How to Pitch: Tenderly

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 • Published October 2, 2019

Background: O.school launched in 2017 and is focused on providing answers to questions surrounding sexuality and sexual health. “Our goal is to answer them without making the reader feel silly, judged, or shamed,” says Gina Vaynshteyn

VP, content strategy. “We provide people with a community and space to learn about themselves and their desires, unabashedly–and without feeling like they’re reading an academic term paper.

The typical O.school reader is either a millennial or GenXer, and the site sets itself apart from the pack by focusing on content that’s medically accurate. “All of our sex ed content is written or reviewed by medical professionals and/or experts to ensure accuracy and trust,” says Vaynshteyn. “We want to provide readers with the most medically accurate information on sexuality, sexual wellness, and relationships.” The site also strives to be as inclusive as possible in order “to provide a safer space for people who are curious about themselves, others, and everything related to sex,” she says.

What to pitch: Freelancers are always welcome to pitch any kind of topics they feel would be right for O.school, but The Pulse news vertical and Voices (first-person stories, op-eds, and interviews) may be the most direct route to a byline. The Pulse runs about 500-600 words, while Voices stories run about 800-1200 words.

What not to pitch: The Sex A-Z section is typically handled in-house.

What publicists should pitch — and when [lead time]: Editors want to know about recent studies about sexual wellness, sex education, and relationships/dating, as well as products that are related to sexual/relationship wellness. Pitches are accepted at all times.

Percentage of freelance-written content: 95%

Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: 40%

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: Freelancers have recently pitched articles about learning to love sex after being diagnosed with endometriosis, and redefining what it means to “lose your virginity.”

Etiquette: Submit your pitches within the body of the email with a clear subject line. And include links to clips.

Lead time: 2 days – 2weeks.

Pay rate: $75-$125

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

Kill fee: $25

Rights purchased: All rights

Contact info:
O.school
Twitter handle: @ODotSchool | Facebook
hello@o.school

Direct all pitches to:
For first-person essays, op-eds, interviews, trends, and news, VP Content Strategy Gina Vaynshteyn and Editor Rachel Sanoff: GINA at O dot SCHOOL; RACHELSANOFF at O dot SCHOOL

For Sex A-Z, VP Content Strategy Gina Vaynshteyn: GINA at O dot SCHOOL

Topics:

How to Pitch: Tenderly

Editors are awaiting your pitches about the vegan and vegetarian lifestyle.

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 • Published September 4, 2019

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 • Published September 4, 2019

Circulation: The site is in pre-launch, but will be promoted to Medium subscribers (200,000+).

Background: This summer vegans, vegetarians (and those who are veg-curious) will be checking out Tenderly, a vegan lifestyle publication that will be coming to Medium in July. “We hope to be a vital resource and a source of inspiration and delight for vegans, vegetarians, future vegans, and the vegan curious,” says Summer Anne Burton, editor in chief. “We’ll talk about making and eating delicious food, living well, saving the earth, and loving animals.” The site is also dedicated to diversity within the vegan movement and addressing the challenges of being vegan in a non-vegan world, she says.

What to Pitch: Editors are looking for pitches that have a personal and unique perspective related to food, animals, sustainability, or living the good life as a vegan. The majority of content will be positive and optimistic, and the categories that editors are most excited about assigning to new freelancers include:

Home cooking guides and recipes that are linked to personal stories or have a strong creative voice
Humorous lists and essays
Original DIY projects and sustainability tips, with photos
Vegan and cruelty-free product roundups and recommendations

Check out the submission guidelines for more info. Most content will be 1000-2000 words, but some exceptions will be made for short daily pieces or longer reported features.

Burton notes that the site is diverse, body positive, and that editors are always looking for ways that veganism intersects with other social justice causes. “We are looking for high-quality content about animals and plant food that has a voice, a sense of humor, and a strong identity,” she says.

Which not to pitch: All sections are open to freelancers, however editors don’t run any content that’s directly about eating meat or animal products. No weight loss pitches, breaking vegan or vegetarian “news” pitches, or content that promotes fake health or science angles on veganism.

What publicists should pitch — and when [lead time]: Editors want to hear about vegan and vegetarian cookbooks, animal-related books or TV/film projects, and restaurant openings. New vegan products in the packaged food, beauty, and home space are also of interest. Lead times will vary.

Percentage of freelance-written content? 100%

Percentage of freelance pitchesaccepted? 5-10%

Etiquette: Submit pitches within the body of an email and keep them to about one paragraph. Please don’t include more than three ideas in one email, and do not include full drafts as attachments. Include links to clips.

Lead time: 2-4 weeks.

Pay rate: $200-$400; occasional longer reported features may fetch $400-$1000.

Payment schedule: Payment within 30 days of first draft received.

Kill fee: Full payment if story is commissioned and contract is signed.

Rights purchased: Licensing rights with exclusivity for one year following publication; copyright retained by author.

Contact info:
Twitter handle: @TenderlyMag

Direct all pitches to:
Editor in chief, Summer Anne Burton: SUMMER at TENDERLYMAG dot COM

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How to Pitch: Smart Mouth

Editors are awaiting your pitches that focus on food history.

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 August 29, 2019 / Updated August 29, 2019

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 August 29, 2019 / Updated August 29, 2019

Frequency: 2x/month

Background: With a launch date of October 2019, the Smart Mouth newsletter is poised to bring stories about food history and culture to its readers. “It’s about food, but the focus isn’t on how things taste,” says Katherine Spiers, editor. “It’s more about culture and context and history…and sometimes about what’s on the plate.”

The target audience is anyone who’s interested in food, as well as people who have an interest in history, says Spiers. And if the Smart Mouth title sounds familiar, it may be because it’s named after Spiers’ Smart Mouth podcast, which focuses on food history.

What to Pitch: Editors are looking for quick blurbs about particular dishes or restaurants from around the world. The write-ups should be accompanied by an excellent photo, so photographers might want to pitch this section as well. Word count: 200.

Reported stories with a food culture angle are also in high demand. Editors are interested in a broad spectrum of stories, so feel free to let your imagination run wild. Word count: 400-500.

City Guides are acceptable, but proceed with caution. You should be deeply familiar with the city that you’re pitching, and be fairly confident that no one else has pitched your city of choice, says Spier. She’s already received dozens of pitches for Chicago City Guides. Word count: 500.

Spier notes that as the newsletter evolves, editors may be open to a wider variety of story ideas down the line.

Which not to pitch: Please resist the temptation to submit stories about wellness, clean eating or calories.

Percentage of freelance-written content? 50%

Percentage of freelance pitches accepted? 3% (might change in the future)

Etiquette: Submit pitches within the body of an email and keep them to about one paragraph. It’s OK to submit multiple pitches within one email. Send links to clips.

Pay rate: $200-$400

Payment schedule: Upon acceptance of final draft

Kill fee: 25-50%

Rights purchased: all rights.

Direct all pitches to:
Editor, Katherine Spiers: KATHERINE at TABLECAKES dot COM

Topics:

Upcoming Courses

Courses coming soon

Spring is in the air

By Zovig Garboushian

1 min read • Originally published October 3, 2018 / Updated May 2, 2019

By Zovig Garboushian

1 min read • Originally published October 3, 2018 / Updated May 2, 2019

Here’s what’s coming in May!

The Not-Annoying Way to Network on LinkedIn: 1st Connections? Company pages? InMail? Follow ups? What? If you’re looking to build up your LinkedIn profile with meaningful connections in order to further your career, this course is absolutely for you.

Content Marketing: Your Intro to Storytelling: Delve into the art of content marketing strategy from the ground up. This course covers how to set goals, identify your audience, define your editorial mission, and plan, execute your strategy and so much more.

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Upcoming Courses

Pitch your best tales of American culture and travel

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.

4 min read • Originally published February 15, 2019 / Updated February 15, 2019

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.

4 min read • Originally published February 15, 2019 / Updated February 15, 2019

Circulation: 5.2 million
Frequency: 6x/year
Special Issues: Sports Theme (April/May); Kids Theme (Aug./Sept.)

Background: Amtrak riders will have to look no farther than the seat pocket in front of them to find the latest issue of The National. The travel and culture publication launched in 2016 and “its ethos is to inspire you to see America by train on the Amtrak routes,” says Alex Hoyt, editor in chief.

Those routes cover 500 destinations in the U.S. and Southern Canada, and the publication strives to entertain and inform its readers by providing stories that are deeply about American places, companies, characters and artists, says Hoyt.

What to pitch: First-time freelancers can take aim at any of the following pitch-ready departments:

Rail Life: This FOB section is a series of dispatches from around the country. Topics can range from art and culture to food, drink or sports. Word count: 100-1,000.

Between the Lines: Original poems from unknown writers as well as poet laureates have been showcased in this section. All poems must be about the United States. Length: under 30 lines.

The National Conversation: This section features an interview with a well-known American on a subject of national importance. Past subjects have included fashion designer Ralph Lauren and film director Barry Jenkins. (The National Conversation is usually assigned to a writer, but if you have an “in” with a celeb, then by all means, pitch away!) Word count: 1,500-2,000.

Field Notes: These first-person travel essays don’t need to be about rail travel, but they do need to focus more on the destination that the trip, says Hoyt. Editors like to see essays that combine personal history with cultural reporting. The destination must be in the United States. Word count: 1,500-3000.

Made in America: These articles tell the stories of companies that are making their goods and creating jobs in the U.S. Word count: 1,000-1,500.

Next Stop: Editors are looking for stories about a person or group that is bringing transformation to a major Amtrak destination city. Word count: 2,000-4,000.

American Passion: This is the place to pitch immersive reported stories that focus on unique American subcultures and the people who are preserving their way of life. Word count: 2,500-5,000.

The Weekender: This page is all about where to stay, eat, drink and have fun in a smaller Amtrak destination city. Word count: 500.

Train of Thought: This back page personal essay is about train travel experiences. Word count: 700-1,000.

The Scenic Route: Artists, illustrators and graphic designers can pitch a concept of a reimagined Amtrak route map.

Portfolio: Photographers who would like to have a shot at boarding an Amtrack train and documenting America though pictures should submit some of their previous work for this section. They should also take a look at the Amtrak routes and select a route or two that they’d like to take. Length: 20 pictures.

American Letters: Acclaimed as well as up-and-coming American writers can pitch their fiction stories and essays. The topics must cover some aspect of American life. Word count: 1,500-5,000.

What not to pitch: The Hotel page is handled in-house.

Online opportunities: There are no online writing opportunities at this time.

What publicists should pitch—and when: Editors are always looking for interview subjects for the National Conversation section as well as businesses for the Made in America section. Publicists who represent publishing houses should submit exerts of their clients’ fiction or essays to the American Letters section. Lead time: 2 months.

Percentage freelance content: 75%
Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: 10%

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: Freelance writers penned articles that explored Toledo, Ohio’s glass artisans and Patagonia’s organic food brand.

Etiquette: Send your pitches in the body of the email. Editors want to see a tight paragraph that tells the story. Include a short bio along with two or three links to clips.

Lead time: 2 months
Pay rate: $1/word, up to $2500. Poem: $300
Payment schedule: Invoice on acceptance
Kill fee: 50%

Rights purchased: Exclusive, one-time North American print rights, and the right to publish a story online in perpetuity. Exclusivity of print rights reverts to the writer after 90 days.

Contact info:
The National
68 Jay St., Suite 315
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Amtrakthenational.com
Twitter handle: @Amtrak
FirstName.LastName@ink-global.com

Submit all pitches to: For Rail Life, The Weekender, and Made in America, senior editor Lauren Vespoli: LAUREN dot VESPOLI at INK hyphen GLOBAL dot COM.

Submit all other pitches to editor in chief, Alex Hoyt: ALEX dot HOYT at INK hyphen GLOBAL dot COM.

Topics:

How To Pitch: Southwest: The Magazine

Character-focused pitches are your ticket to a byline in this in-flight publication.

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.

4 min read • Originally published January 15, 2019 / Updated February 12, 2019

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.

4 min read • Originally published January 15, 2019 / Updated February 12, 2019

Circulation: 6.3 million
Frequency: Monthly

Special Issues: Summer Travel Guide (May); Winter Travel Guide (November);

The Spirit Guide: focuses on latest trends in craft distilling/beer and wine (December).

Background: Once Southwest Airlines passengers have fastened their seat belts and are ready to settle into a comfortable ride to their destination of choice, they can also settle into the latest issue of the airline’s in-flight publication: Southwest: The Magazine.

The average Southwest reader is a college-educated professional who is about 46 years old and earns around $65,000, says Tommie Ethington, editor. And although the publication’s primary audience is Southwest passengers, the readership does include those who access the articles online. And what they find in those print and digital pages are a mix of long-form features and quick-hit FOB pieces that center around business, travel and lifestyle topics—“all things that our readers are interested in,” says Ethington.

The publication differentiates itself from other in-flight magazines by dedicating fewer pages to celebrity-focused content. Instead, Southwest tends to focus more on human-interest stories that don’t necessarily revolve around a famous person. “Our main goal is to align ourselves with the heart of the Southwest Airlines brand,” says Ethington. “[That means] upholding their tradition with impassioned story telling about real places and real people.”

What to pitch: Writers who are new to Southwest should aim their darts at the Feature well. Editors are looking for human interest and trend stories with strong character components, as well as personal narratives and profiles—they’re less interested in destination pitches, unless they contain a personal angle or an interesting character. “We try to write stories that will make our readers laugh and cry…there’s definitely an emotional component to what we’re looking for,” says Ethington.

Southwest Airlines is also involved with many musical initiatives, including sponsorship of various music festivals, and Live at 35 (live concerts on Southwest flights at 35,000 feet). So, musician-focused pitches are always appreciated. Word count: 1500-3400.

Southwest is also interested in hearing from writers who have experience creating advertorial content. The publication runs several pages of advertorial per issue, and these stories focus mainly on destination guides (Discover Florida, Discover Las Vegas) and topical issues (health, education, etc…). If you’d like to be considered for an assignment, feel free to reach out to the editors with clips of similar work.

Please also remember to keep your pitches focused on Southwest Airlines destinations or cities that are within a short driving distance of one of these destinations (as long as it’s not a destination that a competing airline flies to). You can check out the online route map here.

Editors do work with outside photographers and illustrators, so for consideration it’s best to send an introductory email and a link to your portfolio.

What not to pitch: The FOB, Crosswords, and Sudoku sections are handled in-house or by assigned writers.

Online opportunities: None at this time.

What publicists should pitch—and when: The FOB section is the best place for publicists to pitch. It’s divided into the “Work” and “Play” sections and corresponds to activities that passengers can engage in whether they’re traveling for business or pleasure. Send along press releases that focus on food trends, restaurants, boutique hotels, beverages, and local shops. And if you have an actor/musician/athlete client, feel free to pitch that person for the One Question back page. Existing hi-res artwork can also increase your chances of getting featured in the magazine. Lead time: 3-4 months.

Percentage of freelance content published: 30%
Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 15%

Recent freelance story pitched and published: A freelancer pitched Uncharted Waters, a personal narrative feature that ran in tandem with Southwest’s summer travel guide package. Come Fly with Them profiles a falconry school in Sacramento, Calif., while Stair Power focuses on the many staircases crisscrossing Pittsburgh.

Etiquette: Place your pitches in the body of an email and think of the pitch as an opportunity to showcase your voice and writing style, says Ethington. “Getting a sense of your writing style is pretty important so… draw us in and tell us why this person or place is so interesting.” Include links to clips, but if you’re particularly proud of a certain clip, feel free to attach it or include a separate link.

Lead time: 5-6 months
Pay rate: Editorial: $1/word; Advertorial: $400-$2,000 (depends on the advertiser)
Payment schedule: within 30 days of the issue ship date
Kill fee: 20%

Rights Published: All rights

Contact info:

4131 N Central Expy Ste. 750
Dallas, TX
75204

SouthwestMag.com

Current and back issues of Southwest: The Magazine can be found here.

Twitter handle: @SouthwestTheMag | Facebook

FirstName.LastName@paceco.com

Direct all pitches to: letters@southwestmag.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: Curve

Line up story ideas that complement the cutting-edge style of this leading lesbian magazine

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 January 12, 2019 / Updated January 29, 2019

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 January 12, 2019 / Updated January 29, 2019

Circulation: 60,000
Frequency: Quarterly

Background: Most lifestyle publications on any given newsstand tend to be crammed with content that focuses on women’s relationships with men. But in 1990 the creative minds behind Curve magazine realized that there was a gap in the market and set out to develop a publication that catered to lesbians and queer women.

Curve’s mission is to keep its readers (women in the LGBTQ community ages 25-44) up-to-date on current affairs and community politics with a focus on lifestyle content, says Merryn Johns, editor in chief.

What to pitch: A lot of Curve’s content is created in-house, but freelancers may be able to get a byline by pitching profile stories. Celebrity musicians, actors, and athletes are all fair game—including people who have recently come out, are allies of the LGBTQ movement, or just may be of interest to Curve’s target readership. Profiles of lesser-known people (lesbian business owners, politicians, etc…) may pique an editor’s interest as well. “It’s very important that we do offer a kind of coverage to show the diversity of our community in a positive way,” says Johns. Word count: 500-2000.

Fitness pitches can have a home at Curve as well. Editors are looking for profiles of fitness professionals, as well as trend articles, first-person essays, and reported stories. Word count: 1200.

Photographers are also welcome to submit images for consideration: $30/image.

What not to pitch: Travel stories are handled in-house, so only send a pitch if you have an extraordinary angle.

Online opportunities: CurveMag.com has about 250,000 unique visitors, so it can provide up-and-coming writers with a great opportunity to get their names out into the digital space. Instead of pitching one-off pieces freelancers should focus more on providing regular column-style content that focus on music, beauty, fashion or movies. Bloggers have tackled topics like parenting and a comedian’s take on touring with the military: $50/post

What publicists should pitch: Send pitches that are of interest to female members of the LGBTQ community. Pitches for products or organizations that are fair trade, cruelty free, certified organic or helmed by a female owner may bump you up to the top of the list.

Percentage of freelance content: 40%
Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 10%

Recent freelance story pitched and published: Freelancers pitched profiles that focused on burlesque icon Dita Von Teese, The Indigo Girls and Grammy-nominated artist Mary Lambert.

Etiquette: Limit your pitches to about one paragraph that outlines the focus of your story idea. Include links to clips. And please let the editors know if you can supply hi-res artwork along with your story.

Lead time: Three months
Pay rate: $.20 a word
Payment schedule: On publication
Kill fee: 25%
Rights purchased: All rights for first three months

Contact info: Twitter handle: @TheRealCurve | Facebook

Direct all pitches to: Editor in Chief Merryn Johns: MERRYN at CURVEMAG dot COM or EDITOR at CURVEMAG 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: Foreign Policy

Editors are looking for strong opinion pieces on foreign policy issues with an on-the-ground perspective

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 January 28, 2019 / Updated January 28, 2019

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 January 28, 2019 / Updated January 28, 2019

Frequency: Quarterly

Background: Foreign Policy was created in the 1970s by Samuel Huntington, chairman of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, and a group of international relations scholars. Its initial target audience was diplomats and scholars, but in the early 2000s the focus shifted to a more general audience who were craving information about the political and diplomatic world outside of the United States.

The publication has a large readership beyond the U.S. borders, and “skews older and richer,” says James Palmer, senior editor. Most Foreign Policy readers are above the age of 40, and about 75 percent of the audience is male. “We try to write for a broad, intelligent audience,” says Palmer. “We assume that the reader is smart and interested in foreign affairs.”

There are several other outlets that also cover foreign policy, but the publication sets itself apart by providing in-depth coverage and analysis, while keeping its copy accessible and readable.

What to pitch: Editors are most interested in receiving semi-reported analysis pieces from freelancers. “We want something that takes advantage of people’s unique background skills, experience and insight,” says Palmer. “So if you’re a whaling specialist and want to write about the Japanese whaling ban, that’s the type of thing we’re looking for.”

There’s no need to try and break a news story, rather the idea is to have freelancers take an issue and explore/explain it. Stories should include a smart, counterintuitive argument with a strong thesis (e.g. What’s the case? What’s happening?) “Opinion pieces are our bread and butter,” says Palmer. He notes that these pieces must have a new, original argument along with a foreign angle. Word count: 1200-3000.

What not to pitch: The online news section is handled in house.

Online opportunities: ForeignPolicy.com plays host to about 95 percent of Foreign Policy’s overall content—so assume that you’re pitching to the website when you hit the send key.

What publicists should pitch–and when: Foreign Policy publishes a lot of book excerpts, so editors want to hear from publicists with clients who have books that cover foreign affairs and foreign policy. Lead time: 1 month.

Percentage of freelance content: 70-80%
Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 20%

Etiquette: Please submit your pitch via Submittable.

Lead time: 3-3 days

Pay rate: $.50/word; Print: $300

Payment schedule: Payment on publication
Kill fee: None
Rights purchased: All rights

Contact info: ForeignPolicy.com

Twitter handle: @ForeignPolicy | Facebook

Direct all pitches to: ForeignPolicy.Submittable.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: The Verge

Reported pieces and investigative stories 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.

2 min read • Published January 18, 2019

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 • Published January 18, 2019

Monthly unique visitors: 43.5 million

Background: The Verge debuted in 2011 and is a tech-lovers dream come true. Its target audience is “smart, informed people who are interested in technology,” says Elizabeth Lopatto, deputy editor.

The Verge differentiates itself from other technology outlets by examining all of the ways that technology can potentially touch the life of the average person—from your daily interactions with your phone to technology’s role in politics. “Technology is something that certainly shapes our lives these days,” says Lopatto. “And we’re trying to keep up with that.”

What to pitch: Freelancers are invited to pitch any section of the site, but if you’re a science writer at heart you’re in luck. Science pitches can focus on space exploration, climate change, Silicon Valley’s forays into health tech, etc… Stories that explore culture and transportation are also welcome; and writers should feel free to pitch stories that are related to TV and film.

Reported pieces are the site’s bread and butter and editors love a good investigation pitch, as well. “Things that are in-depth or unusual are very, very welcome,” says Lopatto. Word count: 800-3000.

What not to pitch: All sections are open to freelancers.

What publicists should pitch and when: There are no pitch opportunities for publicists at this time.

Percentage of freelance content: Less than 10%

Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: N/A

Recent freelance stories pitched and published: Freelance writers have penned pieces that focus on fertility apps, the Chevy Volt, and Building Camera Kits for Adventure Photography.

Etiquette: Pitches should be 1-2 paragraphs and should focus on the story not a general topic. Explain how you want to form the story, how you plan to tell the story, and whether you have access to the subject you’d like to interview. Include a headline, a lead, and “please, please, please send clips that pertain to the kind of story you want to tell,” says Lopatto. “Sending me your portfolio is not actually that helpful to me if it’s [filled with] stories that are significantly different than the [story] you’re pitching me.” Please do not send pre-written stories.

Lead time: 1 day-3 months

Pay rate: Varies

Payment schedule: Invoice on publication

Kill fee: 20%

Rights purchased: All rights

Contact info:
TheVerge.com
Twitter handle: @Verge | Facebook

Direct all pitches to:
TIPS at THEVERGE dot COM

NEXT >> How To Pitch: Wired.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: Via

Regional travel destinations are your ticket to a byline at AAA’s Western-states magazine

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 12, 2018 / Updated January 16, 2019

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 12, 2018 / Updated January 16, 2019

Circulation: 3.8 million
Frequency: Quarterly (issues sent to Oregon and Idaho are published 6x/year)
Special issues: None

Background: If you have a AAA membership then you’re probably familiar with at least one of this insurance company’s regional publications. And if you’re a member who lives in the West then you’ve no doubt received a copy of Via, the AAA publication that caters to those who reside in Northern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho.

Via’s mission is to help AAA card holders make the most of their memberships as well as explore the West; and it stands apart from other travel magazines by focusing on places and attractions in the western United States where anyone can go, particularly by car. And just like its distribution range, Via’s target demographic is pretty broad. “[We cater to] a wide age range, a wide income range–it’s pretty general,” says LeeAnne Jones, managing editor.

What to pitch: Jones notes that editors receive more than 1,000 pitches a year and accept fewer than 50, but new writers do have a chance to get a foot in the door by pitching to the following sections:

The On the Road FOB section is one of the best places to aim your dart. It’s comprised of the following pages:

Tastes: covers regional food trends (e.g. bars around the West that are serving mocktails, barbecue restaurants, etc…)

Five Things: usually focuses on five special things about a suburban region

Sweet Stops: short profiles that focus on all the things that are worth stopping for en route from City A to City B (museums, restaurants, parks, etc…)

Happy Birthday: write-ups of popular locations that are having an anniversary

Post Card: profile of an up-and-coming international destination

Great Outdoors: highlights places that have interesting outdoor activities

All On the Road pages run about 150-300 words.

The Weekender focuses on a weekend destination. Word count: 400-600.

Features are always focused on travel. They can take the shape of modular regional stories (e.g. best waterfalls in the West, best state parks, best places to see wild flowers, etc…) or deep dives into a single destination (e.g. Yellow Stone, Lake Tahoe). Features can even be written in first-person. Word count: 500-2000.

What not to pitch: The Smart Life section is handled in house. And since editors are looking for story ideas that appeal to their broad fan base, there’s no need to pitch stories about extreme sports or high-end resorts.

Recent freelance stories pitched and published:Best Bakeries in the West and Quiet Places to Paddle or Hike were both recently featured in the On the Road section.

Online opportunities: The Road Trips, Food & Drink, Destinations, and Outdoors sections are all prime pitching ground. Editors specifically appreciate round-ups that highlight trends/places throughout the West, destination guides (rather than an article focusing on one single restaurant or shopping area), and local insights on popular places. Pay rates vary from $150-$350. Word count: 500-700.

*The website has a zip code wall, so visitors will need to enter in zip code 94608 to access the site.

What publicists should pitch and when: Via doesn’t do a lot of product round-ups, but editors are interested in receiving information about museums, restaurants parks, and even facilities that are being remodeled or expanded. Lead time is 6-12 months.

Etiquette: Keep your pitches short (just a few sentences of supporting information is fine) and include a link to a portfolio.

Percentage of freelance-written content: 80%
Percentage of freelance pitches accepted: 5%

Lead time: 6 months – 1 year
Pay rate: Starts at $1 a word
Payment schedule: Approximately 4 to 6 weeks after acceptance of article
Kill fee: 30 percent
Rights purchased:Usually first North American serial, plus electronic

Contact info:
Via magazine/AAA
P.O. Box 24502
Oakland, CA 94623
www.Viamagazine.com
FirstName.LastName@viamagazine.com
Twitter handle: @aaa_viamagazine
Facebook

Direct all pitches to:
VIAMAIL at VIAMAGAZINE 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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