1. Ian Reeves

2. What you’ll need  Market knowledge  An idea  A hook  Research  Contacts  Pictures  Luck  Persistence

3. Market knowledge  Your target publication: know it inside out – sections, word counts, key staff (particularly commissioning editors)  Your target publication’s competitors – in print and online  The community that you will be reaching. Do your research.

4. The idea  Can come from anywhere  Likely to arise from your research into a specific community  Try to put yourself in their shoes and ask questions they want to answer  Ask:  Why is this interesting to the community?  Has it been done before? Or recently?

5. The hook  Why is this interesting now?  Is there a news story that has put the issue into the spotlight?  Are there reports/investigations/court cases underway that will help?  Is there a specific person or group of people looking for (or trying to avoid) publicity on the issue?

6. Research  You can’t do enough of it  Become an instant expert  Read all coverage you can find  Talk to as many interested parties as you can  Ask every contact who else you should speak to  Talk to PRs

7. Contacts  Identify the individuals or groups that are essential to your feature  Build their confidence in you  Explain what you need and where you plan to publish  Keep them posted about developments

8. Pictures  Does your publication use a staff photographer?  Will you need to source your own pictures?  Can your contacts help provide them?  Search the picture libraries and check the cost  Ask PRs

9. Luck  Budgets  Timing  Internal politics  Unethical staffers  Remember there’s no copyright on ideas

10. Persistence  Don’t be afraid to follow up your pitch  But don’t push it  Don’t expect a high success rate

11. The pitch  Email is fine – but generally first to check they’re accepting pitches  Keep it short – 4 pars is usually enough  Start with the hook – something with the ‘wow’ factor  Brief outline  Explain who your main sources will be  Be clear and specific about which section you’re pitching at  Suggested word count  Suggested illustrations  Brief biog details about yourself

12. Feature pitch resources  How to pitch to…. Various specific magazines http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/perfect-pitch http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/perfect-pitch  Company magazine features ed on how to pitch http://www.company.co.uk/careers/how-to-pitch-article-to-a-magazine http://www.company.co.uk/careers/how-to-pitch-article-to-a-magazine  Successful magazine writers on how to pitch http://www.stylist.co.uk/100/how-to-write-a-magazine-feature http://www.stylist.co.uk/100/how-to-write-a-magazine-feature  Time Out features editor’s perfect pitch http://journograds.com/2013/08/08/how-to-pitch-your-story-to-editors/ http://journograds.com/2013/08/08/how-to-pitch-your-story-to-editors/  How not to pitch http://www.theopennotebook.com/2012/01/04/how-not-to-pitch/ http://www.theopennotebook.com/2012/01/04/how-not-to-pitch/