Pitches wanted (Bay Area) | $150 to $400+ per article

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: SF GATE

Grant Marek, Editor in Chief of SFGate, is looking for pitches:

We're looking for pitches at SFGate and its been 8 months since I updated how exactly to pitch us. Here's what we're looking for plus some successful pitches from previous freelancers.

1. We want clever stories no one else has thought to chase. Like this Liam O'Donoghue story where he checked out a yearly party on Ashby Shoal, a sandbar tucked about 400 yards out from the Emeryville Marina that spends most of the year underwater: https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/bay-area-tides-expose-island-17726223.php

2. We want stories that highlight people no one has ever thought to highlight before. Like Eric Brooks's profile of a judge who works at Yosemite's federal courthouse (yes, Yosemite has a courthouse!): https://www.sfgate.com/yosemite/article/yosemite-court-house-crime-procedure-18355589.php

3. We want stories that only you could write. Like this tremendous piece from Bill Buchanan: https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/amtrak-train-tips-in-california-17079367.php

4. We want stories from people who REALLY understand the Bay Area. Like this great piece from Amy Copperman: https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/oakland-lake-meritt-dance-party-18460524.php

5. Or this phenomenal historical from Christian Baba: https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/san-francisco-fillmore-auditorium-history-17830364.php

6. We absolutely love stories that perfectly capture the spirit and history of a California treasure, like this from Anh-Minh Le: https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/little-swiss-cafe-carmel-by-the-sea-18532955.php

7. Or this from by Michael Rosen (if you can call this quasi-intersection where hope goes to die a Calif. treasure): https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/worst-los-angeles-intersection-fairfax-asterisk-18367344.php

8. And finally we're looking for stories that remind people it's not all Doom Loop here in the Bay Area. Like this lovely piece from Allison McClain Merrill: https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/mrs-doubtfire-restaurant-scene-bridges-18335105.php

9. And and and (this is important!) we want you to pitch the right folks:

• Food: jessica.yadegaran@sfgate.com
• Sports: alex.simon@sfgate.com
• Local: jillian.donfro@sfgate.com
• Culture: dan.gentile@sfgate.com
• Politics/Tech: kimberly.alters@sfgate.com
• News: agraff@sfgate.com / kent.german@sfgate.com
• Travel: silas.valentino@sfgate.com
• Long Form: cat.ferguson@sfgate.com
• Cannabis: lester.black@sfgate.com
• Photography: charles.russo@sfgate.com
• California: tessa.mclean@sfgate.com
• Disneyland/Central Coast/Calif. Parks/Tahoe/Hawaii: fiona.lee@sfgate.com
• LA: farley.elliott@sfgate.com

If you've got something that doesn't fit neatly into one of those buckets, hit me up with pitches anytime: grant.marek@sfgate.com

Rates: $150-$400+

CONTACT INFORMATION (please do not share the email address publicly):

• Submissions: See the directory of editors above
• Website: https://www.sfgate.com/

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: SFGate is an online source for news and entertainment related to the Bay Area. Provocative, energetic and unapologetic, the Gate is in constant conversation with the world's most eclectic region, with over 50 sections covering news, sports, politics, lifestyle and technology. More information here.
• Read through its selection of recent articles/stories, categorized into: News, Sports, Local, Politics, Culture, Food, Travel, Real Estate, Shopping, Personal Finance
• Check out our collection of pitch excerpts on this page and find more sample pitches at The Open Notebook Database and at SuccessfulPitches.com.
• Do not forget to end your pitch with (1) a short introduction about yourself; (2) a few lines highlighting your writing experience, relevant credentials and publication credits; and (3) links to your strongest work or portfolio, and online profile.

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