The 2023 Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest

Registration for this class is full. Email us at info@pandemicuniversity.com to join the waiting list for the next offering and get first dibs when it’s announced.

Part 1: Pitching workshop: Mon. Nov. 13 @ 11am MST (1pm Eastern)*
Part 2: Pitchfest 2023:  Mon. Nov. 27 @ 11am–3pm MST (1pm Eastern)

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

After registering through AMPA’s website, you’ll receive a password-protected link that includes: 1) a Google Form to select which magazines you plan to pitch; 2) a tip-sheet for pitching to magazines; 3) the submission guidelines/requests from participating magazines; and 4) the virtual events’ access information.

SOLD OUT JOIN THE WAITING LIST

For the third 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 ## editors of Canada’s best magazines, and offers practical training.

On Mon., November 13th, long-time freelance journalist and PanU founder Omar Mouallem will teach you 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.)

Then, on Mon. Nov. 27th, 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.

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:

Deconstructing the Pitch: How to Sell Any Story, Anywhere

Mon. Nov. 13 @ 11am MST (1pm Eastern): 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.)

The Great Canadian Magazine PitchFest

Mon. Nov. 27 @ 11am–3pm MST (1pm Eastern): 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 Nov. 13th)
• 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 Nov. 13, 2023).

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. A teaching assistant will be present to correct transcription mistakes and assist in other ways. The course includes workshops and class discussions, thus 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 by all students in order to optimize everyone’s virtual classroom experience.