How to pitch as a journalist

Description

I thought the key to becoming a writer was to study English at university.

I thought the key to becoming a journalist was to complete a journalism Masters.

So, I did both.

But you know when I became a writer?

When I started writing.

And you know when I became a journalist?

When I learnt the art of pitching.

You need to be able to:

1. Find a good story.
2. Write a compelling pitch.
3. Send it to the right editor, at the right time.
4. Follow up.
5. Get the commission, write the piece, see your words published – and come up with the next story.

In this course, I’ll teach you all of the above. Plus, you’ll learn about the power of having a personal blog or Substack while you’re sending out pitches.

This is a simple course. And you can keep coming back to it, as and when you need. But the power lies in actually starting to pitch. And during the course, I’ll be encouraging you to do this, while helping you along the way.

The details –

When: As soon as you’re ready.
What: Online course materials.
How: You can work through the course at your own pace, the course materials are text-based.
Course access: You’ll have access to the course materials for one year (and this can usually be extended, if you get in touch).

Modules:

1. Finding your story
2. My (first) story
3. The ever-evolving niche
4. Writing features
5. How and when to pitch
6. Catch the editor’s attention
7. Your pitching routine (and dealing with rejection)
8. Other pitching thoughts
9. Pitching successes
10. Start pitching

Testimonials

“[While journalling] I began by scribbling down the grumbles of the day… “my back hurts”, “it’s too hot”… but soon found myself listing out feature ideas, inspired by a brilliant freelance journalism course I’m taking with Annie Ridout” – Ellie Smith

“The course is grand! It is a really good course. A friend of mine was trying to persuade me to send some of my writing out to the press. I thought I’d have absolutely zero idea where to even start with that. And then the same day I saw you mention this course. I’d tried googling but it really didn’t come up with a useful roadmap. Your course actually does that and is very clear and well written. I would no way have the confidence to send things out without “knowing what I’m doing”  So this is money well spent, Thank you.” – Claire Waters

About me

I’m Annie Ridout.

I’ve been a freelance journalist for over 15 years, writing for the Guardian, the Observer, Forbes, Grazia, Red Magazine, Stylist, Metro, the Telegraph, the Independent, the Evening Standard, Refinery29, You Magazine, Women’s Health, iNews and more.

And I’ve been interviewed on BBC Woman’s Hour, on a panel at Stylist Live, on the Sunday Times Style Secrets of the Side Hustle podcast, on Gaby Roslin’s BBC Radio London show, The Jeremy Vine Show and for the Independent.

I’m also the author of three non-fiction books: Raise your SQ (Radar, 2023), Shy (Fourth Estate 2021), The Freelance Mum (Fourth Estate 2019). Plus, I’m a Sunday Times-bestselling ghostwriter for celebrities and I write poetry that goes viral on Instagram.

So writing is my thing.

But alongside writing, I’ve launched digital magazines and businesses that have boomed. Reaching 100,000 views a month; bringing in six figures a year. So I ‘get’ the online writing and business world and love sharing what I know.

On Substack, I’m a bestselling writer with 10,000+ subscribers, 500 of whom pay a monthly subscription to access my essays.

I was delighted to be named as one of Substack’s ‘Featured Publications’ and to rank in the global top 30 in ‘Philosophy’. You can read more about what I share on Substack here.

Poetry

Two of my poems have gone viral – ‘I’ve just had a baby’ and ‘what I want’, after being shared by thousands of women around the world, including Paloma Faith and Busy Philipps.

I turned them into prints and books, which sold globally – across Europe, the US, Australia, Canada. And I continue to share poetry and poetic prose on Instagram @annieridout.