highlight everything from food and culture to environmental news are taking pitches, so check out the requirements for some inspiration. Who knows? Maybe you can make some extra cash by turning an I-can’t-believe-that-happened-t0-me experience into an essay.

For more, read Personal Essay Markets, Part IV. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

George Gladney, a financial reporter with the LA Times in the 1970s, segued to academia in 1991 after stints with a pair of newspapers in Colorado Springs and a job as managing editor of the Jackson Hole News. This December, he will be retiring from the only professorial position he has held since going back to school to earn his Master’s and Ph.D.

Per a warm write-up in the Laramie Boomerang, Gladney’s pre-University of Wyoming Communication and Journalism career dates back to the days of typewriters and giant LAT printing presses. He tells reporter Eve Neiman that the professional key today remains the same as it was when he was in the trenches; get it right:

Conrad Smith, another professor in the Communication and Journalism Department, said Gladney’s professional background set him apart in the department. “I feel that in journalism, academic experience is overvalued and real-world experience is undervalued,” Smith said. “He brings a real reporter’s mindset to the classroom.”

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