The 2025 Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest

DATES

Cost: $100 🇨🇦

Capacity: 35 writers

Calling all freelance writers: Are you ready to swipe right on your next big byline? It’s time for PitchFest, the ultimate matchmaking event for Canadian magazine pros! Like “speed-dating” for magazine professionals, you’ll be pitching your story ideas to editors of the country’s top magazines.

Organized in partnership with Pandemic University, this virtual event is designed to help freelancers land paid assignments while helping magazines discover their next great stories.

Participating magazines include Maclean’s, Alberta Views, and Canadian Geographic, with new additions to be announced in the days to come. So stay tuned and get your pitches ready—your next big byline could be just a pitch away!

How it Works:
1. The Set-Up: After registering through AMPA’s website, we’ll email you a detailed dossier with each editor’s wish list and submission guidelines, so you’ll know exactly how to tailor your pitches.

2. The Warm-Up: On Monday, December 9, get prepped with a seminar led by freelance superstar and PanU founder Omar Mouallem. He’ll reveal the architecture of successful pitches, sharing real-life case studies from his and others’ experiences. You’ll learn how to tailor pitches for everything from service pieces to op-eds to personal essays. (Can’t make it live? Don’t worry — the seminar will be recorded!)

3. Final Prep: On Monday, January 6, join Mouallem for an orientation session to get all your burning questions answered, brush up on your pitching skills, and gear up for the big day. After orientation, you’ll receive your personalized schedule of meetings for the day.

4. The Main Event: Friday, January 17 is Pitch Day! You’ll rotate through virtual breakout rooms with editors you’ve selected during registration, each giving you 15 minutes to dazzle them with your ideas—or simply interview them about what they’re looking for in new issues. Plus, there’s a greenroom conversation to keep the vibe flowing between sessions.

EVENT BREAKDOWN, REGISTRATION, AND ELIGIBILITY

PART ONE: PITCHING WORKSHOP (live and recorded)

Mon. Dec. 9 @ 12:30pm – 2pm MST (2:30pm Eastern): Get prepped with our Deconstructing the Pitch Masterclass led by career freelancer and PanU founder Omar Mouallem. He’ll break down the anatomy of a killer pitch, sharing real-life case studies from his and others’ experiences. You’ll learn how to tailor pitches for everything from service pieces to op-eds to personal essays. (This event is included in PitchFest registration but also available for anyone interested in the event alone without the full program. Register separately here for $20.)

PART TWO: PITCHFEST ORIENTATION (live and recorded)

Mon. Jan. 6 @ 12pm – 12:30pm MST (2pm Eastern): On Monday, January 6, join Omar for an orientation session to get all your burning questions answered, brush up on your pitching skills, and gear up for the big day. Access information will be provided in your PitchFest registration package.

PART THREE: PITCH DAY! (live only)

Fri. Jan. 17 @ 11am – 4pm MST (1pm Eastern): Friday, January 17 is Pitch Day! You’ll rotate through virtual breakout rooms with editors you’ve selected during registration, each giving you 15 minutes to dazzle them with your ideas—or simply pick their brains about what they’re looking for.

ELIGIBILITY

The event is open to Canadian writers with varied professional experiences. Though we encourage writers with some experience with journalism and freelance writing etiquette, it’s not a requirement. All registrants will be provided professional training opportunities in preparation.

EDITOR AVAILABILITY

In the event that an editor can’t meet with everyone, we’ll curate their schedule based on their magazine’s specific mandate or immediate requests. To help, writers should fill out the optional fields about your top picks, topics of interests, and work experience. We’ll do our best to get you a block of time with every editor of interest, but can’t guarantee it.

Participating Magazines

Participating Magazines (list will be updated regularly):

• Alberta Views
• Broadview
• Canadian Business
• Canadian Geographic
• Cottage Life
• Culinaire
• Edify
• Info Edmonton
• Maclean’s
• New Trail
• Range
• Report on Business
• Toronto Life
• The Tomato food & drink
• Xtra

HOW TO REGISTER AND SELECT EDITORS TO PITCH:

After registering, you’ll receive a password-protected link that includes:

• A Google Form to select which magazines you plan to pitch (deadline for completion is December 22, 2024)
• The virtual events’ access information (Zoom meeting ID and password)
• A tip-sheet for pitching to magazines
• The submission guidelines/requests from participating magazines.

About Our Partner

The Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) sustains a healthy and thriving magazine industry by serving the people who publish, create, print and distribute an uniquely Albertan view of the world. We’re a classroom, a forum, a newsletter, an advocate and a united voice for magazine publishers in the province. Since 1997, we’ve supported Alberta magazines through promotion, advancement, and practical programs that foster professional development and industry growth.