17 Publications To Pitch In 2025
An Early Christmas Present To Freelancers Everywhere
Earlier this year, much to my incredulity, I got to head up a seminar talk at Naidex, the UK’s biggest annual disability specific conference. This was the last slot on day one of the programme, just as everyone decides to pack up to go home - but the turnout was, frankly, mad.
In front of an audience who stuck around for 30 minutes afterwards - enough so that leaving was actually incredibly tricky, due to the amount of questions - it struck a chord as to how the workplace has let disabled individuals down.
My talk had been about self employment. When I was in education, there was nothing about this as a perfectly valid way of working; to today, I still have people insist I am worth less, for this simple reason. (Isn’t money… still money?) Working from home enables me to support my own access needs, as well as to achieve more productively than if I was in an office.
Freelancing just means having to think five steps ahead, and being accountable to yourself and only yourself. You are the boss in more ways than one. Is that not the ultimate act of being a so called disabled feminist? I have greater agency and autonomy as a result, too. It’s just as valid.
A lot of questions at the time focused on ‘how to do pitching’. Pitching is something I could cover in an entirely separate talk - the ‘how’ has a lot to it - and if you would like to see that from me, do reply to this email to let me know. It could be a paywall benefit, potentially. In 2025, I am thinking about setting up online webinars to teach the ‘how to’ elements of this.
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When the UK government talks about ‘getting disabled people back to work’ (ick), I have yet to see anything that is proactively helpful. We know benefit sanctions do not work. So far, a lot of the resources are ‘here’s how to use Microsoft word’ level of non-helpful. (The workplace needs something a little bit more, sometimes.) I want next year to be the year we actually speak to work with nuance, and think about how we can utilise best practice. The square pegs will not go into the arbitrary round holes, no matter how hard anyone can try.
For 2025, here is a range of places that you could pitch - with guides attached to it, too. All I ask is that you think about subscribing, maybe sharing, this newsletter. I am looking to double my subscriber base in the next six months.
If you like what you see, do tell me - I am looking to set up freelance webinars in the new year, such as when it comes to pitching, branding, etc.
For the culture writers: Polyster Zine has a ‘how to contribute’ page. While the rates are not the best, this is a great starting place for people who want to start writing for work.
has some Substack guidelines as to how to pitch ideas about the UK’s capital to them:
Mill Media launched a newspaper in the UK’s capital earlier this year; I got to see the owner at a talk in May. The Londoner has a pitching guide, as does The Bell in Liverpool.
If you like food, think about pitching to with this pitch guide.
Earlier this year, I wrote one on my most vulnerable pieces for The Sick Times - and there is a pitching guide on their site as to how to do that. (This is for Long Covid patients.)
Internet culture writers - The Cut is open for business! Sharpen your pencils, and find out more here.
Teen Vogue has become far more politically engaged than the teen magazines I remember - and I love it. The pitching guide is here.
Like politics? Red Pepper Magazine is open for business.
has some opportunities:
Vox media has a guide as to how to pitch to various parts of its website and media operation.
Dua Lipa fans! I leave this link in your hands.
Ms Magazine, the publication co-founded by the legendary feminist Gloria Steinem (), has a pitching guide on the website.
Have strong opinions about the methodology of the media? IJ Net is still open to pitches.
The people behind The Fence are wonderful company - and they also have a pitching section on their website.
Where would you like to write for in 2025? Let me know in the comments - and tell me what you would like to see in a webinar session.