Submitting an article to a newspaper or a digital portal is a first step to getting your name some writerly chops. 

If you write directly to the Hindustan Times or the Hindu and pitch an article it is a long shot. Newspapers like that might look for people who have some writing credentials to start with. Knowing someone usually helps, but that is an even longer shot.

The best place to get started is to pitch your article to a high-authority digital platform like Quint or Wire or OpIndia. These platforms are not constrained by the number of pages in a magazine or newspaper and are always on the lookout for good content. Most of them also have clear submission guidelines or at least an email address on their website. Writing an article is a craft we teach in our online Blog & Article Writing Course.

Step 1: Have an idea for the article you want to submit

Don’t write to a newspaper, give your profile, and say I want to write for you. Instead, pitch a specific idea. This also doesn’t mean you have to have a full-written article. You can pitch an idea itself. In fact, many online magazines will specifically say don’t send an article. Just a pitch. 

Some people come up with ideas after identifying a platform. Others have an article/idea already, and may also have written the piece out, and are now looking for a home. Either way, you should be able to summarize the idea in 3-4 lines. 

Remember topicality can matter, especially if it is a current event type publication. Writing about Christmas in, say, the month of March, won’t be too interesting to an editor.

Step 2: Where do I submit or pitch my article?

Knowing where to pitch your article is like knowing the address where you want your article to live. If you have a publication in mind, you can simply google the name of the newspaper and the words “write for us” or contribution” along with that. 

{We published a guide on how to find such information on our blog – Write For Us}

After some attempts you should be able to find the correct page. The submission email is often in the “about us” or “contact us” page. For example, theprint.in says “Freelance writers can email story ideas to ideas@theprint.in. We’d prefer that you send us contributions after clearing the pitches with us. We pay fairly and on time for contributions we commission and publish.”

On the other hand, Op India website says “OpIndia.com welcomes article contributions in the shape of opinion pieces, analytical articles, fact-checking articles, curated news reports, or sociopolitical humour or satire. We accept contributions through our community-driven chapter “My Voice”.

Please note that we are no longer accepting contributions through email.You need to register with OpIndia.com and submit your article for review on “My Voice”.

Step 3: Make sure your platform is credible

Many platforms have a controversial profile and have strong left/right-wing leanings. Wikipedia, for example, calls Op-India a “news website known for frequently publishing misinformation.”

You should always check the reputation of the newspaper or portal you are submitting your article to. Ensure it is not a maligned one.

Step 4: Read the guidelines of the newspaper you are pitching to

This is an area where you might have to do some research. Some newspapers specify very clearly what they want. The others simply leave you with an email address. 

It is very helpful when a magazine says very clearly what kind of articles one should submit to them. Some spell out exactly what they are (and are not) interested in. Buzzfeed for example has clearly specified the categories they want articles about like Pop Culture, LGBTQ, Lifestyle, K-pop and K Drama, beauty, Personal Finance, sex and love etc.

The BuzzFeed submission guidelines do not mention politics, travel, personal essays or mental health. However, in the end, they say “If you have a freelance pitch outside of these topics, feel free to pitch it to us! Just know that this is what we need to fill the most.”

The wire, on the other hand, says they want stuff like Poetry, Personal essays,  Pieces on political or current events – ideally from a personal angle, mental health pieces, Campus issues,  Socio-economic, gender and cultural issues. They also mention Movie/TV show/ music reviews and Art, music and visual work in the end. 

That is followed by paragraphs full of dos and don’ts. this is actually helpful because many people think constraints maximize creativity.

You can see their detailed guidelines here.

Also, be sure to read the articles of the platform you want to write for. See how they write and what they like.

Step 5: Prepare your pitch

Now that you have understood what sort of writing and topics your platform is interested in, you need to craft your pitch. 

We asked Chat GPT to give us a format, and it coughed this up:

“Dear [Editor’s Name],

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am a [Your Profession/Expertise] with a passion for [Topic of Your Article]. I am writing to propose an article for publication in [Newspaper Name].

Title: [Catchy Title]

1. Introduction: Introduce yourself briefly and explain your connection to the topic. Provide a hook that captures the editor’s attention.
2. The Pitch: Clearly state the purpose of your article and why it is relevant to the newspaper’s readership. Highlight the key points you plan to cover and how they align with the interests of your target audience.
3. Value Proposition: Explain the unique angle or perspective your article brings. Emphasize why your piece would be valuable to the newspaper’s readers and how it differentiates itself from other content.
4. Supporting Details: Provide brief information on the content, sources, or interviews you plan to include. Highlight any exclusive information, research, or insights that make your article stand out.
5. Word Count and Format: Clearly state the expected word count of your article and any special format requirements. Ensure that it aligns with the newspaper’s guidelines.
6. Relevance to Current Events or Trends: If applicable, explain how your article ties into current events or trends, making it timely and engaging for readers.
7. Author Expertise: Briefly mention your qualifications or experience related to the topic. This can build credibility and assure the editor that you are well-suited to write on the subject.
8. Closing: Express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to [Newspaper Name]. Provide your availability for further discussion and express your willingness to provide additional information or samples if needed.

Thank you for considering my proposal. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to [Newspaper Name] and share my insights on [Topic]. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address] to discuss this further.

Sincerely,

Actually, it is decent pitch structure. You can fill in the blanks and you’ll have a respectable pitch ready. 

Remember, in the world of non-fiction and article writing your credentials can matter, so starting with those is a good idea if your credentials are relevant. However, if your idea does not have too much to do with your professional profile, just write about other writing/articles you can lay claim to.

Step 6: Send in the pitch

Before you send the pitch, make sure of the basics – it should be free of typos, the grammar and spacing should be strong, and there should be contact information. If you want to share a lot of your own credentials, that is often best done beneath the signature instead of starting with a long-winded introduction.

Remember, you can pitch the same idea to multiple newspapers at the same time. You don’t have to restrict that. However, you should send the finished article only to your preferred paper. Some newspapers/portals may frown upon the article being sent to more than one newspaper simultaneously. Be sure to research that well.

Step 7: Write the article and send it in

We have a whole article on how to write an article (Ha!). In the finished article, it can also help to include appropriate pictures, You can learn where to find good, royalty-free images online on our blog post here.

I hope these tips help you get published. All the best!