Freelance pitches

Hello. I have a pretty good feature idea that I want to pitch to some major magazines, but after reading the GQ-Esquire discussion on the Zanesville story thread, I am curious about the protocol when pitching major magazines that are competitors. For example, if I pitch to Sports Illustrated, should I not pitch to ESPN: The Magazine, as well? I wouldn't want to tip off a competitor, in the event one of the magazines decides to take my story. (Obviously there are competitors on a lower scale, as well).

I know that the Writer's Market has some guidelines about simultaneous submissions to magazines, but I can't tell you how many times I have pitched to a magazine or newspaper, and then never heard the first word back. It's like my query just disappeared into the ether!

So: Can you pitch to competitors? And, if you don't, how long should you wait before pitching to a competitor, i.e. after how long shouldl you assume that magazine No. 1 just isn't interested?

Thank you so much.

 

Re: Freelance pitches: Pitching to competitors?

Pitch to anyone you want to. Unless you have a regular business relationship with a magazine, your only obligation is to look out for yourself.

 

Re: Freelance pitches: Pitching to competitors?

Be aware that if you don't have any particular inside access or half the reporting done when you make a pitch, that publication may very well take your idea and give it to a staff writer anyway. If you're making a pitch to a publication you haven't written for in the past, you better feel very confident you can do that story better (or easier) than their staff writers, and you should make that clear to the publication.

 

Re: Freelance pitches: Pitching to competitors?

So what magazines do you guys think might be receptive to a good human interest sports feature? Sports Illustrated and ESPN are the only ones that leap to mind, along with perhaps a regional or city magazine?

 

Re: Freelance pitches: Pitching to competitors?

I would echo what Versatile said -- outlets are very apt to take your idea and hand it off to a full-timer. It's happened to me on more than one occasion. It's frustrating, but they do have the right to do that.

 

It's impossible to make that list without knowing the pitch (which you probably would be better off not posting on a journalism forum). But don't limit yourself to just the biggest magazines. If it's an idea that you think is good enough that SI or ESPN would consider it, you could also try Grantland or Yahoo's The Post Game. Don't forget specialty magazines, either, depending on the sport. SI picks up maybe five freelance articles a year for the print product, so you'd also have better luck there pitching to the Web editors as well. ESPN: The Magazine is a bit more liberal in hiring freelancers.

I should add that, if you haven't seen it, this thread has tons of resources and information: http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/62679/

 

No crime in aiming high.

But I'd advise against pitching a unique idea to several publications at once.

If you're trying to build trust somewhere, you should at least let an editor get first right of refusal. If he or she doesn't respond within a reasonable time (and you can decide when that is based on the time hook of the story) you can write again to say you're going to move on if you don't hear back by a certain day. You gave them a fair opportunity.

Then pitch you second choice, and keep doing down till you get a "yes."

It's not as slow as it sounds. Sometimes multiple rejections come very quickly. haha (Just be ready for it and move on)

Good luck!

 

Yes, better off finding a publication with a smaller niche or less staff...look locally/regionally first if you want to build some regular contacts.

 

Wow, Ragu. Thank you for that link. I don't mind doing the 25 percent of reporting ahead of time, personally. I would just feel bad for taking up my subject's time if the story didn't work out. It's - in my opinion - a really compelling human-interest story that just needs to find a home.

 

Great thread. Keep going.