We’re always on the lookout for engaging news stories, op-eds, guides, and features here at The Loadout about all things esports, streaming, and the world of console games.
If you think you have just the story for us, you can find out how to pitch it below.
Where to send pitches
Features, reviews, and guides
Jess Wells (she/her) – [email protected]
For all things long-form, Jess is the person you want to speak to. For guides, we’re looking for well researched pitches on the biggest online games both in the competitive and console world. The latest triple-A releases and popular multiplayer titles will be our biggest hitters, but if you spot a gap and have Google Trends data to back your pitch up, we want to hear from you.
For features, we’re looking for interview-led pieces with key developers, teams, and players, and op-eds about the biggest games in the console and competitive scene right now. If you’ve got a funny experience with a game or you’re particularly opinionated about a recent change, then get in touch via the email address above.
We’re also interested in unique voices for upcoming reviews. Our reviews are often posted on aggregate sites, like Open Critic and Metacritic, so if you’re interested, drop us an email.
News
Jamie Hore (he/him) – [email protected]
Jamie is the man leading the charge on news and the perfect person to reach out to if you’ve got a news story or an investigative piece to pitch.
It’s rare we commission news pitches, so if you’re considering sending something over, make sure it’s original and source-based, and highlight that in your outreach.
Bipoc and other underrepresented backgrounds
We are committed to increasing the visibility of unrepresented voices in the industry. As a company that cares deeply about diversity and inclusion, we want to take an active stance against racism and injustice. As part of that commitment, we have a separate budget for commissioning writers from underrepresented backgrounds, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any pitches or questions you might have.
It’s also worth noting that while we’re more than happy to receive pitches on the things defining the gaming industry right now, we’re also open to pitches about your personal experiences as a writer from an underrepresented community.
Pitching tips
Have you had a lightbulb moment? Here’s the best way to pitch it to us.
Do your homework
One of the biggest pitfalls freelancers fall into is failing to do their research on the site they want to write for. If you’re planning on sending a pitch over, please do spend some time reading the site and getting to know our audience. If, after doing that, you think your pitch is suited to us, send it over, and explain why!
Label your email and lead with the headline
An editor’s inbox is busy at the best of times, so when you’re planning on sending a pitch, make sure to title your email appropriately so it doesn’t get lost in the mix. We quite like the format ‘PITCH: [headline]’ as this is clearly signposted and gives us a clear idea of what it is that you’d like to write.
Give us the key details
To really catch our attention, you need to include all the key details. Are you planning on speaking to someone specifically for this pitch? Do you need to be given some time to organise an interview? What’s the crux of the story? What’s your main argument?
All of these details might seem obvious, but without them we’re left with half the picture. Get these into your pitch and it might just clinch you a commission.
Stick a number on it
Your idea might be great, but what we also really want to know is how long (or short) it’ll be. While not mandatory, including an estimated word count in your pitches can be helpful, especially in a busy month when there are lots of pitches to consider.
Tell us about you
We’re a friendly bunch here at The Loadout and while we’re keen on diversifying our content, we’d like to get to know you better too. In your pitch, make sure to add some details about yourself, like what games you’ve written about before, and where. If you’ve got some sort of specialist knowledge from a previous job or a university degree, then tell us – it could make all the difference.
You don’t need to be overly formal either, injecting your personality in an email is great and gives us an idea of what your writing might be like should we commission your piece.
Don’t be afraid to nudge us
The freelance grind is tough. If we haven’t replied to your pitch within a week, please feel free to give us a gentle nudge by email – especially if the pitch is time sensitive.
We’ll always do our best to come back to you with a response, but this can take some time.
