So, in order to get that all-important commission, Anastasia Moloney asked Natalie Bennett, assistant editor at The Guardian Weekly, David Jobbins, assistant and foreign editor at The Times Higher Educational Supplement and Roland Flamini, former world section editor for TIME magazine - what they were really looking for?
1) What do editors want to see in a pitch?
All our editors mentioned the importance of original, well thought-out ideas and a journalist's proven track record to write well and meet deadlines as determining factors.
If a pitch is rejected once, however, do not assume that other competing publications will not be interested.
Ms Bennett said key points were: "Originality of ideas and topic, signs that the pitcher can write, and that they have access to the necessary sources."
Mr Flamini stressed the importance of including a catchy headline that editors can use to justify a commission.
"In these days of sound bytes it's good to have a catch-phrase or a title that will stick in the editor's mind. Something the editor can use to explain the story quickly to his boss... and at the same time sounding as though he or she had thought of it," he said.
Mr Jobbins emphasised the importance of making pitches newsworthy: "News value - is this something that our target readership is unlikely to know and would want to know, would benefit from knowing, or should know? Currency also - a news pitch that hangs on events that took place some time in the past would be likely to be rejected unless a new angle is proposed."
2) What factors do you take into account when commissioning a piece?
"The writer's credentials and whether he or she is in a position to deliver on a promise and on deadline; whether the story is actually there; and if it is there whether it's a good fit for the publication.
"I think an editor wants the aspiring contributor to answer the question: "Why should I publish this story?" said Mr Flamini.
Mr Jobbins explained that commissioning involves considering: "the broader news agenda at the likely time of publication - will the story work well with other proposed stories?"
Commissioning an article also depends on: "whether a competing publication is likely to run a similar story before I can," said Ms Bennett.
3) What are some of the worst mistakes freelancers/journalists make when pitching?
Editors cited arrogance, long pitches and failing to deliver what was promised in the original pitch as common mistakes.
"A frequent mistake is over-long pitches. Another is too fuzzy, muddle-headed pitches," said Mr Flamini.
"Over-selling - stretching the information known at the time to try to sell the story, then having to 'fess up' when asked when aspects of the promised story are absent from the filed version. Arrogance - threatening to take a story elsewhere if the commissioning editor isn't immediately persuaded," added Mr Jobbins.
4) What are some of the worst mistakes freelancers/journalists make when filing copy?
"Where to start?" said Ms Bennett. "Basic spelling errors, errors in names, bad writing such as using the same word twice in one sentence."
She added: "Not giving the editor a clear sense of what the headline idea is going to be."
Mr Jobbin's gripes include: "missing deadlines; omitting key facts; failing to spell out acronyms."
A general consensus was also made about articles that do not answer the questions as outlined in the pitch and/or fail to deliver what the pitch originally promised.
5) So what's a news piece - good or bad?
"A good piece gives you the basic facts clearly and succinctly in one or two top paragraphs at most, so that even someone entirely new to the story understands what it is about, and then expands on those without being repetitive," said Ms Bennett.
"The traditionalists will say a good news story gives you the fullest and most accurate picture in the shortest possible length," said Mr Flamini.
He added: "A bad piece of news writing is one that leaves you no better informed about its particular subject than you were before reading it."
"Muddled English; poor story construction; introduction unfocused and/or unsupported by facts contained in narrative, irrelevant or missing quotes to support assertions; under or drastically over-written articles and obvious gaps unfilled," added Mr Jobbins.
6) What is the main difference between feature and news writing?
Debatable, depends on the style of a publication. According to Mr Jobbins, the difference between feature and news writing is becoming increasingly blurred.
"The old definition would be that news writing conveys factual information, hopefully of a more or less dramatic nature, of which the reader is not aware.
"Features on the other hand seek to convey context and meaning against which information can be viewed.
"The definitions are breaking down, news writing for print media has to change if people are getting their news from the internet. So today's definition would edge the news piece closer to feature writing - the provision of the context for facts.
"While features now reposition themselves closer to analysis," he said.
Ms Bennett offered this distinction: "Badly written news can be rescued by an editor as long as all of the facts are there (and correct). You can't create a feature out of a mess."
7) Is it really worth sending an article on spec?
"Only if you have an exclusive interview with Osama bin Laden..." said Mr Flamini.
"Hardly ever," advises Mr Jobbins. "But a quick phone call or email might lead to an adjusted pitch that turns a rejection into a sale."
However, Ms Bennett concluded: "If it's good, and appropriate for the publication, no harm in trying."
8) How many words that exceed an agreed word count, if any, are acceptable?
Most agreed that around a 10 per cent word overrun of the total word limit is generally acceptable.
"In my view, a bit of editing room is always useful, but without prior agreement not more than 100 or so words," said Mr Flamini.
"More than 20 per cent, patience wears thin," advised Mr Jobbins. "First off, you will likely only be paid for the agreed words, not for any additional ones. And an excessive over-write will just antagonise the desk editor."
"Editors (the ones I work for excepted, naturally) are very insecure. Anyone who can reassure them means that it's one problem less to worry about," said Mr Flamini.
9) Anything else?
Some publications have useful information for contributors about house style and pitching - essential reading before filing copy.
Check out The Economist's excellent style guide, which includes a crash course in basic grammar.
The Guardian's style guide is also worth referring to: click here.
A must-read tutorial in how to construct news and features pieces, including useful vocabulary lists, is Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers by Harold Evans - a former editor of the Sunday Times and The Times.
Free daily newsletter
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
