• Podcast
  • Home
  • Better News
  • Contact Us

It's All Journalism

The broccoli of media-focused podcasts.

  • Podcast
  • Home
  • Better News
  • Contact Us

468. Bitchin’ Pitchin’ creator talks freelance tips, moral and ethical convictions

July 1, 2021 by Amber Healy

Abby Lee Hood does not hide who they are. 

A self-declared “leftist journo,” Hood is a Tennessee-based freelancer and creator of the Bitchin’ Pitchin’ monthly newsletter who tries to find story angles through frameworks, including making national news local and local news relatable on a national level. 

Recently, they emailed a state senator on several pieces of anti-transgender legislation, something that is happening around the country. 

“His response was, that’s biased, you’re an activist and you’re prejudiced because you used ‘anti-LGBTQ,’” Hood says. In their experience, “you’re going to get called an activist if you’re anything other than far right. It’s important for me to live by my personal morals.”

Abby Lee Hood is a freelancer who writes the Bitchin’ Pitchin’ newsletter. (Photo by Jenn Curtis)

That particular piece is an example of taking a national story with local ripples and exploring it. 

“Even though it’s happening on a nationwide level, I’m always looking for how does that impact the business community here? How does that impact transgendered Tennesseans? What are the businesses in Tennessee who are donating to candidates and legislators who are pushing these bills? You can find a national story that applies to your local audience and vice versa.” 

Hood says most of their freelance work comes from successful pitches, but not everything. But does the up-front identity of being a “leftist” ever hinder them from finding work, or publications willing to pay for it? 

“I know my ethics and I know my morals,” Hood says. “It doesn’t concern me, but it does concern others. They’ve reached out to people I work with. … The thing about being a leftist journalist, I have lost work. People have decided not to work with me. One of the editors I work with frequently said, when I first pitched her, someone said don’t work with them because they’re an activist. I know there are people who come to my (Twitter) profile and go ‘No thank you.’ To them, I say good riddance. I’m grateful for the work I do have, I get by and I do OK. There’s a certain amount of privilege to say good riddance to those people. … I wouldn’t want to work with them anyway.”

Hood says the “leftist” tag really translates more to trying to highlight voices that might be overlooked or marginalized from other reporters. 

“I tend to focus a lot on the working class and how the news affects the working class,” they say. “You’ll find no Karl Marx in my writing.” 

Abby Lee Hood, a freelance writer and creator of the monthly Bitchin’ Pitchin’ newsletter, joins host Michael O’Connell to discuss tips for successful freelance pitching. They also explain what it means to be a “leftist journo” and the freedom that comes from being upfront about their morals and ethics.  

Share Button
If you like this post, please share it along:

Previous Post


Bitchin’ Pitchin’ creator talks freelance tips, moral and ethical convictions

Next Post


Bonus: Look at This podcast provides forum for DC’s homeless

Leave a Reply Cancel reply




Related Posts

  • What were the highs and lows of your election coverage?
  • 393. Hard Times: When The Onion isn’t edgy enough
  • Mallary Jean Tenore#26 – Poynter’s Mallary Jean Tenore reports on challenges facing young journalists
  • Yumi Wilson#77 – Yumi Wilson links journalists with success on LinkedIn

Learn How To Podcast

Turn Up the Volume equips journalism students, professionals, and others interested in producing audio content with the know-how necessary to launch a podcast for the first time. It addresses the unique challenges beginner podcasters face in producing professional level audio for online distribution. Beginners can learn how to handle the technical and conceptual challenges of launching, editing, and posting a podcast.

Order this new book by It’s All Journalism Producer Michael O’Connell.

Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter

Design

With an emphasis on typography, white space, and mobile-optimized design, your website will look absolutely breathtaking.

Learn more about design.

[footer_backtotop]

© 2022 Copyright by AllJournalismPod LLC 2012-2021 All rights reserved.·Pintercast Child Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in