The 2022 Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest

This event is sold out. Email info@pandemicuniversity.com to get on a waiting list in case another writer cancels or for when we offer it again.

Part 1: Pitching workshop: Wed. Jun. 1 @ 11am MST (1pm Eastern)*
Part 2: Pitchfest 2022: Thu. Jun. 16 @ 11am–3pm MST (1pm Eastern)

* a recording of the pitching workshop will be provided for those who can’t attend live.

Sold Out – Waiting list only

For the second year in a row, Pandemic University has partnered with the Alberta Magazine Publishers Association (AMPA) for PitchFest, a two-part professional development event on Zoom designed for Canadian freelancers and magazine editors to test the waters on potential articles. 

Like speed dating for magazine professionals, PItchFest puts you in a virtual room with up to sixteen editors of Canada’s best magazines, and offers practical training.

Neatly organized to provide you with a dossier containing specific requests and submission guidelines ahead of the event, plus a guided “greenroom” conversation in between pitching sessions, PitchFest promises to set up writers for success.

EVENT BREAKDOWN, REGISTRATION, AND ELIGIBILITY

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Wed., June 1st, 11am–1:30pm Mountain (1–3pm EST): Long-time freelance journalist and PanU founder Omar Mouallem teaches how to pitch a variety of stories. Through a set of case studies provided by himself and other writers, this 60-minute seminar (plus time for Q&A) will cover almost every conceivable type of journalistic print story — from service pieces and op-eds to reported features and personal essays — with extra tips for pitching face-to-face with editors. (The seminar will also be recorded for those who cannot attend live.)

Thur. June 16th, 11am–3pm Mountain (1–5pm EST): It’s pitch time! You’ll rotate through break-out rooms with the editors you selected during registration, each giving you 15 minutes to wow them with stories, or simply learn more about what they’re specifically looking for from future articles.

Participating Magazines

HOW TO REGISTER AND SELECT EDITORS TO PITCH:

After registering through AMPA’s website, you’ll receive a password-protected link that includes:

• A Google Form to select which magazines you plan to pitch (deadline for completion is May 23rd)
• The virtual events’ access information (Zoom meeting ID and password)
• A tip-sheet for pitching to magazines
• The submission guidelines/requests from participating magazines.

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 is not a requirement. All registrants will be provided professional training opportunities through a pitching booklet delivered after check-out and a live and recorded pitching training webinar (held June 1, 2022).

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.

ACCESSIBILITY

Pandemic University is committed to offering a fulfilling and inclusive education. Classes are held via Zoom with Closed Captioning features enabled through auto-transcription technology. Students are required to participate through audio; accommodations can be made for people with speaking or other disabilities if they inform us ahead of schedule. Video is encouraged of all students in order to optimize everyone’s virtual classroom experience.