How To Pitch: Hunker

How To Pitch: Hunker

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published December 4, 2019 / Updated April 13, 2021

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published December 4, 2019 / Updated April 13, 2021

Background: Creating a comfortable living space in a new apartment or home can be daunting (especially when there are literally 100+ shades of white wall paint to choose from at the hardware store). Hunker was created to make those interior design decisions a lot easier and perhaps…even enjoyable.

Hunker believes that good design should be a part of everyday life — and that you don’t have to be an expert to make it happen, says Leonora Epstein, senior content director. The site’s target audience are people who have recently bought a first home or are living in an apartment that they’re ready to truly make their own. And Hunker provides design solutions for a variety of budgets. “Our competitors tend to capture an extremely high-end audience or are mass market lifestyle brands,” says Epstein. “We aim to be approachable without sacrificing quality.”

What to pitch: Most freelance pitches fall under the “Design” vertical, which encompasses a variety of topics: information-based pieces, inspirational lists, trend-driven stories, and sometimes more in-depth reporting. The most successful cold pitches tend to:

Provide access to a personality or company that would allow for a unique piece of reporting.
Offer ideas that fall outside of the box: Pitching an offbeat trend, an up-and-coming designer, coverage of a unique event.
Have a distinct point of view: (ex: How Furniture Rental Companies Are Changing Millennial Homes; Why You’re About to See X Trend Everywhere.)

A good percentage of Hunker’s informational and inspirational content is created in-house, but if you can demonstrate your ability to handle this type of content (by including examples or an outline with your pitch), you’ll stand a good chance of scoring an assignment, says Epstein.

What not to pitch: News is generally written either in-house or by a dedicated team of freelancers. However, there is room in the section for expanded features/pieces.

Percentage freelance content: 50%+

Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: Low

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: Freelancers have pitched articles that profile Letitia Fernandez, senior manager of arts and design for the Los Angeles Metro transportation system, and how to incorporate 80s design trends into your home.

Etiquette: Pitches should be included in the body of the email with a relevant bio and links to clips that showcase your experience writing about décor or design. And if you want to provide photos as support, editors would prefer a link rather than an attachment. Epstein also notes that if you’re going to pitch a piece about…say…an emerging type of bathroom material, you need to know where to source workable photography. If it’s something that requires original photography, that’s not out of the question, but it may not fit in with the current demands/goals of the Hunker photography team.

Pay rate: $200+ per piece.

Payment schedule: Payment is issued within a week of the editor’s approval.

Contact info:
Hunker
1655 26^th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Hunker.com
Twitter handle: @hunkerhome

Direct all pitches to:

For cleaning and DIY, director of editorial operations Laurie Grossman: LAURIE at HUNKER dot COM

For news, associate editor Eva Recinos: EVA at HUNKER dot COM

For commerce/shopping, commerce editor Katie Maguire: KATIE at HUNKER dot COM

For features and anything else/outside-the-box pitches, senior content director Leonora Epstein: LEONORA at HUNKER dot COM

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How To Pitch: How Country News

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published March 18, 2020 / Updated April 13, 2021

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published March 18, 2020 / Updated April 13, 2021

Background: High Country News is a non-profit publication that dates back to 1970 and is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year. The outlet strives to tell the ongoing story of the modern American West through coverage of its environment, natural resources, and diverse communities. “Our readers are people engaged deeply in issues of the Western United States,” says Brian Calvert, EIC. “Our journalism is in-depth and insightful, coming from our long experience covering the region.”

What to pitch: The front-of-book “Reportage” section is open to freelancers (700-1,200 words). This section has tackled subjects that range from the relocation of Bureau of Land Management leaders to one family’s ordeal under Trump’s zero tolerance immigration tactics. In-depth features that seek to expand and challenge readers’ understanding of the West are in demand (4,000 words), as well as reviews and essays (300-800 words).

Editors are especially interested in stories and perspectives from underrepresented communities; and topics that are sure to get noticed include stories that focus on the broad frameworks of science and nature; conservation and preservation; food and agriculture; health and well-being; water; environmental justice and racism; climate change and energy; post-colonialism and the legacy of conquest; the rural-urban divide; environmental law, policy and philosophy; public lands and resources (including water, wildlife, rangelands, minerals, timber, recreation and preservation); military and nuclear activity and legacies; and economics.

What not to pitch: The “What Works,” “West Obsessed,” “Facts & Figures,” and “Heard Around the West” sections are handled in-house.

What publicists should pitch — and when [lead time]: Editors do not accept pitches from public relations professionals, advocacy groups or other biased parties.

Percentage of freelance-generated content: 25%

Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: 5%

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: Freelancers have pitched articles that focus on tribal disenrollment, Alaska’s highway of Ferries, and Taneum Bambrick’s book “Vantage.”

Etiquette: Keep pitches to about 200-300 words and send them within the body of the email with links to clips. Explain what the story is, its scope and what’s at stake, and why High Country News is the best place to tell it. All pitches should include the word “query” in the subject line.

If you have not heard back from an editor within seven days of your pitch, consider following up. If you have not heard back within two weeks, consider pitching elsewhere.

Lead time: 2-4 months for shorter articles; 6-8 months for features.

Pay rate: $200-$400 for reviews, criticism and essays; $1/word for “Reportage” and Features.

Payment schedule: Invoice on publication, payment within 30 days.

Kill fee: 25%

Rights purchased: First time North American

Contact info:
High Country News
119 Grande Ave
Paonia, CO 81428
www.hcn.org
@highcountrynews

Direct all pitches to:
Editor in Chief Brian Calvert: BRIANC at HCN dot ORG

For stories from Alaska, the Pacific Northwest or Northern Rockies, associate editor Emily Benson: EMILYB at HCN dot ORG

For stories from California, the Southwest or Southern Rockies, associate editor Paige Blankenbuehler: PAIGEB at HCN dot ORG

For reviews, essays and criticism, associate editor Maya L. Kapoor: MAYAK at HCN dot ORG

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How To Pitch: Hemispheres

Travel pitches with a timely news peg can earn you a byline in the friendly skies

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published February 20, 2018 / Updated April 12, 2021

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published February 20, 2018 / Updated April 12, 2021

Circulation: 11 million

Frequency: Monthly

Background: Although our electronic devices offer quite a bit of entertainment options at 35,000 feet, United Airlines travelers have the option of unplugging from their phones and tablets and digging into stories on the pages of Hemispheres magazine. This in-flight publication can be found in United Airlines airport lounges as well as the seat pocket in front of any United Airlines traveler.

The average Hemispheres reader could be anybody, from a child to a CEO to a professional athlete. And that general audience has given way to editorial content that “[tends] to be relatively PG, relatively family friendly,” says Nicholas DeRenzo, executive editor.

Hemispheres tends to take a high-brow approach to its content, says DeRenzo. The publication is filled with articles about books and culture, and is likely to approach travel destinations from a design or culinary-history point of view, he says.

What to pitch: Editors are very open to receiving pitches from new writers. But, the most important thing to remember when pitching is to make sure that your story idea is connected to a destination where United Airlines flies. “A good way to quickly get on my editorial bad side is to pitch a story about a continent that we don’t even fly to,” says DeRenzo. “And it happens surprisingly often.” So, please check that UA flight map before you pitch.

The best place for new freelancers to pitch is the Navigator FOB section. This department is full of splashy imagery with inspiring travel stories. It’s the place to pitches stories about food, hotels, souvenirs, museum openings, etc…Just make sure that all stories have a news peg.
Word count: 150-400.

The Feature well is open to freelance pitches as well. Freelancers who have access to a celebrity who’s willing to sit down for an in-depth chat can pitch the Hemi Q&A section. But for those who don’t have Jay-Z’s cell number on speed dial, you can also take a crack at pitching a reported feature story or a package that’s tied to the sales calendar (check out the Hemispheres media kit here.) And once again, feature pitches must have a news peg.
Word count: 1,500-2,000.

Since Hemispheres doesn’t have any original online content, there is really no need to submit pitches with a multimedia component. And freelancers are welcome to submit photos, but since Hemispheres has a staffed art department, the photos aren’t likely to make it onto the pages of the publication, says DeRenzo.

What not to pitch: The 3 Perfect Days feature is handled in-house. And remember that the publication is family friendly…so no pitches about cannabis tasting menus in fancy Denver restaurants (which DeRenzo receives all the time.)

What publicists should pitch—and when: Editors want to hear about hotel and restaurant news, celebrity projects, travel-specific products, and fashion. Lead time is 3-4 months.

Percentage of freelance-written content: 50%

Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 10%

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: A freelance writer pitched Island Spirit, which focuses on a Singapore cocktail bar that specialized in obscure liquors. Freelance writers also pitched Subcontinental Suds and The Volcano Queen, which profile an Indian craft beer pioneer and NASA scientist Rosaly Lopes, respectively.

Etiquette: Pitches should be sent in the body of an email with no attachments. Put the specific section that you want to pitch to in the subject line and include a Hed in the pitch. Freelancers should be able to convey the reasons why the pitch is worth caring about, and that they’re familiar with the publication. Also include links to similar clips.

Lead time: 3-4 months.

Pay rate: $1/word

Payment schedule: Invoice on acceptance.

Kill fee: 50%

Rights purchased: 90 days exclusive

Contact info:
Ink Global
Hemispheres magazine
68 Jay St., Ste. 315
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Unitedmags.com
Ink-Live.com
Twitter handle: @hemispheresmag
FirstName.LastName@Ink-global.com

Direct all pitches to:

Executive editor Nicholas DeRenzo: NICHOLAS dot DERENZO at INK-GLOBAL dot COM

Deputy Editor Justin Goldman: JUSTIN dot GOLDMAN at INK-GLOBAL dot COM

Editor in Chief Ellen Carpenter: ELLEN dot CARPENTER at INK-GLOBAL dot COM

Assistant Digital and Social Editor Sydney Otto: SYDNEY dot OTTO at INK-GLOBAL dot COM

Topics:

Greatist

Health and fitness pitches aimed at “healthy-ish” readers can score you a byline

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published December 11, 2018 / Updated April 12, 2021

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published December 11, 2018 / Updated April 12, 2021

Monthly Unique Visitors: 10 million

Background: There are lots of people who strive to eat healthier foods and live healthier lives. But there are also plenty of health and fitness outlets that tend to make readers feel badly if they’re unable to swap out a life of red meat and processed foods for a vegan diet in one day. That hole in the market was filled by Greatist in 2011. It launched with the idea of covering health, wellness, lifestyle, and food from a new angle. “No shame, no guilt,” says Ashley Sepanski, branded content editor. “We’re not about restrictions.”

The site offers science- and expert-backed content that’s aimed at a mostly female audience between the ages of 18-35. “We’re also inclusive and realistic about what it takes to ‘be healthy-ish,” says Sepanski. “[We] would never body-shame readers, tell them how to get six-pack abs in six weeks, or make them feel less-than when it comes to their personal health journey.”

What to pitch: The editorial staff assigns stories that are generated in-house to a team of freelancers, but they’re open to interesting pitches from new writers.

Pitches covering Food, Lifestyle, Fitness and Beauty are all open to freelancers.

When conceiving a food-centered pitch writers are encouraged to think about food issues that they struggle with and want to learn more about. Lifestyle pitches can center around relationships as well as stories about small changes that readers can make to achieve a happier, healthier life (this includes first-person essays). Workout roundups as well as stories that put trendy workouts to the test (a.k.a. Does This Workout Really Work?) would fit well into the Fitness section; and Beauty pitches can include first-person stories, how-tos and product roundups. Word count for all of these sections is: 400-700.

What not to pitch: The “Products” and “What’s Good” sections are handled in house.

What publicists should pitch—and when: Pitches about organic beauty products, athletic equipment, and new health foods and beverages are always welcome. Editors also love to see story ideas from food bloggers and influencers. Lead time: 3-4 weeks for most content; 1-week for timely, news-related pitches.

Percentage of freelance-written content: 80%

Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 30%

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: Freelance writers pitched 4 Reasons You Should Drop the F Bomb During a Workout as well as 7 Birth Control Myths You Should Stop Believing.

Etiquette: Freelancers should send brief pitches (just a few sentences) along with a suggested hed in the body of an email. And be sure to include links to clips or a portfolio. Please do not send whole stories.

Lead time: 2-3 weeks for most content; 1-week for timely, news-related pitches.

Pay rate: $125-$250

Payment schedule: If all financial documents are submitted by the 25^th of the month, writers should receive payment by the third week of the month after their story has been received.

Kill fee: $50

Rights purchased: All rights

Contact info:

Greatist
30 Vandam St, 3rd Flr.
NY, NY 10013
www.greatist.com
Twitter handle: @greatist | Facebook

Direct all pitches to: PITCHES at GREATIST dot COM

Editor in Chief Rita Mauceri: RMAUCERI at HEALTHLINE dot COM

Copy Editor Naomi Farr: NFARR at HEALTHLINE dot COM

Content Editor Ashley Sepanski: ASEPANSKI at HEALTHLINE dot COM

Senior Editor Christal Yuen: CYUEN at HEALTHLINE dot COM

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View the Glamour masthead

How To Pitch: Glamour

This esteemed women's glossy seeks pitches on careers, relationships and health

By Andrea Williams

@AndreaWillWrite

Andrea Williams is an author, journalist, and columnist for The Tennessean with over 16 years of experience in journalism and 20 years in copywriting and communications strategy. Her work spans national outlets and high-traffic digital brands.

6 min read • Originally published October 27, 2015 / Updated April 12, 2021

By Andrea Williams

@AndreaWillWrite

Andrea Williams is an author, journalist, and columnist for The Tennessean with over 16 years of experience in journalism and 20 years in copywriting and communications strategy. Her work spans national outlets and high-traffic digital brands.

6 min read • Originally published October 27, 2015 / Updated April 12, 2021

Circulation: 2.3 million
Frequency: Monthly
Special issue: The “Women of the Year” issue runs every December

Background: There’s something alluring about a woman who has impeccable style, who can rock a high-waisted trouser and nude lip like she just floated off the runways of New York Fashion Week. What’s even more impressive, though, is a well-kept woman who can also debate the complexities of the Syrian migration crisis and American immigration reform. And that woman, most likely, is a Glamour reader.

“The Glamour woman is unique,” says senior editor Emily Mahaney. “She has an interest in fashion and beauty, but there’s so much more to her. She’s interested in what’s happening in her world, how to make a difference in her world and how to get ahead in her career. She’s a well-rounded woman, and what she gets from Glamour is a magazine that’s going to cater to all those different areas of her life in a really smart, modern way.”

Glamour, Condé Nast’s darling women’s mag, has long catered to the smart, stylish woman, but in recent years editors have ramped up key content areas even further, including work and money advice. “Obviously, there are more women running businesses and starting businesses than ever,” says Mahaney, “and young readers talk to us all the time about how their careers are a very important aspect of their lives. So we are trying to deliver better and more career content than ever before.”

The magazine is also continuing its coverage of fantastic, award-winning news stories — particularly pieces featuring female heroines and provocative stories about women and the new obstacles they’re facing. The annual “Women of the Year” issue has pushed these incredible stories to the forefront for the last 25 years, and to further expand Glamour‘s focus on strong, powerful women, the magazine now features a monthly “Glamour Woman” column. “Now, instead of just having Glamour ‘Women of the Year’ in our December issue, in every single issue of the magazine you’re going to get a profile of a world-changing leader or an inspiring woman with an incredible story,” Mahaney says.

In short, Mahaney and her colleagues are more committed than ever to Glamour‘s overall mission — to empower women in every aspect of their lives.

What to pitch: For freelancers looking for their first Glamour byline, some great sections of the magazine to pitch include the book’s health pages and “All About You” section. The latter includes stories about relationships, dating and sex, as well as news and human-interest stories.

Editors also seek great pitches for the “Work” section, which features personal finance, money management and overall get-ahead advice, so if you’ve got some good ideas about asking for a raise, getting promoted, launching a side hustle or something related, feel free to pitch away. “The article could be based on a concept, or it could also be based on a personality if there’s a really great young woman who has an insanely impressive career that would be the perfect cornerstone for our piece,” Mahaney explains.

Always on the lookout for compelling female-driven stories, Glamour also runs a lot of as-told-to pieces and essays with women protagonists. “We’ve had essays about everything from a woman battling a drinking problem, to a woman talking about her relationship with her transgender sibling and a woman discussing how she finally learned she was staying too long in relationships,” says Mahaney.

Story lengths vary, as Mahaney notes that she’s assigned everything from a 200-word brief to a feature clocking in at 2,000 words.

What not to pitch: Fashion and beauty content is written in house.

What publicists should pitch: Tip No. 1: Establish a relationship with the editors! According to Mahaney, that is the secret for publicists hoping to score a client placement in Glamour‘s pages. “I think the days of the cold-press release are over,” she says. “I rarely, if ever, look at them. I just don’t have the time. I get 250 emails a day.”

Instead of email-blasting a generic release to every single one of your editorial contacts, Mahaney suggest publicists “read the magazine; look at the masthead; find out who’s working on the pages in which your product fits; and start relationship-building with that person.” And when you do connect with the right person, avoid morphing into the overzealous PR person who follows up on a pitch every hour.

“Be patient and understand that our time is just as important as yours,” Mahaney says.

Percentage of freelance content: About 40 percent
Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 30 percent, though Mahaney notes that this is the percentage of pitches she’s typically interested in — not necessarily the amount that actually gets published. After receiving a pitch, Mahaney will either correspond with the writer to further flesh out the pitch until it’s worthy of an assignment, or she’ll let the writer know that, while the current pitch misses the mark, she sees enough promise in the writing and idea that she’d like to see more pitches in the future.

Recent freelance story pitched and published: In the fall of 2014, a writer pitched a story around the statistic that female students are most likely to be sexually assaulted on college campuses during the first weeks of the school year. “Everyone knew that sexual violence on campuses had been in the news, but this was a spin that I hadn’t heard before,” Mahaney says. She loved the idea and the story ran in Glamour‘s “Conversation,” a news roundup and analysis page.

Etiquette: As a freelancer trying to land a Glamour byline, you’re probably most concerned with crafting the perfect pitch and, subsequently, how you’ll crush the assignment once given the green light. But for Mahaney, if you can’t deliver a killer headline, you won’t even get the chance to showcase your killer writing skills. “I want to see a headline that could, literally, sell the entire story,” she says. “If you can write a sharp headline, you can write a sharp, voice-y piece.”

Follow that up with a couple of concise paragraphs that explain the topic you want to cover, why your angle is fresh, why the story is newsworthy and how it’s exclusive to Glamour (and not a tired retelling of a story that already exists in 4,527 iterations across the Web) and you’re well on your way to that coveted assignment.

But beware, adds Mahaney: There are some critical mistakes that can ruin even the most well-meaning freelancer’s chances for an assignment. First, avoid boring, evergreen pitches — à la “5 Types of Guys Every Woman Should Date” — like your freelance career depends on it. And don’t make the editor do all the heavy lifting in assessing your idea. “People will pitch with one line, and in that line they’ll hyperlink me to a study or hyperlink to an IMDB page about a movie that’s coming out about the subject,” Mahaney says. “They pitch in a way that’s making me do all the work, and I might not have time — in the 10 minutes I have to respond to emails — to pull up four different Web pages and try to figure out what the angle should be.”

Lead time: Three months
Pay rate: Varies based on assignment, but competitive
Payment schedule: On acceptance
Kill fee: 25 percent
Rights purchased: All rights

Contact info:
Glamour
1 World Trade Center, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10007
www.glamour.com
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
Email format: FirstName_LastName@condenast.com

Direct pitches to:
Senior Beauty Editor Lindsay Schallon: LINDSAY underscore SCHALLON at CONDENAST dot COM

Commerce Editor Shanna Shipin: SHANNA underscore SHIPIN at CONEDENAST dot COM

Entertainment Editor Caitlin Brody: CAITLIN underscore BRODY at CONDENAST dot COM

Senior Health Editor Macaela Mackenzie: MACAELA underscore MACKENZIE at CONDENAST dot COM

Executive Editor Natasha Pearlman: NATASHA underscore PEARLMAN at CONDENAST dot COM

Culture Editor Mattie Kahn: MATTIE underscore KAHN at CONDENAST dot COM

Senior Editor Anna Moeslein: ANNA underscore MOESLEIN at CONDENAST dot COM

EDITOR’S NOTE: Though we’ve updated this article recently, the speed at which things move in media means things may have already changed since then. Please email us if you notice any outdated info.

Topics:

How To Pitch: Garden & Gun

Capture the 'soul of the South' for this award-winning pub

By Mona Zhang

5 min read • Originally published September 11, 2016 / Updated April 12, 2021

By Mona Zhang

5 min read • Originally published September 11, 2016 / Updated April 12, 2021

Circulation: 375,000
Frequency: Bimonthly
Special issues: None

Background: Launched in April 2007, Garden & Gun bills itself as a “dynamic Southern lifestyle magazine with a unique mission—to capture the soul of the South,” according to its mission statement.

“We’re focused on the South, but we are a national magazine,” says deputy editor Dave Mezz. “We have readership that extends well beyond the South, both coasts, all over the country and beyond.”

Even though many readers live outside the region, “they all certainly would have an interest in Southern culture,” says Mezz. “That can extend beyond geographic borders—to Southern food, for instance, conservation issues, art, music and literature.”

Since its inception, the book has been raking in the accolades for its writing and design—great writing and beautiful photography are a priority for the mag. While other Southern-focused pubs are considered competition (Southern Living, Texas Monthly), “Our focus on the land and sporting is certainly something that sets us apart,” says Mezz.

What to pitch: Like many mags, Garden & Gun has its stable of regular freelancers, but editors are happy to accept pitches from new writers as well. “We’re here in Charleston [S.C.], but we really value people being in other parts of the South and other parts of the country too,” says Mezz. “We’ll go outside of the South sometimes, if it’s a story that we feel really relates to our content and readership.”

Mezz recommends that new writers looking to break in start in the FOB. “Talk of the South” is a newsy section that includes several departments, including “In the Garden” (which highlights a great garden), “Conservation” (on saving everything from sea turtles to fireflies), “Openings” (new restaurants, galleries, etc. that have a unique angle) and “Arts.”

Another section called “Good Hunting” focuses on home and style, and includes “Collections,” which features a Southerner who is passionate about collecting a certain object; and “Home Place,” focused on architecture, home restoration and design.

The BOB also offers some opportunities for freelancers: “Due South” is a travel section that includes “Weekends,” about a great weekend getaway; and “Adventures,” which has more of an outdoor focus. There’s also a column called “Good Dog,” which is a personal essay about a dog—”living or dead, good or not-so-good,” says Mezz. These run about 1,200 words and can be pitched or submitted on spec. “For a newer writer, I think submitting as a [draft] piece is probably a better shot,” he said.

For all of the departments mentioned above, the editors are looking for a fresh angle and broad appeal. Make sure your pitch addresses why you think the mag should be covering your topic now. It also should tie into a bigger picture: For example, “it’s rare that we’d cover a restaurant opening unless it really speaks to some kind of larger happening in the world of Southern food,” says Mezz.

Editors advise freelancers to pay attention to the pillars of the magazine: outdoor lifestyle, boating, fishing and hunting; conservation and gardens; Southern food culture, chefs, recipes and origins of food; destinations in the South and beyond, hidden gems, road trips, lodges and city portraits; Southern designers, homes, shopping and fashion; and art, music and literature.

Provided that your pitch reflects one of these pillars, freelancers can even send a query on topics outside of the South. One example might be a piece on Southern winemakers in California.

“They’re not in the South, but they come from the South and they bring a certain sort of philosophy with them that’s rooted in their upbringing,” says Mezz. The pub also did a piece on a new fly fishing lodge in Montana. “That wasn’t particularly Southern, but it related to sporting. If it relates to one of our pillars, then even if it’s not in the South, it might be something our readers would be interested in,” explains Mezz.

What not to pitch: “What’s in Season,” “Drinks,” “Fork in the Road,” “Anatomy of a Classic,” “Books” and “Music” are departments handled by regular columnists.

Online opportunities: Freelancers can pitch short pieces as blog posts or to be featured in the magazine’s weekly email newsletter.

These short pieces should also relate to the mag’s pillars, but should be newsy and actionable. And while including multimedia elements in your pitch doesn’t necessarily increase your chances of landing a byline, editors are looking for ideas that they could pair with multimedia elements. “We’re not asking people to shoot video and send it to us. Some of that we would do ourselves.”

A flat rate per post is negotiated beforehand.

What publicists should pitch—and when: PR pros can pitch new openings, artists, gallery owners, products, restaurants and chefs. There’s also a “G&G Interview” in every issue, which features a prominent Southern personality.

Mezz’s advice to publicists is similar to his advice for writers: “We’re looking for what’s fresh, what hasn’t been written about, what’s surprising about the South. Yes, we’ve written about biscuits and barbecue, but we’re especially interested in going beyond that.”

As mentioned above, just pitching a restaurant opening isn’t going to cut it. But if the chef’s signature dish takes a classic Southern dish and puts his own twist on it, it would be a good fit for the book’s “Anatomy of a Classic” column. “Sea Island’s Second Shot,” a story about a new hunt club in Georgia, originated with a publicist pitch and made it into a past issue.

“Don’t pitch us on a destination that has been around forever and everybody knows about because they have a winter special on rooms. That’s not going to be a reason for us to write about it,” says Mezz.

Publicists should email the editorial email listed below. If editors are interested, they’ll get in touch.

Percentage of freelance content published: 80 percent
Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 5 percent (not including pitches from freelancers who regularly write for the magazine)

Freelance story pitched and published: “The Fiddle and the Voice,” a story about the old-timey mountain music duo of The Floyd Radio Show in Virginia, made it into the October/November 2013 issue.

Etiquette: Email or snail mail; include three clips
Lead time: Four months or more for longer pieces
Pay rate: $1 a word to start; blogs, from $50 to $100 a post
Payment schedule: On publication
Kill fee: 25 percent
Rights purchased: All rights

Contact info:
701 E. Bay Street
#115
Charleston, SC 29403
GardenandGun.com
Twitter | Facebook
Email format: FirstInitialLastName@gardenandgun.com

Direct all pitches to: EDITORIAL at GARDENANDGUN dot COM

Deputy Editor Dave Mezz: DMEZZ at GARDENANDGUN dot COM

Editor in Chief David DiBenedetto: DDIBENEDETTO at GARDENANDGUN dot COM

Digital Editor Dacey Orr Sivewright: DSIVEWRIGHT at GARDENANDGUN dot COM

EDITOR’S NOTE: Though we’ve updated this article recently, the speed at which things move in media means things may have already changed since then. Please email us if you notice any outdated info.

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Fastcompany com

Business pitches that appeal to millennials are your ticket to a byline

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published March 15, 2017 / Updated April 12, 2021

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

3 min read • Originally published March 15, 2017 / Updated April 12, 2021

Monthly Unique Visitors: 10 million

Background: Back in 1995 internet-titans-to-be, like Amazon.com and Match.com, opened their doors for business and people lined up around the block for a chance to purchase Microsoft’s famed Windows 95 operating system. It was also the year that Alan Webber and Bill Taylor, two former Harvard Business Review editors, teamed up to launch Fast Company. The publication set out to shine a spotlight on the world of business, specifically showcasing new business practices as well as how companies create and compete.

FastCompany.com would follow two years later to serve as a home for feature articles from the print version. The site sometimes includes extra web stories or video content. Site visitors can also find timely, news-driven articles. The website is targeted toward young professionals, and its focus on social good, creativity and innovation is what sets the site apart.

“We believe that our readers … are focused on how their businesses can make the world a better place,” said Kathleen Davis, senior editor. “They’re not just concerned with how they can make the most money.”

What to pitch: Editors sometimes assign articles to contracted freelancers, but they’re very interested in receiving pitches from new voices. Pitches should be geared toward a millennial audience and potential writers should familiarize themselves with the site before sending in their story ideas.

Editors are especially interested in receiving pitches for the Leadership section. Topics can range from profiles of innovative leaders to business trends and the future of work.

Editors are also looking for feature stories that focus on data, security, transparency, privacy, and civic technology, as well as social/cultural issues in the tech industry. Writers can also pitch their best investigative and news-related feature story ideas.

Topics of interest also include career advice and productivity, as well as work/life stories on issues of diversity, equality and gender. First-person career stories are welcome, too. The word count for all sections is 1,000-2,000 words.

What not to pitch: The “Most Creative People” and “Most Innovative Companies” sections are sourced from print edition features and handled in house.

What publicists should pitch–and when: Pitches from publicists are rarely accepted, but there is hope. To increase the odds of getting a pitch past the gate, your ideas must be unique, innovative and in line with the type of content that Fast Company publishes. And please don’t pitch ideas that are straight from a press release; add your own angle instead. Lead time is 2-3 weeks.

Percentage freelance content: 30%

Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: 30%

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: A freelancer pitched “This is How Planned Parenthood Is Gearing Up for Its Hardest Fight Yet.” The writer got the assignment because she took a hot button topic and focused on the issue from a business and leadership angle. “This is an angle on something that is in the news that others weren’t covering,” said Davis. “And she got the access to get that story.”

A freelancer also pitched “Microsoft Wants Autistic Coders. Can it Find Them and Keep Them?” The article follows an autistic candidate through the job interview process at Microsoft. It was a winner because the story “tore away the corporate PR and hype, and offered an inside and unflinching look at what works and what doesn’t when it comes to neurodiversity, and diversity in general, in the workplace,” said Davis.

Etiquette: Send your pitch within the body of an email. Your ideas need to be completely fleshed out—no vague one-line concepts. And include links to a few recent stories that are similar to the ideas that you’re pitching.

Lead time: 2-3 weeks

Pay rate: $400-$700

Payment schedule: 60 days after publication

Kill fee: No

Rights purchased: All rights

Contact info:
FASTCOMPANY.COM
7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10007
FastCompany.com
Twitter handle: @fastcompany| Facebook
FirstInitialLastName@FastCompany.com

Direct all pitches to:

Editor Lori Hoffman: LHOFFMAN at FASTCOMPANY dot COM

Features Editor: Marcus Baram: MBARAM at FASTCOMPANY dot COM

Executive Editor Ben Baer: BBAER at FASTCOMPANY dot COM

Deputy Editor, Kathleen Davis: KDAVIS at FASTCOMPANY dot COM

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How To Pitch: Essence

This 'authority on black women' looks for timely pieces that enhance readers' lives

By Janelle Harris Dixon

Janelle Harris Dixon is a narrative journalist, copywriter, and content strategist with more than 20 years of experience covering race, culture, equity, and social justice. Her work has appeared in Essence, Ebony, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the Washington Post, Smithsonian, and more than 50 other publications. She holds a B.A. from Lincoln University and an M.A. in African American Studies from Temple University.

7 min read • Originally published October 12, 2015 / Updated April 12, 2021

By Janelle Harris Dixon

Janelle Harris Dixon is a narrative journalist, copywriter, and content strategist with more than 20 years of experience covering race, culture, equity, and social justice. Her work has appeared in Essence, Ebony, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, the Washington Post, Smithsonian, and more than 50 other publications. She holds a B.A. from Lincoln University and an M.A. in African American Studies from Temple University.

7 min read • Originally published October 12, 2015 / Updated April 12, 2021

Circulation: 1.5 million in print; 1 million online
Frequency: Monthly
Special issues: Black women in Hollywood (March); careers (April); beauty (May); body and health (July); holiday season (December)

Background: Since it was founded in 1970, Essence has been more than a general-interest book to its dedicated readership. It’s been a lifestyle resource, a conversation starter, a beauty and fashion bible, a social issue agitator, a how-to for relationships, a recipe book, and a champion for black womanhood. All this, pressed, polished and published monthly onto some 150-odd pages.

Celebrating 45 years as a newsstand mainstay for ladies of African descent, the mag and its site have enjoyed a longevity that few publications in the same market have been able to duplicate. “Black women come to Essence to get inspiration, insight and relevant information about our culture they cannot find anywhere else,” said editor in chief Vanessa K. Bush. “Each month, they count on us to bring the best.”

Although the target market of black women ages 18 to 49 hasn’t changed, the leadership of Essence has over the years. In 2000, the original owners — including Edward Lewis and Clarence Smith, who dreamt up the concept for the magazine and brought on famed photographer, filmmaker and writer Gordon Parks as its editorial director — formed a joint venture with Time Inc. Five years later, that corporate media conglomerate acquired the magazine, adding it to a stable that includes other heavy hitters like Sports Illustrated and People. Devotees worried that the change of ownership would impact the true-to-life content they’d always sought and appreciated.

Still, Essence has continued to expand from the magazine that mothers and grandmothers put on the coffee table to a full-out, multifaceted brand. Essence.com attracts more than 1 million unique monthly visitors, and the Essence Music Festival, approaching its 20th year, draws more than 200,000 attendees for an annual weekend of music and entertainment in New Orleans.

But the pulse that courses through the Essence body of business is still that crisp, printed page on which black women are venerated and celebrated — and where freelancers are encouraged to pitch fresh ideas that speak to that readership.

What to pitch: Many contributors are award-winning journalists, not only for Essence but other major newspapers and magazines. Good for them, but good for aspiring freelancers, too: even with that stable of excellence at their behest, editors enthusiastically invite new writers to pitch stories because they are, above all, interested in recruiting the right talent to speak to their readers. For that reason, the wealth of journalistic storytelling spans cover stories on celebrities like Jill Scott, Gabrielle Union and Michelle Obama to in-depth pieces on issues like gun violence and autism.

As is the case with many other pubs, the front-of-book departments are the best way to break in. Editors are looking for writers with areas of expertise to generate compelling service pieces and news stories for each section that impart something — a fact, an anecdote, an idea — readers hadn’t encountered before. Articles start around 850 words; however, those that open each section are a bit longer. Three key elements by which to pitch: research, timeliness and relevance.

The culture section, now called “Scene,” houses all things entertainment. “We’re always looking for great content, so we work with freelancers quite often for that,” explained deputy managing editor Dawnie Walton. Because black Hollywood is always buzzing with goings-on, she and fellow editors are looking for writers to do short profiles of celebrities, typically tied to a project that they have coming out in film, television, music or stage.

Health reporters should target “Healthy & Happy,” which covers fitness trends and medical news and issues, but most importantly takes a holistic approach to looking and feeling good and living well. Editors are interested in stories that include — but also go beyond — physical health. Think mental, spiritual and emotional well-being to capture and (hopefully) write about the breadth of complete, soul-satisfying happiness that comes from being totally healthy.

Also possibility rich are “Money & Power” and “Sex & Love,” whose section titles are self-explanatory. Two new features of the mag and potential gateways for incoming writers: “Share,” an essay column on the back page of the book that tells a woman’s inspirational story, either as-told-to or personal; and “Women to Watch,” a spotlight on a professional about an impressive achievement in her respective field.

Although not completely off-limits, features are generally assigned to veteran journalists intimately familiar with the nuances of Essence content. But if you’ve got a great idea, a newsy hook or an interesting trend to make the pitch more palatable, go for it. Those pieces typically run 1,200 to 2,500 words.

In all cases, the more detail you offer, the stronger the pitch comes off. Show editors a well-thought-out, complete vision for a potential story with a working hed and dek. Give a little background, including anecdotes, interviews, sources or statistics you propose to use in the piece. Provide a compelling fact or statistic to whet interest. Describe the content of a possible sidebar. Your pitch should also convince editors that now is the particular time to publish this particular story. Most importantly, think about what makes it unique to the Essence reader.

What not to pitch: Fashion and beauty are predominantly done in house.

Online opportunities: As an extension of the Essence brand, the website is a resource for fashion, beauty, entertainment, relationships and news. Editors accept pitches on all topics, but they don’t take any shortcuts on quality just because the material is online. “We tend to like pitches that are based around something that’s either a hot topic or extremely interesting to our audience,” Walton explained. “For instance, when we were covering the verdict in the Michael Dunn trial, we had an attorney write a piece about how she felt the prosecutors had done and some of the unfair blame she felt they were taking in that very sad case. That was someone coming in with a perspective that we don’t necessarily have in house.” In all, timeliness works even better in the online world, so aligning pitches with hot news or upcoming events is generally a good idea.

What publicists should pitch: Like just about every staff at every publication in every market, Essence editors are inundated with press releases and emails from PR folks, which makes understanding the mag, its audience and its mission that much more critical. “The number one thing I want publicists to know is that yes, Essence is a magazine for black women. Our mission statement is ‘We tell black women’s stories like no one else can.’ But,” Walton stressed, “you still need to know a little bit more about the brand than just pitching anything having to do with black people in general.” Also helpful: pitching to the right person. (It sounds snarky, but editors are clear that it’s an ongoing miscommunication and an ever-so-slight annoyance.) Take a look at the masthead and know who covers what to make a press release or story suggestion more targeted.

Percentage freelance content: About 40 percent to 50 percent for the magazine and 15 percent to 20 percent for the website
Percentage freelance submissions accepted: Less than 5 percent

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: “We had a story in our April 2014 issue about Avonte Oquendo’s mother, Vanessa Fontaine, pitched by a writer who lived in the area where Avonte went missing,” said Walton. “The story takes you from her perspective as a mother raising a boy with autism and her tirelessness during his search to her unanswered questions about how this could have happened and the devastation of learning his fate.”

Etiquette: Email a detailed and clear — but punchy and succinct — pitch to editors, highlighting what makes it special for Essence. “Let us evaluate the idea. If you’re a new writer to us, then you should send your LinkedIn page or tell us who you’ve written for,” Walton suggested. Hold off on sending the clips, though. Editors will ask for them when they’re ready. Feel free to send a link to an online portfolio if you have that. Allow two weeks for follow-ups. “Of course, sooner is better if you have something that’s very timely. If you’re offering an exclusive for the website, for instance, feel free to follow up in a day or so because we wouldn’t want to miss that opportunity,” she added. “But if it’s for the magazine, give it a couple of weeks.”

Lead time: Three to four months
Pay rate: $1.50 a word for features and departments (but a flat-rate system is used in some instances)
Payment schedule: A month after publication
Kill fee: 25 percent
Rights purchased: First North American serial rights

Contact info:
Essence Communications Inc.
135 W. 50th St., 4th Floor
New York, NY 10020
(212) 522-1212
www.essence.com
Twitter | Facebook
FirstInitialLastName@essence.com

Direct pitches to the appropriate editor:

Live Events Editorial Programming Lead and Senior Editor Rachaell Davis: RDAVIS at ESSENCE dot COM

Deputy Editor Cori Murray: CMURRAY at ESSENCE dot COM

Entertainment Editor Brande Victorian: BVICTORIAN at ESSENCE dot COM

Online, Essence.com Senior Editor Charli Penn: CPENN at ESSENCE dot COM

News, Politics and Issues Editor Breanna Edwards: BEDWARDS at ESSENCE dot COM

Associate Fashion Features Editor Nandi Howard: NHOWARDS at ESSENCE dot COM

Janelle Harris resides in Washington, D.C., frequents Twitter and lives on
Facebook.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Though we’ve updated this article recently, the speed at which things move in media means things may have already changed since then. Please email us if you notice any outdated info.]

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How to Pitch: Equally Wed

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

2 min read • Originally published October 10, 2019 / Updated April 12, 2021

Dana Robinson is a freelance health, beauty, and culture writer with 20 years of experience creating content for publications including Shape, WeightWatchers, Wine Enthusiast, AARP, and Southwest: The Magazine. She holds a master's degree in mass communication from California State University-Northridge.

2 min read • Originally published October 10, 2019 / Updated April 12, 2021

Background: Founded in 2010, Equally Wed is an online LGBTQ+ wedding magazine, book, and educational resource for LGBTQ+ couples and LGBTQ+ inclusive wedding professionals. “Within our inspirational content, we focus on wedding planning, real weddings and engagements, family, travel, marriage equality news, and [we spotlight] LGBTQ+ inclusive wedding vendors,” says Alaina Leary Lavoie, senior editor.

The site’s target readership is made up of LGBTQ+ people and allies, as well as wedding professionals who are working toward inclusion in the industry. “Most wedding publications don’t focus specifically on LGBTQ+ weddings and engagements, while we do,” says Lavoie “And we differ from other publications that focus on LGBTQ+ weddings and engagements because we are queer-owned and operated and we’re built on a strong foundation of journalism, social justice, story telling, and ethics.”

What to pitch: Editors are looking for more first-person essays and opinion pieces throughout all verticals. They’re especially interested in family and travel stories from an LGBTQ+ lens. Pitches from multiply marginalized freelancers on how intersections of their identity impact their experience are welcome, too.

What not to pitch: Our Real Weddings and Engagements sections are curated and published in-house by our editorial team. Writers who are looking to submit their own engagement or wedding story can use the EquallyWed submissions page.

Percentage of freelance-written content: At least one story is published by a freelance writer every month.

Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: 50%

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: Freelance writers pitched stories that tackled a plus-sized queer woman’s quest for a wedding dress, how grandma’s cooking brought a woman and her wife closer together, and a queer Methodist’s views on the anti-LGBTQ+ policy.

Etiquette: Send pitches in the body of an email with links to past relevant clips and/or a portfolio. Editors aren’t able to respond to all freelancers, but they do reach out to writers with promising pitches.

Lead time: 1-4 weeks (sooner for timely news stories)

Pay rate: $50 – $100

Payment schedule: Invoice on publication; payment is net 30

Kill fee: No kill fee

Rights purchased: All rights

Contact info:
Equally Wed
2897 N. Druid Hills Road, Suite 109
Atlanta GA 30329
www.equallywed.com
Twitter Handle: @equallywed | Facebook
firstname@equallywed.com

Direct all pitches to:
Editorial Director Kirsten Ott Palladino; KIRSTEN at EQUALLYWED dot COM

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