Experience Interview Series

Interview, Part II
On Necessary Skills and Pitching 101

This is a part of a series of interviews on freelancing 101 with Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.

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Thomas: What are some skills that people starting out might lack?

Ned: What the "right" question to ask in an interview is, how to write an article that "hooks" the reader, what is a good lead, what facts are more important than others (i.e., creating the hierarchy of a story)...they lack experience so that when they write an article it shows a breadth (and lengthy) knowledge on the topic.

A lot is experience based; you can only be taught so much. Others you need to learn on the ground. But you need a critical editor. Be willing to take harsh constructive criticism to improve

T: What recommendations would you have for anyone looking to get into freelancing?

N: Learn the basics first...buy a book on AP style or take an intro to journalism class. Find an editor who is willing to work with you to improve. Make sure your research skills are up to snuff...you will need to research far more than you think!

T: What's the best way to pitch an article?

N: Email editors directly...try not to go through a web portal, find their email somehow.

T: How to find their emails?

N: Google, look at old speeches they may have given, check conferences...a lot of times if an editor has presented in a class at a university or at a conference, they will have presentations with emails available somewhere online. Sometimes you luck out and can find a whole CV.

T: For beginners, would you recommend emailing whole stories or pitches?

N: Email pitches. A pitch that is structured...grab them with an idea, give a solid one or two sentence lead, then say how many words you're ready to do, inquire about rates (do NOT demand a rate if you are just starting out), mention some possible sources you could speak to whom would be applicable to the article. Also mention any relevant experience you may have. Send your CV.