should i pitch to freelancers?

You should absolutely think about pitching to freelancers if you have a good story.

They are not right for everything, but you're missing out if they're not part of your strategy.

Why?

If they're successful, then they are experts at connecting a narrative with a market.

They have to think creatively and laterally about how they might make the story land. They will often have more luck selling in a story than you, because they know the editor and the publication better.

They have a greater incentive to sell it, because they don't eat if they don't write. (A staff reporter will just get thrown another story).

Even if they don't land it in your first choice of publication, they might know another editor who might be more receptive. This will help you refine your strategy over the long term.

It's almost a free consultation.

They all have different skill sets and selling points. Some are hyper-specialists in specific areas. I covered geographies that were underserved by the BBC, and I was able to file in any format (text, audio, video). I was also pretty strong in the feature writing department.

In some cases, they will fit your pitch better than a staff reporter. Trade publications in particular are very dependent on them.

Are there limits?

You bet. Freelancers rarely get the front page. If you're in a great rush, they might not do same day turnaround (which is usually left to staffers). If that's the case, go straight to the editor or Executive Producer.

And to some degree they are in competition with staff reporters, and staff reporters always win if there's a turf war over a story. So help everyone out and avoid pitching both so that you don't create this friction.