Here at Empire, we are always looking for exciting, original pitches for our news section, First Word. If you’re a journalist, know your Anchorman from your Zatoichi, and would like to write for the world’s biggest movie magazine, read on…
Who do we want to hear from?
You know your stuff —We want all our writers to have a demonstrable passion for cinema and TV.
You have writing experience — It helps to provide a few examples of your work when pitching. The better known the publication or website, the better.
You know Empire —You’re familiar with the brand, and can write to our house style and established tone — informed, accessible, witty, passionate — with ease.
What are we looking for, in a nutshell?
Stories on exciting upcoming films and rising stars — Empire’s finger is constantly on the pulse of cinema. We’re always looking for the next big thing, the next exciting voice. Do you have intel on the sleeper hit of the year? Have you found the next Jordan Peele? The next Rose Glass? Let us know.
Timeliness — First Word is the news section, and so needs to be forward-facing. Don’t pitch reviews, retrospectives on classic films or anniversaries — that’s not the right section. We publish every four weeks and news stories ideally focus on films released at least two months after our on-sale date, or beyond.
A fresh take – In the online era, how does a news section work in a print magazine? (We ask ourselves this question a lot.) Empire is a premium magazine and we can’t just regurgitate the internet news cycle. We need a distinct Empire spin on everything, and that means finding a new perspective — something that moves the conversation on from the online chatter. Pitch us something we’re not likely to have heard from anyone else before.
Something specific — ‘I want to write about the next Marvel film’ or ‘I would like to interview Robert De Niro, please’ is not the kind of pitch we’re after. What are you bringing to the table? Assume that we’ve already got plans for most of the big films
What kind of stories are in our news section?
Above all, each story has a distinct angle. With every piece, there should be a story being told, a mini-narrative within each one - usually with filmmaker or actor access.
Explainer — If there’s something being adapted into a movie or TV show that’s very Empire, especially if it’s a comic book or franchise, it’s sometimes useful to get a piece explaining the thing in context, ideally from an expert in the field who can move the conversation on and bring a fresh take on why we should care.
New talent — Who is somebody to watch right now, and what makes them exciting and unique?
Reported piece — These focus on big developments in Hollywood and beyond, tend to run in larger spaces in the section, and involve speaking with several experts in the field.
Trend piece — Noticed a recent resurgence of a subgenre? A common theme or plot-point binding a cluster of exciting current and upcoming releases together? We want to hear about why it’s worth exploring.
How do you pitch?
Email us your ideas at empire@bauermedia.co.uk. We cannot guarantee a response to each one, as we receive many messages a month.
Subject line should start with ‘PITCH: [brief description of what your pitch is]’ so it’s clear what it is.
Describe each story idea in just 2 - 3 lines. If we’re interested, we’ll ask you to expand on it.
Don’t write your piece before we commission you - we want to agree on the angle and work on the story together. We don’t take interviews that have already happened, either - Empire only runs interviews organised with our involvement. It helps to give a sense that you read the magazine; if it’s clear you’re not familiar with Empire, we are unlikely to accept your pitch.
Please let us know your level of experience, and whether you’ve been published elsewhere, if you are pitching for the first time.
Empire is a monthly magazine and so work far in advance of the release schedule. Some stories will be reactive, but do keep that in mind when pitching — often the earlier we cover a project, the better.
Please do not pitch a story with an angle that has already been done elsewhere!
How does commissioning work?
If your pitch is successful, you’ll get a written brief that both the section editor and writer will agree on before anything is written. This will lay out what we’re after angle-wise, a word count, deadline, and fee.