The Culture Journalist Towards a theory of the pitch
This week, in response to a question from a listener, Emilie and Andrea wax philosophical about one of the most harrowing aspects of trying to make a living as a writer in today’s gnarly media economy: pitching! We discuss how this particular system for commissioning stories ended up becoming so ubiquitous in journalism (hint: it’s financially beneficial for media companies), why it so excruciatingly difficult to do well, and the larger structural forces that explain why editors can seem like the shallowest and most fickle people on earth. Along the way, we draw from our experiences on both sides of the pitching game to offer practical pointers for navigating the 2023 commissioning landscape and the looming threat of robots coming to replace us all.
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