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Thank you so much Amanda! These are ideas that get me fired up so I need to follow that energy I think, and state my ideas with confidence. Such great suggestions as always, and so many thoughtful takeaways!
And, here is my stab at a “companion piece” to the hate-speech article in Fodor’s. I did pitch them a story about Murcia’s anniversary several months back and never got a reply, but this is slightly different. Should I address it to Jeremy? And do you think I should include more about what travelers can do in Murcia? I have such a hard time coming up with titles!
P.S: A travel article about Murcia recently came out in the Guardian (it appears to be sponsored). Thank you!
I think my total word count for line edits, between this and the fellowship application, comes in at under 1,000 words, but think about whether the standard rate feels fair here — can the 1,000 words be a combination of different pieces? Thank you! I look forward to our group coaching session on Thursday!
Hello,
I’m a writer based in the city of Murcia, Spain, specializing in food and travel. I’m pitching a timely story about my adopted home of over 16 years. Murcia has made international headlines recently for Islamophobic policy initiatives and hate speech, overshadowing the city’s 1,200-year anniversary celebration in 2025.
I propose a companion piece to this news, highlighting Spaniards who celebrate the region’s Islamic heritage and featuring ways travelers can engage with this legacy.
Meet the People Making Murcia’s Islamic Legacy More Accessible than Ever
I’ll speak with local Islamic studies professor Pilar Garrido, a creator of the app Escape Andalusí, which immerses visitors in medieval Mursiya. I’ll also talk to historian Belén Cuenca, who runs a boutique tour company specializing in Islamic Spain. Additionally, I’ll talk with the director of the Museo Santa Clara, a working convent in Murcia built over an Islamic palace and now a tolerance-driven museum.
As a longtime local, I can offer a respectful, nuanced perspective. Here’s a link to my portfolio and some writing samples:
The Olive Oil Professor: How Olive Oil Tourism Supports Spain’s Legacy
The Alcohol Professor: What You Should Know About Licor 43
Blog: Coca—Spanish FlatbreadI look forward to hearing whether this story interests you. Many thanks!
Hi Amanda,
Here’s my application for the Magma Environmental Reporting Fellowship. I’d love your feedback on it. I’m not sure I have enough previous experience in journalism. Last year was the first year of the fellowship and they had some impressive fellows, so chances are slim, but it can’t hurt to apply. Should I mention my previous experience as a teacher at all do you think?
Here’s the application info:
Applications are now open for the second edition of the Magma Environmental Reporting Fellowship, to be held online from October 2025 to April 2026. The deadline to apply is August 31.
Nine early-career journalists based in southern Europe will be selected to participate in this hands-on six-month program. The program aims to enhance their skills in environmental reporting and narrative writing while expanding their portfolios.Requirements:
• Previous experience in journalism
• Based in one of the following countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus and Türkiye
• Interest in environmental topics, particularly climate change
• Commitment to leveling up writing skills
• Good level of spoken and written EnglishHere’s what I’ve written for each application section (in bold):
Previous experience in journalism: Max 250 words.A student of comparative literature and languages, I’ve always loved reading and writing and believe in the power of words to open and change minds. I’ve worked as a freelance translator (French and Spanish to English) for over two decades, specializing in cookbooks, travel guides and journalism. My translation clients include the Internews agency and Arles magazine, which features narrative journalism deeply rooted in the Mediterranean. I also proofread scientific articles for Spanish agronomists and soil scientists.
As a writer, I’m drawn to stories with a sense of place that reveal connections across cultures and time. For The Alcohol Professor, I wrote about how the ancient port city of Cartagena, Murcia, shaped the now-global liqueur brand, Licor 43. Most recently, I wrote about olive oil tourism in Spain as an antidote to mass tourism for The Olive Oil Professor. For this piece, I interviewed six oleotourism veterans in the country who are proving that this niche can give rural communities a future rooted in the past. This piece showcases issues that are particularly important to me, including agricultural heritage, biodiversity and rural development that supports traditional ways of life.
Why are you applying to this program? Max 250 words
I found out about this program through Goldy Levy’s [Amanda – she was a fellow last year] great article about the troubled Mar Menor. As a longtime resident of Murcia, I’m deeply concerned by the consequences of intensive agriculture, overtourism and climate change, exemplified by the plight of this coastal lagoon. I’m also distressed by the rise of hate crimes and Islamaphobia in Spain, which have been especially intense in Murcia over the past year—ironically, the year the city celebrates its 1,200-year anniversary. Here on the ground, I see the other side of the coin—people resisting hate speech and celebrating the region’s Islamic heritage, and people working to sustain the landscapes and traditions that make Spain unique and resilient.
It feels urgent to me to share stories that counter misinformation and highlight people making the world a better, more understanding place, albeit quietly. People whose voices the algorithm does not tend to amplify.
I’d love this opportunity to improve my reporting and writing skills. With a mentor, I’d discuss strategies for interviewing in the field, organizing (and streamlining) research, and shaping it into compelling narratives. I’d like to build my portfolio so that I can eventually write long-form feature stories and reported essays for outlets like Orion, National Geographic, and Grist.
What stories and themes would I like to work on? Between 250–350 words
I’m interested in solutions journalism with a focus on agricultural heritage and traditional foodways. I have an insider perspective on the farming community here in Murcia, as my husband is a stone-fruit breeder with the Spanish National Research Council. Through his work, I’ve gained insight into the challenges Mediterranean farmers face and learned about breeding for disease resistance and climate change.
I’d love to pursue a story I’ve done some pre-reporting on about desert truffle cultivation in Murcia and the role fungi can play in conservation efforts. Not only drought-tolerant, desert truffles can also improve soil health, mitigate desertification, and provide a sustainable income source in rural Mediterranean areas where little else grows. The story centers on a passionate botanist and her quest to get others to see the potential underground, where untrained eyes see little agricultural potential. It interweaves several themes I’m interested in, including sustainability, the water crisis, Islamic heritage in Spain and passionate people quietly doing amazing things.
I’d also like to work on a story about the Consejo de Hombres Buenos, one of the two ancient water rights tribunals in southeastern Spain that UNESCO declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. This customary law tribunal has its legacy in Murcia’s Islamic origins and its echo in the acequia system in the American Southwest, among other places. I’d like to examine how the UNESCO designation has impacted the court and how it remains relevant today locally and worldwide as a model for water resource management.
I’d also like to continue working on the issue of overtourism through stories like my olive oil tourism piece. Can tourism have positive outcomes in communities? Tourism has the potential to be an important income source, but how can cities and towns welcome tourists without becoming museums or theme parks? I’d like to highlight more individuals and communities grappling with this question and seeking ways to foment a respectful, sustainable tourism.
Thank you!
That is such great news about the photographer, Josephine! Yay! I have a good feeling about that story. I’m sure you know this, but be sure to mention in your pitch that you’ve been in touch with her and that she’s happy to speak with you for an article. And another huge congratulations on getting the Travel Classics scholarship! I can’t wait to hear more.
Hi everyone!
Week of 08/13/2025: I have a “shitty first draft” of my Islamic heritage companion piece so am working on revising that. I’m going to book a review session next week for extra accountability. I also saw a fellowship opportunity — the Magma Environmental Reporting Fellowship. The application doesn’t seem too complicated, so I’m working on that to submit for the review session, too. It’s a bit of a stretch, maybe, as they call for previous experience in journalism — but it is an early career mentorship program. The focus is on pressing environmental issues in the Mediterranean. I wish my olive oil piece would go live!
Why I’m stoked:: I’m excited to have a news hook I feel passionate about reacting to. It feels good to be making time for pitches and sticking my neck out. It’s also good to have several ideas in the works so I don’t feel too attached to a single one.
Concerns or challenges: I’ve had strong feelings of self-doubt this week, but am trying to remember that it’s important to have many voices out there — not just journalists in Dallas jumping on news from places they know little about (I’m referring to that Fodor’s story about the ban in Murcia). Also, my husband is on a work trip to China this week which means I have less help at home.
Did the magic happen?: I sent an email to Amy Sherman but didn’t hear back from her — she may be on vacation? I made good progress on my cookbook translation.
Ha! I’m missing the little “like” hearts here. Thank you, Josephine! The timer method is a great idea. I need to get better at that. Coincidentally, I was just reading Alicia Kennedy’s research and organization tips, and was reassured by her take on rabbit holes: There will be rabbit holes! Consider it gleaning.
Those rabbit holes can be useful later, but I also end up going down completely useless ones, too…
Congrats on sending the fisherman aesthetic pitch! I believe Anne Banas is an editor at BBC — Amanda will know for sure. You can link to your CN Traveler piece in the email ;).
Hi everyone,
I hope you’re doing well! Here are my goals for this week:
Week of 08/05: Amy Sherman, the editor at the Olive Oil Professor, wrote to ask if I wanted to write any more olive oil pieces. She said to send her pitches or ask her if I didn’t have any ideas. So, I’m going to work on a list of 3 or so potential ideas for her, trying to be smart about narrowing the scope so I don’t spend as much time on them as I did on the olive oil tourism story.
Why I’m stoked: It makes me feel good to know the editor likes my work. This is a good opportunity to get some more clips. The pay isn’t great, but I do have a lot of freedom to write what I want to write.
Concerns or challenges: Staying focused in the limited worktime I have during the summer.
Did the magic happen? I sent my Orion workshop application (my heart was pounding so hard when I hit send) and made some good progress on my cookbook translation, but I still have a ways to go. Translating recipes can get really tedious, and I caught myself going down way too many internet rabbit holes (some more edifying than others) rather than staying focused. I’m trying to think of other strategies when I feel my brain checking out. I should make a list of short tasks or activities that give me a boost rather than scatter my attention like rabbit holes tend to do! Any suggestions?I look forward to hearing what you all are up to!
Thank you, Amanda! I greatly appreciate the offer for a rec, and will certainly take you up on that someday. I don’t actually need one for the Orion workshop. They want a 1,500-word writing sample (I thought I’d send a condensed version of the olive oil piece — it’s not an essay, but shows the issues/themes I’m interested in. I’m afraid I don’t have a good recent essay).
And they also want a cover letter — it’s not clear how long — they just say “As much as you want to share! We love hearing about your background, career, hobbies, relationship to literature and the environment, experience (if any) with writing workshops, why you’re drawn to an Orion workshop, and anything else.”
That could be really long — does 400 words sound too long?
I agree about August! I wouldn’t want to get anything commissioned now, either, because it would be impossible to track down any sources in Spain in any case.
AND, I think your catio pitch is ready to send! But I also see the value of getting past the craziness to look at it once more in a zen moment. I’m going to send you a PDF of an article that came out in El País about cats a few days ago (paywalled) — “This is the century of the cat” they say — maybe some good stats, about how the trend is not just in the US, but also global? Not that you need more info at this point…
Hi Josephine, Just a quick thought here. Confirm with Amanda, but I remember her mentioning that it’s important to make sure a source will talk with you if your piece hinges on them. I think you have some chops to do that effectively — just something like, I’m a graphic designer and journalist for outlets like CN Traveler. I’m working on a pitch about how your work is reshaping hospitality photography and wanted to confirm I could speak with you for the piece once it’s commissioned… Or something like that– I’m sure Amanda has better ideas about wording! And I agree with her — you have such a compelling natural voice. You are definitely a writer ;).
Hi Amanda, I was so close to asking for an extension on my July critiques (gritting teeth emoji), but decided to send them in their current state. They can all use work. Many thanks in advance!
PITCH 1: I’m thinking of this one for Food & Wine, although it’s not totally clear how to pitch to them. This one is still pretty rough, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on honing it more tightly.
Hello X,
I’m a writer and translator based in Murcia, Spain, specializing in food and travel. I’m writing with a story about a pilgrimage-worthy destination for rice lovers—Restaurante Elías, in the Alicante province. “Heaven on earth!” José Andrés posted about the restaurant on Instagram. “They should have a Michelin Star!” The restaurant has received much coverage in Spanish outlets, but not in the US.
This Restaurant in a Tiny Spanish Village Serves Legendary/Pilgrimage-Worthy Rice/Strives to Master Rice Cooked over Flames
Forget the gummy paellas served in heavily touristed plazas throughout Spain. In Xinorlet, a tiny village in the Alicante province, Restaurante Elías has perfected the regional specialty, arroz serrano—rice with rabbit and snails cooked over flames fueled by grapevine trimmings. The chefs have mastered fire, temperature, and time for perfect absorption and a crisp, deeply browned soccarat. The flavor is just the right amount of savory with notes of Mediterranean scrubland. Although cooked in a paella pan, this is NOT paella. It is what has come to be known in the Spanish press as Pinoso-style rice, which famous chefs have long swooned over. It’s an example of the trend in Spain away from the avant-garde towards cocina de producto and honed traditions.
I’ll cover Restaurant Elias’s pursuit of perfection and will provide historical context to show how this is part of a long rice tradition in the region, stretching back to the Arabs who first planted rice here. I plan to speak with the restaurant team as well as a Spanish food historian.
I’ve lived in the neighboring region, Murcia, for over 16 years, which shares the same landscape, history, and culinary traditions. I deeply understand rice culture in the area and how it differs from paella culture farther north. I’m always looking for a good excuse to return to Restaurante Elías.
PITCH 2:
I got a positive rejection on this one from Cake Zine (with the part labeled TAKE 1). It didn’t work with the line-up, but the editors thanked me for a “thoughtful” pitch, which they found “compelling”. I’m considering sending it to Whetstone and maybe AramcoWorld? I’ve sent a version of this pitch to GastroObscura and the BBC and got ghosted/rejected.
Dear XX,
I’m a writer and translator based in Murcia, Spain, specializing in food and travel. I’m writing with a recipe story idea from my adopted home of over 15 years, which is celebrating its 1,200-year anniversary in 2025. This emblematic tapa offers a delicious window into this history.
Morcilla de Verano: Eggplant Alchemy
It seems like magic: heaps of chopped eggplant and onion plus abundant olive oil slowly collapse into a sweet, spreadable delicacy, flecked with oregano, black pepper, and pine nuts. A clever trompe l’oeil, morcilla de verano (summer morcilla), a traditional tapa from Murcia, gets its name from the other morcilla—pork blood sausage. It resembles its namesake in texture, flavor and hue.
TAKE 1: Along with a recipe for this delicious, easy-to-make tapa, I’ll include a headnote focused on its shape-shifting history. Morcilla de verano blurs the boundaries between sweet and savory, and plant and meat. And despite the Christian-signalling name, it exemplifies Spain’s hybrid history—not Muslim or Christian, but a fusion of the two. Once heavily associated with Muslim and Jewish communities on the Iberian Peninsula, eggplant—unlike cilantro and couscous—survived the Inquisition and stars today in many “typical” Spanish dishes. “Its Islamic identity was slowly erased, its ‘otherness’ consumed,” writes scholar Carolyn A. Nadeau in Food Matters (I plan to speak with her for this piece). But now, there is growing recognition for the enduring legacy of over seven centuries of Islamic rule—recognition that this “otherness” is, in fact, integral to Spanish culture, evidenced in recipes like this one.
TAKE 2: In addition to providing a recipe, I plan to talk with Nawal Nasrallah about the dish’s Islamic roots (despite its Christian-signaling name). Nasrallah translated this thirteenth-century cookbook by a Murcia-born Andalusi scholar with a recipe for an eggplant “sausage.”I’ll also talk with Spanish food scholar Carolyn Nadeau about how eggplant, once heavily associated with Muslim and Sephardic communities, came to star in many “typical” Spanish dishes. For a current perspective, I’ll speak with a member of a Peña Huertana—a local association dedicated to preserving Murcia’s agrarian traditions.
I’ve lived in Murcia for over 16 years and am obsessed with the city’s history. I’ve translated over a dozen cookbooks and regularly translate for the Louis Vuitton City Guides.
PITCH 3:
Amanda: Thank you for your suggested publications for this one. I’d love to publish in the Smithsonian, but they ask for 3 published clips, so I need to wait. The Guardian could be a great place too. This one needs some pizazz — I got the idea after attending a conference led by a group of inspiring women (including the sources mentioned below) who are passionate about sharing their knowledge about the Islamic period.
Hi Matt,
I’m reaching out with a story idea from Murcia, my adopted home of over 16 years. This lesser-known Spanish city, once a jewel of Islamic Spain, or al-Andalus, is celebrating 1,200 years of history in 2025, and tourists are still welcome. This story is particularly timely given the booming Muslim tourism market and the importance of recognizing Western Europe’s diverse roots in these divisive times. Thanks for reading!This Spanish City’s Historical Gems Shine with New Splendor
“Murcia is among the richest lands in aromatic plants and fruit trees,” enthused one 13th-century traveler to the city a jewel of al-Andalus. Founded on the Segura River in 825 CE, Murcia became famed for its still-legendary market gardens, a feat of Islamic hydraulic ingenuity. Culture blossomed, too, nourishing philosophers and poets like revered Sufi mystic Ibn ‘Arabî.
There is still much to marvel at in modern-day Murcia, which is embracing its heritage like never before. In this potential Destination Guide, I’ll cover where to visit, eat, drink, and stay to experience the city’s rich history and its contemporary manifestations. Places like the Museo de Santa Clara—a convent built over a luxurious Islamic palace, a predecessor to the Alhambra—and the Local de Ensayo, offering modern interpretations of Murcia’s traditional larder. I’ll speak with Professor Pilar Garrido, creator of the interactive app Escape Andalusí, and Belén Cuenca, who runs a boutique tour company specializing in Islamic Spain.As a longtime local, I can offer a respectful, nuanced perspective. I translate for the Louis Vuitton City Guides and have translated over a dozen cookbooks.
Some writing samples:
The Alcohol Professor: What You Should Know About Licor 43
Blog: Coca: Spanish Flatbread
Translation for Arles magazine (link to PDF): Salt and Sky (a profile of French designer Jacquemus) (Amanda – what are your thoughts on linking to translations?)
I look forward to hearing whether this story interests CN Traveler!Amazing J’nai! I hope to be able to say that I can’t stop writing pitches someday! I’m excited to see where these go. As a cisgender male once said ;), the more lines in the water, the more bites.
I had one huge success this week. I FINALLY sent in my olive oil piece, and the editor wrote back the same day, “Great story!” It doesn’t appear there will be any edits…Thank you all for your support, and thanks to Amanda for giving me the extra push I needed to get it out the door.
Week of 7/28: I’m regretting agreeing to do a cookbook translation that’s due early September — one month away, eeks. I’m behind so need to catch up on that. Also, I saw that a writer I really like will be teaching an online essay workshop through Orion, a dream publication. You have to apply for their workshops, so I’m working on that this week, too — it’s due August 5. I’m going out of town Thursday-Saturday, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to do too much else this week.
Why I’m stoked: It feels like a huge win to have my story in. It’s a story I feel proud of, so I’m excited to be able to use it as a clip when it goes live.
Concerns or challenges: I’m trying to keep up with pitching “no matter what” but am also struggling with the time constraints of summer vacation.
This is amazing Josephine! I think you have everything you need here and love those specific details in the second paragraph. You’ve definitely piqued my interest! As an intro, you could perhaps say something like, “I’m a writer and graphic designer” – something to emphasize your design expertise — it does come across in your descriptions, but just to emphasize why you’re the one to write the story. I’d say that your design expertise and the fact you’re on top of the trends gives you the authority to say it is indeed a trend, but would be curious to hear Amanda’s thoughts. As an editor, I’d be curious to know what access you had to Karolina. Re the title, I think a shortened version works well and makes me want to know more: How Karolina Valeikaite’s cinematic imagery is reshaping hospitality photography. CN Traveler could be a good fit for this one? I look forward to seeing where this goes and can’t wait to hear about the astrocartography session!
Thank you so much for all your thoughts here, Amanda! I’ll submit a few pitches for critique by early next week. I’d love to publish with Smithsonian, although they ask for three clips, and I’m not quite there yet. Almost! And you’re right, the fact that she didn’t edit last time is paralyzing…
I look forward to seeing everyone later today!
Amazing J’ai! So inspiring that you did three pitches in one week! I love your confident, friendly voice that shows your deep knowledge of the region. I wouldn’t call your ideas frivolous! They all sound like interesting ways to experience the region to me. I especially love the contrast you set up with the sacrosanct Old World traditions in the second one. I look forward to seeing where these go!
