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How a freelancer pitched a time-sensitive story about a midwifery lawsuit to the Guardian
When I asked Atlanta-based freelance journalist Gray Chapman how she got the idea for her April Guardian feature about a battle over who can provide midwifery care in Georgia, she said it was “99% luck.” I disagree. Chapman — an AHCJ member who has written for publications including The New York Times, the Bitter Southerner…
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How a freelancer pitched a personal essay about running and romance to Runner’s World
For my latest installment of “How I Pitched It,” I talked to Amanda McCracken, a freelance health, travel and relationship journalist in Boulder, Colo. McCracken, who’s written for outlets including The New York Times, NPR and The Guardian, shares the story behind her May Runner’s World essay, How the Best Lessons I Learned During Racing…
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How a freelancer pitched a story on a controversial condition to Undark
Jyoti Madhusoodanan’s Feb. 24, 2026, story in Undark. Screenshot captured April 14, 2026. Jyoti Madhusoodanan, a freelance science and health journalist in Portland, Ore., had been curious about Morgellon’s disease ever since coming across it while studying microbiology in graduate school. The condition — which causes intensely uncomfortable sensations like crawling, burning or stinging under…
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How to pitch editors right now
During AHCJ’s March Lunch and Learn, freelance members swapped tips about a perpetually charged topic: pitching. Some writers like me enjoy coming up with my own ideas. It satisfies my creative muscle and gives me a better chance of writing the types of stories I’m actually interested in — and others avoid it. It’s true:…
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Tips for pitching the New York Times, Wired and Consumer Reports
Pitching: If you’re a freelancer, chances are you either love it or hate it. I’m in the former camp. My brain (and Google docs and notes app) are awash with story ideas, and I get energized by the chance to crystalize them into compelling pitches and — if I’m lucky and do that well —…
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New market guides for pitching to Good Housekeeping, Big Think and New York Post
Before meeting the New York Post’s wellness editor at a media dinner in June 2025, it hadn’t crossed my mind to pitch to the publication with a right-leaning audience and a tabloid-y reputation. But the editor encouraged me to so I sent along a few light-hearted ideas, like how Jazzercise is in fact beloved by…
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How I Pitched It: Freelancer shares precise pitch that became Guardian feature
What does a successful pitch look like? In an increasingly crowded freelance market where pitches are routinely ghosted and budgets for contributing writers — if not entire staffs — are increasingly slashed, the answer can feel elusive. Asha Dore. Photo by Gritchelle Fallegson The truth is, there’s no single secret that guarantees your pitch will…
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