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Have a few extra minutes this morning to talk through how I got my first story at Nat Geo (the one that published today).
For transparency & process, here's a
For transparency & process, here's a
Like nearly everyone in journalism, I had early aspirations of landing a story at Nat Geo.
I started pitching NG editors stories from my international work in 2016.
Every year or so, I'd send a story idea over to their editors, but none of 'em ever quite hit the mark.
I started pitching NG editors stories from my international work in 2016.
Every year or so, I'd send a story idea over to their editors, but none of 'em ever quite hit the mark.
At one point or another, I stopped being so fixated on this goal. Maybe that helped, maybe that didn't. I instead wanted to just find the best home for each story idea I had.
A few months ago this year, I noticed that Nat Geo was publishing all these stories around Covid-19 that I didn't think about as a "traditional Nat Geo" story. So, I pitched an idea I had to @MoNscience that might fly. I was close, but ultimately, we moved on from it.
About a month after that pitch, Nsikan reached back out to me. "Still interested in covering [the topic I pitched]? I may have a new angle."
[And, of course, I said yes!]
[And, of course, I said yes!]
I think the main take-aways from this process for earlier-career journos -- or anyone looking to break into a new publication:
1. Pay attention to how publications are covering stories within your beat (s)
1. Pay attention to how publications are covering stories within your beat (s)
2. Pitch! I tell everyone that pitching is a great way to build relationships. Over time, editors will see what stories catch your attention. How you think about them. And if they have a topic similar to one you're interested in, they may just very much think of you.
3. Sometimes it take years before that pitching bears fruit in the form of a commission. And that's totally okay.
4. And meanwhile, continue the work elsewhere. Build your portfolio so when the time that *dream pub* comes along, you'll feel better equipped and more confident to deliver the best version of that story possible. /fin
