PROGRAM DATES

How it Works:

1. The Set-Up: After registering, 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.

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

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.

• We’ll do our best to match you with your top choices of editors, but in case an editor can’t meet with everyone, we’ll curate schedules based on writers’ needs.
• There will also be an a pitching workshop led by Omar Mouallem on Mon. Dec. 9 @ 12pm-1:30pm MST (2pm Eastern), that we recommend you participate in. Enrollement is included in your PitchFest registration. If you can’t attend, we’ll provide a video recording of the class for you.
• On Jan. 6 @ 12pm–12:30pm MST (2pm Eastern) we will host a virtual PitchFest orientation event 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.
  
• If you are interested the Dec. 9th workshop but can’t commit to PitchFest, Deconstructing the Pitch: How to Sell Any Story, Anywhere is open to all. Registration for this workshop is $100🇨🇦 through AMPA.

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.