The Pitch

The story ideas Mother Jones' managing editor wants to see

The story ideas Mother Jones’ managing editor wants to see

The magazine is known for its hard-hitting investigations, but Ian Gordon says, “We write so much about bad actors that we're always looking for people to bring some levity to…
April 17, 2018
Katia Savchuk
Pacific Standard's executive editor shares some do's and don'ts on pitching stories

Pacific Standard’s executive editor shares some do’s and don’ts on pitching stories

Jennifer Sahn also mounts a defense of the overwhelmed editor, and why you might not hear back right away when you email
March 6, 2018
Katia Savchuk
How to break into The California Sunday Magazine

How to break into The California Sunday Magazine

Editor Douglas McGray doles out a million great tips and insights, including the possibly scary, "We really put a lot of weight on the pitch."
February 20, 2018
Katia Savchuk
A veteran freelancer on pitching The New York Times Magazine and more

A veteran freelancer on pitching The New York Times Magazine and more

Reporter (and editor) Paul Tullis has been on both sides of the pitching process; here, he annotates his "Into the Wildfires" proposal
December 19, 2017
Katia Savchuk
How to get the attention of a senior editor at Smithsonian Magazine

How to get the attention of a senior editor at Smithsonian Magazine

Jennie Rothenberg Gritz says of story pitches she accepts: "There has to be something surprising and narratively interesting there."
November 14, 2017
Katia Savchuk
Jason Fagone on Landing “The Willy Wonka of Pot” in Grantland

Jason Fagone on Landing “The Willy Wonka of Pot” in Grantland

As we launch a series about the mystical art of pitching longform stories, the longtime freelancer does the coolest thing: He annotates one of his own
October 10, 2017
Katia Savchuk