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- Pitching The Latino Newsletter
Happy Wednesday to our 1,079 newsletter subscribers here on Beehiiv. It's been a strong four weeks. Welcome, new subscribers!
Also, thank you to those who reached out to us about Dr. Anzzolin's “Emilia Pérez” essay.
Finally, we raised $229 in donations this week so far, thanks to two new donors!
Our goal for the rest of February is now $3,771.
If we reach that number, we can continue the work. If we don't, we will need to scale back. (We don’t want to scale back, but if we have to, we have to.)
This is our overall progress. Once we reach $20,000, we will be good for all of 2025.
No matter what, The Latino Newsletter's Board, of which I am also a member, is doing everything it can to keep us going. We have some promising leads, and I long for the day when I can share news of transformational funding.
It will happen.
I do not doubt it.
I just don't know when, but it's clear that we have a solid foundation here and that more potential contributors are starting to see that.
So, I want to take a moment to share our updated pitch guidelines for 2025. We published the initial ones last year in the middle of an election season, and it's time for an update.
Who to Pitch: Me. Julio Ricardo Varela, Founder and Publisher. Email: [email protected]. I read every pitch. Nobody else.
What to Pitch: We seek stories that urgently challenge mainstream narratives about who we are as a community. We strive for original and necessary journalism at all times.
Our Voice: TheLatinoNewsletter.org is the canvas.
News Stories
We will consider any pitch, but here is what is of interest to us this year:
Post-2024 America: What’s next for Latino voters and political power?
Immigration Policy and Reality: Get past the debate.
Local Stories That Uplift Us: What does this mean to you? I would love to see it.
Puerto Rico and the Diaspora: We want to keep at this one, like we have for so many years.
Other Topics: Education, Housing, Business, Labor, Community
Culture and Identity
Art and Resistance: Music, film, literature shaping the Latino experience.
Latinos and Media Representation: Who’s telling our stories? Who’s getting it right? Why?
Commentary
Media Takes: What does this mean now? Do it well.
New Takes: Strong arguments and logic. Push beyond what we are all reading.
Expert Takes: This is one for professionals. I would be happy to publish your opinion piece.
Who Should Pitch? Freelance journalists/producers, experienced writers/editors, and those with access to underreported stories. If you have something interesting, I want to read your pitch.
What Format? We favor written pieces, but we will consider video and audio. (Note: We are still a small startup, and we don’t have a real 2025 budget for video or audio work. Yet.)
Rates and Payment: We pay for original work. Rates depend on complexity and length. Be upfront about your expectations. Payments are made via BILL after contractor agreements are signed, the piece is published, and an invoice is submitted. We pay in 30 days, and if there are issues, we will work with you.
For professionals and organizations trying to get their opinion pieces published, just email me, and we can proceed from there.
How to Pitch:
Subject Line: "Pitch: [Your Idea]"
First Sentence: Hook me. Why should I care?
Outline: What’s the story, why now, and who’s your source? Dont overexplain. No more than 1-2 paragraphs.
Previous Work: If we haven’t worked together, show me your best.
Follow-up: If I don’t reply in a week, send a nudge.
Peace. Looking forward to seeing new pitches.
What We’re Reading
Reframing Immigration: For the New York Times Opinion section, Greisa Martínez Rosas of United We Dream writes, “For most of the past decade, progressives presented the battle over immigration as simply a fight against Republican cruelty, racism, and xenophobia. Such messaging does not amount to a political strategy.”
Leading Through Crisis: On Thursday, February 13, at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET, Latino Community Foundation CEO Julián Castro, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will host a virtual event to “elevate the voices of immigrant rights advocates, discuss the immediate and long-term needs of immigrant communities, the on-the-ground realities these leaders are facing, and the role of philanthropy in supporting these communities,” according to a media release from LCF.
(LCF was The Latino Newsletter’s initial 2024 funder.)
Julio Ricardo Varela is the founder and publisher of The Latino Newsletter.
Do you believe in creating new journalism lanes for Latinos and Latinas? Do you believe that U.S. mainstream outlets will never understand our community? Consider donating to The Latino Newsletter. Any little bit helps to keep this newsletter free and accessible to all. ¡Gracias mil!
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