How a Columbia Workshop Opened Doors to International Media Outlets

In November 2023, Columbia Global Center Istanbul, in collaboration with the International Press Institute (IPI), offered a masterclass designed to help freelance journalists from Türkiye pitch their stories to international media. Melisa Ishbitiren, one of the participants, entered the course almost without a journalistic portfolio but emerged with practical skills that led to her stories being published in outlets such as The Guardian, Meduza, and The New Arab.

In this interview, Melisa reflects on how the masterclass helped her refine her pitching strategies and connect her work with a broader audience.

Istanbul Center Team: How did the masterclass at Columbia Global Center Istanbul help you develop your pitching skills for international media outlets?

Melisa Ishbitiren: The masterclass was transformative for me. Before attending, I had no journalistic portfolio and was still trying to navigate the complexities of reporting in Türkiye. This course showed me that it is entirely possible to get published by international outlets, even if you have no prior experience. The step-by-step guidance on everything from discovering a story to identifying the right media outlet, finding the editor’s contact, and structuring a compelling pitch was invaluable. It demystified the process and gave me the confidence to pursue publications I had previously thought were out of reach.

In what ways do you feel the workshop contributed to your ability to get your stories published in Meduza, the New Arab, and the Guardian?

Melisa: The workshop taught me how to identify stories in Türkiye that could resonate with international audiences and to align these stories with the specific focus of different outlets. For example, when I covered the Navalny memorials in Istanbul, I understood that this story was more likely to appeal to Russian independent media like Meduza, which was actively covering related news at the time. Similarly, when I pitched my story about urban decay in Tbilisi, I targeted the Guardian’s Global Development section because it seemed the best fit. This strategic approach, which I developed during the masterclass, directly contributed to my success in getting these stories published.

Can you describe a specific moment or lesson from the workshop that was pivotal in shaping your successful pitches?

Melisa: A pivotal moment was during the session with Oliver Holmes, the Guardian editor. I pitched a story idea about letters sent to Russian political immigrants. Initially, I saw it as a broad feature without any central character. Oliver advised me to focus on a specific person—someone deeply involved in these correspondences. This advice completely shifted my approach. For my Guardian piece on urban decay in Tbilisi, I found a compelling character: the last manual lift operator in a famous brutalist skybridge building, who perfectly embodied the transition from the Soviet era to modern Georgia. This focus on character-driven storytelling made my pitch much stronger and ultimately led to its acceptance.

What challenges did you face while pitching your stories, and how did the feedback from the masterclass help you overcome them?

Melisa: The biggest challenge was understanding what angle would most appeal to editors and deciding whether to pitch to one outlet at a time or several simultaneously. Oliver Holmes emphasized the importance of urgency in news stories—don’t wait around for one editor’s reply if it means losing the story’s relevance. This advice was critical. For instance, when I pitched a story about the rising tension between Russian immigrants and Istanbul police in Türkiye, I sent it to multiple Russian media outlets simultaneously. Meduza picked it up first, and with their editorial guidance, it evolved from a simple news piece into a comprehensive feature. Without the masterclass’s emphasis on strategic pitching, I might have waited too long and missed the opportunity.

How did the guidance and insights from Elif Ince and the guest journalists influence your approach to identifying and crafting compelling story ideas?

Melisa: Elif Ince’s advice on pre-reporting was a game-changer. Before pitching, I started gathering materials and conducting interviews, which made my pitches more robust and informed. This preparation gave me confidence and made my pitches more attractive to editors. Additionally, the guest journalists helped me realize that some stories might require a different format or outlet. For example, I initially tried to place a story about a Russian-Ukrainian bookshop in international newspapers but realized it would be better suited for a literary magazine. The insights from the masterclass guided me in finding the right home for each story, ensuring they were presented in the best possible way.