Connection Point is a new series designed to connect editors and freelance contributors. Are you an editor looking to hire quality writers, designers and other professionals? Contact the Freelance Committee for information about a free listing.
Directors & Boards is a niche trade magazine covering corporate governance. It gives directors actionable steps they can use to deal with some of the most important issues facing corporate America. The print magazine is published five times a year. The publication also has a website that is constantly updated with articles from the print product and web-exclusive articles.
Managing Editor April Hall is looking for writers who have experience with corporate governance and can bring their own roster of sources to the magazine. She is willing to make assignments, so there isn’t always a need to pitch. Keep reading to learn more about writing for Directors & Boards.
What types of articles are you looking for?
We need feature stories that cover trends and give directors advice from other directors. A feature is usually around 2,000 words. It can be as few at 750 or as much as 3,000, although that is a rarity. I would recommend perusing the website to get a better idea of what kinds of topics we write about.
What is your typical rate? Do you provide a kill fee?
The typical rate is 75 cents a word and a kill fee can be negotiated. Deadlines tend to be two months out from publication.
Do you work with freelance designers, artists, multimedia storytellers or other professionals besides writers? How do you work with them?
Occasionally we hire photographers if we need to do an on-site cover shoot. Our creative director handles that part of things.
What level of expertise do contributors need to have?
We need very specific expertise on this. Our readers are directors, so stories with beginner ABCs are not going to get the job done. We need to drill down deeper.
Do you make assignments or look for pitches? How can writers craft a pitch that will really impress you?
We have themes to our issues, so I’m mostly looking to make assignments, but will have a standalone topic here and there. One of the key factors that makes writers stand out is if they have director sources of their own. We are working on building the pool of new and diverse faces to appear in our pages.