Pitch the Editors 2027

Pitch directly to commissioning editors who want to publish new stories.

Feb. 4–5, 2027 · 11 a.m.–3 p.m. ET

Sign Up Now

IIJ members receive a discount and first choice of editors! Learn more about IIJ membership.

Get Your Pitch Heard by Commissioning Editors

Register today for the IIJ’s two-day online event where freelance journalists pitch their stories one-on-one to commissioning editors from publications including AFAR, Cosmopolitan, the Guardian, High Country News, the Margin, Noema, palabra, Undark, Washington Monthly, and more.

You’ll present your pitch, get an honest reaction in real time, and learn how to make it stronger. Walk away with a commission, sharper instincts, a new professional connection, or all three. Whatever the outcome, you’ll move your freelance career forward.

$49 for Guaranteed Face Time With an Editor

Sign up by Dec. 15, 2026 to lock in the $49 early bird rate and secure your slot. IIJ members receive up to 30% off of registration!

Your registration includes:

At least one guaranteed eight-minute, one-on-one meeting with the editor of your choice on Feb. 4 or 5
The possibility of additional meetings based on editor availability
Two live practice sessions to rehearse your pitch
Advance access to editor interviews, pitch tips, and pre-interviews to help you prepare

Editor slots are limited. Popular editors fill quickly, so register early and mark your calendar for scheduling day. Don’t wait to sign up–we will close registration once the event reaches capacity.

Whether you're sending your first pitches or you've been freelancing for years and need new clients, Pitch the Editors will help.

Why Sign Up?

At Pitch the Editors, you'll:

Pitch a story directly to a commissioning editor and get immediate, candid feedback
Learn what specific editors and news organizations are looking for right now
Sharpen your pitch delivery so your ideas land in conversation and in writing
Build a relationship with an editor you can follow up with long after the event
Gain confidence pitching outlets that may have felt out of reach
Connect with a community of freelancers working toward the same goals

Eight minutes goes quickly, but a focused conversation with the right editor can change the course of a story, or a career. Take this opportunity to connect with the people who can green light your pitch!

How It Works

Once you register (link to registration page), you're guaranteed at least one eight-minute meeting with an editor of your choice during Pitch the Editors on February 4-5, 2027. We will assign timeslots based on availability.

Here's what to expect between now and the event:

Register. Sign up by Dec. 15, 2026, for the early bird rate, and block out the event times on your calendar. Registration remains open after that date at the standard rate, until we reach capacity.
Prepare. Browse the pitch tips and watch the editor interviews to build a shortlist of the ones you most want to meet. Block out time to prepare the week of Jan. 25, when you will know which editor you’re meeting.
Review editor schedules. We'll release schedules in January 2027, so you can see when each editor is available.
Receive your meeting(s). Editor signups open for IIJ members on Jan. 18, 2027, and for non-members on Jan. 20, 2027. We will assign slots based on your preferences and editors’ availability, to ensure every participant gets at least one meeting.
Practice. Join one or both live practice sessions in late January to get comfortable with the online platform and to rehearse your pitch.
Pitch. Log on during your scheduled time on Feb. 4 or 5 and meet your editor one-on-one.
Follow up. Send a thank-you note and any materials the editor requested, and keep the conversation going.

Our Participating Editors

We’ve rounded up editors who commission work across news, culture, lifestyle, the environment, business, and more. Browse the list below to see what they oversee and the kinds of stories they want to hear. Check back often—we're adding new editors in the weeks leading up to the event!

Coming Soon..

More editors coming soon!

Make the Most of Your Pitch Meeting

Freelancers who do their pre-work will get the most out of Pitch the Editors. We recommend reviewing the editor names and pitch tips well before scheduling opens so you can rank the editors you most want to meet.

To increase your chances of getting a commission:

Read the pitch tips. Each one has updated information about the sections they edit, the stories they're seeking, and what they don't want to see.
Watch the editor interviews. Hear directly from editors about their priorities, pitching do’s and don’ts, and what makes a pitch memorable.
Study the publication. Check out recent stories so you can explain why your idea fits and how it adds something new.
Refine your elevator pitch. Practice explaining your background and interests concisely, so you can present yourself as a good fit for the publication.
Lead with your best idea. Work on refining your best idea, but prepare a backup if the conversation allows. Note: Some outlets prefer to assign rather than take pitches, so read the pitch tips carefully.
Know your angle and your access. Be ready to explain why this story matters now and why you're the right person to report it.
Follow up promptly. Send a short note within a day or two thanking the editor and sharing anything they asked for.

Additional Resources to Help You Prepare

Practice sessions.

We'll host two practice sessions for registrants to get comfortable with the online platform and rehearse their pitches before the big day. Practice session dates are TBA and will be shared with registrants by email.
The Freelance Journalism Podcast.

Listen to the Freelance Journalism Podcast for best practices on pitching and staying in touch with editors.
IIJ member resources.

IIJ members can access our archive of past webinars and editor Q&As by logging in to the member portal. Not a member yet? Join today! Members receive a discount on Pitch the Editors registration and get first access to editor scheduling.

How Landing a Pitch Changes Your Career

“I had pitched an editor three or four times without success. During an IIJ webinar, he gave me a specific note on what to emphasize in an essay. I revised the piece, he accepted it and it went viral. Over three million people have read it, helping me land a top literary agent. The IIJ event changed the trajectory of my writing career.”
– Yvonne Liu
“My first big break came from the IIJ. At a webinar for travel editors, I heard directly what they wanted. I pitched one of them, at National Geographic, and it was accepted. It would not have happened without the IIJ's help."
– Chelsey Stone
“It's one thing to have editors tell you what they like in a pitch and another to see them dissect one in real time. So useful!”
-IIJ participant

Frequently Asked Questions

Any freelance journalist with a story to pitch or interest in finding a new outlet. The event is open to writers at every career stage, from those sending their first pitches to experienced freelancers looking to break into new publications.
Registration is $49 before Dec. 15, and IIJ members receive a discount of 15% to 30%, depending on membership tier.
Every registrant is guaranteed at least one eight-minute, one-on-one meeting with an editor of their choice. You will receive additional timeslots based on editor availability.
We'll release editor schedules in January 2027. Editor signups open for IIJ members on Jan. 18 and for non-members on Jan. 20. You’ll submit a ranked list of editors by Jan. 17. You'll receive a timeslot based on your preferred editor's availability.
This is a new event for the IIJ, so we don’t know how many slots each person will receive. We recommend listing at least five editors in order of preference, so you are guaranteed a slot. IIJ members get priority scheduling, which gives them first access to open slots. If none of your editor choices are available, you’ll hear from us with other options. You must respond within 24 hours to select a backup.
Keep an open mind! One past webinar attendee hadn’t ever considered travel writing until she heard from travel editors. Next step: a new byline.
You should come with a clear, well-developed story idea. You don't need to have reported the story yet, but you should be able to explain the angle, why it matters now, why it’s right for the outlet, and why you're the right person to write it.
Pitch the Editors is fully online. Registrants will receive platform details and instructions by email, and our practice sessions will help you get comfortable before event day.
Assignments are up to each editor and aren't guaranteed. Every meeting is a chance to receive direct feedback, learn what an editor needs, and start a professional relationship you can build on.
You must request a refund within 7 days of your registration date, or Jan. 17, whichever date is earlier. Because the event includes dozens of pitch tips and editor interviews, there is value in access to the material even if you don’t have a live interview. If your schedule prevents you from attending, contact info@theiij.com after the event and we’ll give you a credit to apply to future IIJ events.
Email the IIJ team at info@theiij.com and add "Pitch the Editors" in the subject line.