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I've been writing and editing for years but mostly working for contract agencies and publications and almost never pitching ideas to editors. (In fact for years I was on the receiving end of pitches, wish I'd appreciated then how much guts it takes to keep sending ideas out into the ether...)

Anyway, have decided to try and branch out into newsstand but with v little experience of pitching to newspapers and mainstream mags I've no idea what the protocol is.

I'm putting together a really great feature, have written a tight pitch for it and emailed it to about 8 people e.g. at environment Guardian, Indi, DT & Times, but no-one has bitten. Do I:
(a) call up each of the editors I've emailed and ask if they've had a chance to think about whether they'd like to run the piece (or will that just piss them off because they're busy?
(b) try different publications?
(c) cut my losses and find a new story (v reluctant to do this because I'm confident it's a winner and I've spent a lot of time researching it).

Would really appreciate any guidance from those in the know. Thanks v much

Bitzer, no advice but reading carefully as in a similar boat!

I suspect that might be the problem though, there are LOTS of us in similar vessels...

Yes, I'm sure you're right. Was just thinking that while scanning the past threads. But I'm not expecting all my income to come from interesting newsstand projects, happy to do the corporate website-type stuff too, but I do sooo hope I can get this one article published because it's a great story.

I would call because they may well have missed your email altogether - got to be ballsy if you want to sell a piece.

I would start with DT/Times, then the Guardian and end with the Indi (likely to pay the worst).

Me too. I've pitched 37 features ideas to editors since April (that's shocking actually) and I've had 4 responses. FOUR. Not four commissions, four actual replies to my pitches. And I'm no rookie - I've been writing for 15 years and have written for lots of different mags.

I've followed up with emails, but never with a phone call. I used to commission (but I always replied to pitches!) and phone calls would just annoy me. So I wouldn't recommend that. How long ago did you pitch?

I do think it's rude not to reply at all. Almost unforgivably rude actually. It takes two minutes to reply and say 'thanks but no thanks'. No one's that busy.

Sadly I think this is just how it is in journalism - in magazines at least. There's a really horrible culture of having to beg for everything. It's very definitely who you know and not what you know.

Er, remind me why I do this again?!

Wow Mrskb, 37 separate ideas, or 37 pitches?

(not that it matters, I'm just getting an idea of what is a reasonable strike rate! And impressed with your productivity!)

THanks v much for the feedback.

mrskbpw crikey that's a bit depressing (but helpful!)

I pitched about 11 or 12 days ago. And sent one chaser email to the Guardian yesterday. Annoyingly the Times email keeps bouncing back, it's an address I got from them over the phone, and I've called to double check it but it's still bouncing. Don't dare incur their wrath by calling again so guess I'll just have to send it to the general 'features' email.

Out of interest, do you always find the name of an individual (that's what I've been trying to do) and email them, or do you ever send a pitch to features @thetimes.co.uk?

I normally email an individual. But if that's bouncing back you could send it to the general address and explain why? Or put FAO name in the subject?

Twelve - not 37 different ideas! Am not that productive. Some I've pitched to more than one mag, and some I've pitched again. For example, I pitched one to a fitness mag about women doing traditionally male sports, focussing on lovely Nicola Adams the boxer. No reply. When she won her gold medal, I pitched it again. No reply.

Scootle - do you pitch? You sound like you know what you're talking about! Any tips?

Mrs - yes, was planning to do that, I just like to keep emails as short & sweet as possible and avoid excuses if poss so feels a bit unsatisfactory.

I know what you mean about people not responding at all. As you say, it takes a few seconds to type a 'we're not looking for this kind of feature at the moment' kind of email.

The problem I found when I was on the comm'ing desk of a national was that I would receive an email from a freelance and, if I thought it was good, I wasn't allowed to commission it (despite that being part of my job ) but had to run it past the senior editor who then wouldn't get back to me about it. If she did, it was generally no because after several weeks of prevaricating, it had gone off the boil/become stale. Everyone on the papers I used to work for seem to have similar problems - there are very few people able to give a definitive nod. It's very, very depressing and a large part of the reason I decided to stop freelancing .

This YouTube clip is far more articulate about the whole rigmarole than I am. Enjoy (or,alternatively, cry).

I work in a related field but was a journalist for a while; dp is a journo. I think pitching is almost dead tbh - everyone I know in the media commissions people they already know so even really really good ideas don't get through.

But that means there is actually nothing to lose by picking up the phone, OP. If the papers don't bite - most likely - then go for specialist magazines, who are more likely to be interested, especially if your idea doesn't have a newsy hook.

oh my. <sobs>

I pitched by email to the Guardian last week. I had no response so emailed a day later (effectively, have you had any thoughts of my email from yesterday....?).

Result - yes, and sorry, she had forgotten about it; yes, she'd like it. Due tomorrow, publication (online) on Friday

Don't ever give up....

PS I have found picking up the phone after an email is a good thing because emails easily get sent to spam. A call can make a difference.

Oh well done Perma! Out of interest, was that to sn editor you already had contact with or a cold call?

Perma that's great - well done! How exciting. I know my emails aren't being spammed because I'm getting out of office messages when they aren't about. I feel I should pick up the phone but want to avoid stressing out an overworked editor and thereby putting them off commissioning me.

scootle Good advice all round. I must just pick up the phone, got a really snooty woman on the phone from the Times yesterday and it put me off but I suppose there's nothing to lose. Out of interest, have any of you written for/worked for local newspapers?

lalalonglegs depressing but insightful, thanks!

Twelve - virtually a cold call. I had a little interaction via Twitter but nothing else.
Scootle - not since i was at journo college!
Whilst i know experience reaps confidence (I've been doing this for 12 odd years now), having self confidence makes all the difference. Why NOT pick up the phone to chase it up? You have a job to do - just as the editors too. You're not inferior

Perma - yes you're right of course and thanks for the nudge.

This is such an informative and simultaneously inspiring/depressing thread! Thank you all for sharing your wisdom. Good to know that if the answer is yes, it tends to be NOW, so I will hold off from pitching any ideas until I'm in a position to follow them up instantly.

Update – I finally plucked up the courage to call the relevant Guardian section editor. He'd been away but was very friendly, seemed interested in the article and said he'd take a look and get back to me today. So, whatever the outcome, in this instance calling was a good call, so to speak.

Great! There's just nothing to lose by calling really.

Bitzer - keep up updated!

well - he did get back to me as promised. Said he was going to pass on it but suggested contacting the editor of another section, which I did. Nice to have at least had a response

OK - useful update for those wondering about whether it is still worth pitching ideas. I spoke to the second editor who was lovely. She said it's probably not right for them because it clashes with another feature they're thinking of running but was really nice and thanked me for sending in the idea. She said they do love getting ideas from people. So, I still haven't got a commission out of it, but there is hope...

I think that's really encouraging. Build on that and pitch other ideas to her

Yay for nice people at the Guardian!

Hi, I do things the other way round. I call and pitch first, with the email drafted and ready to go and then without a doubt the conversations end with a request to send further info by email, at which point I send and then either things progress by email and phone, or, you can send a further email the following week, depending upon your relationship with the journalist.

Thanks Toto, I get the impression a few of us are still at the 'first approach' stage, would you still suggest calling first?

And yay for Guardian editors who show courtesy and respect!

Yes, because firstly you know that the journalist has listened to your pitch and secondly you have the opportunity to build a relationship which is like gold dust when it comes to successful PR.

You don't need to chat for long, but make your call short and sweet. The journo will be direct if not interested and it saves you hanging in limbo and clogging up their inbox.

Do make sure you don't call on deadline day or time!

Hmmm the 'clashes with another idea we are already running' might mean they are going to run your idea without paying you. Just a thought!

Sounds like you do have a good idea though - so ring the Trlegraph quick.

Totobear v interested in your comments - how do you know when their deadline day or time is? Do you ring the paper to ask?

scootle I know what you mean but they have someone based in the country that the story's about. They said he/she was currently researching a story and there would be some overlap, so I don't think they're planning to nick it but if the exact same story were to turn up in the Guardian I'll realise I was being a bit naive. Going to chase DT today.

DT editor was interested and suggested I email someone else who is moving out to said country. I've done so but now slightly concerned that, as she is listed on their site as a reporter rather than an editor, she might just take the story and run with it herself. How common is that? And is there anything you can do about it?

This is the trouble with giving newspapers ideas - it is very easy for them to use it but get someone else to write it. It's odd to get your to mail another reporter - because she is not in a position to commission you.

Hi, use whatever means. Sometimes you can find the info online, sometimes when I have my first interaction with a journo I ask them when they like to be approached with new ideas, and they are often pleased that you have taken the time to consider when is best for them.

It's all about fitting round them and making it as easy as possible to run with your pitch. They are the customer, so to speak.

i would rather writers didn't call me about ideas they've pitched but, then again, I am very good and quick at getting back to people.

If you don't already then always check whether the publication you are pitching to has run anything similar to your idea in recent times.

It can be annoying to be offered features that you have already covered. If you are pitching to a national newspaper this is very quick and easy to check beforehand.

Your pitches need to be detailed but not overly long. I can't be arsed to read two-page long pitches.

If you are going to follow up with a phone call - pick your moment! Calls at 6pm deadline times never go down well.

Have to say I've been on both sides, and am now freelance again. Luckily I've got a bunch of work this week but I'm going to have to go on the pitch-fest again. At 10 weeks pregnant with morning sickness - aargh.

BTW - I was a very successful freelance journalist 2005-2009 (when I had my first daughter and it went a bit pear shaped and still hasn't recovered; took staff jobs as editor until made redundant last September) and I drew up a strategy of editors to contact and story ideas (which I checked had not been published) and would do a ring round of calls each week.
Even though I was known it still took a while to get things going, but keep at it.

Thanks for posting Amnew. Again, can't decide whether to be heartened or dispirited by that...

Be heartened - don't give up! I have a second article for the Guardian hopefully going online tomorrow

Hi, I've not read all the replies here but I would suggest the reason you haven't had any bites is because you haven't made it clear who your target audience is for your article. You name a lot of papers but you don't mention if this is a feature or a news story? Is it a Sunday supplement piece or a product feature etc etc. You might have more luck if you know where the article should appear and why and then target the appropriate editor. just a thought

Interesting -- I've been pitching as a PR for years, and ALWAYS phone first, following up with an email when they ask for it.