We receive a large volume of pitches every week. To help you (and us), we've put together a few guidelines on the kinds of stories we're looking for, and how to pitch them effectively.
What We're Looking For
We commission reported, well-researched stories that place food within a wider cultural, historical, political, environmental or social context.
Some themes we're particularly interested in include:
People shaping food culture Farmers, entrepreneurs, feni makers, bakers, retailers, designers, bartenders, home cooks, authors and craftspeople doing meaningful work.
Ingredients with a story Ingredient-led essays that explore a region, its cuisine and its relationship with community, ecology or history.
How India eats today The everyday rituals, products and habits shaping contemporary food culture. Think WhatsApp recipe groups, ready-to-cook spice mixes, neighbourhood bakeries, pantry staples or favourite street carts.
Regional and community cuisines Recipes with compelling histories, especially from lesser-known communities or traditions.
Food as a lens Stories where food intersects with politics, migration, economics, climate, labour, design or history.
Small businesses creating local impact Restaurants, stores, cafés and producers building something meaningful within their communities.
Travel through food Stories that explore place through cuisine rather than simply recommending where to eat.
Personal essays Stories from home kitchens that reveal identity, culture, migration.
Food photography and photo essays Accompanied by 12–15 high-resolution images and substantive captions.
Trends and cultural shifts thoughtful reporting on how conversations around food are changing.
Do's
Come with a clear point of view. Tell us why this story matters now.
Report your story. The strongest pitches are rooted in original reporting, conversations with people on the ground and subject expertise.
Why are you the right person to write it? You don't need to have been published previously, but you should have the expertise, lived experience or proximity to the subject.
Read Goya before pitching. Familiarise yourself with our editorial voice and check whether we've already covered a similar story.
Flag time-sensitive stories. If your story is tied to a season, event or news moment, mention this clearly in the email subject line.
Do you already have visuals? Mention whether you have photographs, illustrations or video to accompany the story.
Don'ts
Don't send previously published work. We only commission original stories.
Don't rely on AI-generated editorial copy. If a pitch or draft is found to have been generated using AI, it will be rejected.
Don't pitch without reporting. We prioritise stories built on interviews, research and original reporting over opinion pieces or listicles.
What Makes a Strong Pitch?
Please include:
A working headline
A short introduction (2–3 sentences)
A two-paragraph outline explaining the story
The people you'll be speaking to or have already interviewed
Key research or sources you'll draw upon
Whether the story is time-sensitive
Whether you have photographs or video
Send your pitch to hello@goyamedia.in
For Photographers & Illustrators
We're always looking to collaborate with photographers and illustrators. Please send us a portfolio or examples of relevant editorial work.
Response Time
Our editors review a high volume of submissions. You can expect to hear back within 7–10 days.