Newspapers and the Weekly Food Section: Research for Food
Writers
NEWSPAPERS AND THE WEEKLY FOOD SECTION by Pamela White
I love the food sections in our local newspapers. I scan the
recipes, note the food trends, look for food-filled events, and
visualize my name right along the other syndicated and local
food writers. Eventually, I finish reading the food news and
only have next week's papers to look forward to.
No longer! Most newspapers have online versions that include
their popular food news and recipe articles. Not only is this
fun for food writers (and food lovers), it's also an ongoing,
easily accessible, free education into what the different
newspapers are publishing.
- Scan the recipes for seasonal tips you can use in your own
writing, even if you have to hold on to them for nine months
before they come back into fashion.
- Read the food news - who is producing what new additive, where
are the hottest trends starting, which exotic cuisines are
marching across the U.S.
- Look for the names of the food section editor, food editor,
features editor, or Sunday editor. Most newspaper websites have
email contact information opening up opportunities for food
writers to pitch their own ideas.
- Notice the types of articles the largest newspapers (who hire
the most freelance work) use. Are they all related to the
newspapers home town? Are most from abroad? Use this information
to help you plan out your newspaper writing goals.
- Look at the photography. Use a published photographer's work
as a lesson for yourself. Is the food standing alone, decorated,
on a busy table, with serving spoon, with a helping missing,
with flowers, brightly colored or monochromatic?
- Reading a few newspapers' food sections also provides insight
into which papers syndicate their writers, and which writers are
syndicated. Note what type of columns are being syndicated for
your own reference.
Weekly food sections are more than entertainment. They educate,
guide and influence food writers. If you want to learn, or
especially if you plan on breaking into newspapers with your
food writing, make a weekly date, online, with food sections
around the country.
For easy reference to get you started visit:
http://www.whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/newspaper.htm for a
round-up of newspapers online.