At Goya, we receive a large volume of pitches. In a bid to make things easier for you (and for ourselves!), we put together a few guidelines on how to pitch effectively.
While we appreciate a well-written personal essay, we are especially interested in reported, well-researched food stories that place cuisine within a wider cultural, social, or historical context. Here are a few ideas to help you get thinking in the right direction:
Stories of people doing meaningful, often audacious work in food—farmers, entrepreneurs, feni-makers, local bakers, retailers, designers, bartenders, home cooks, authors.
Recipes with a compelling backstory, especially from lesser-known cuisines or communities.
How we eat today!. Food is an expression of where we are at this point of time in history. Tell us about the Whatsapp groups, ready-to-cook spice mixes that are key to your meals; your local bakery, how you stock your pantry, your favourite street cart.
Ingredient-led essays
Small businesses, stores, or restaurants creating deep, local impact.
Stories that cover the intersectionalities of food — these are often the most exciting stories. Where political, historic, sociological, economic, or environmental stories intersect with stories of food, produce, farmers, or communities.
We love a good photo-essay!
Conversations on the cultural impact of trends, and shifts in dialogue
Stories from home kitchens
Travel stories that explore culture through cuisine
Guides for the home cook
How to pitch:
We love stories that have a clear voice and a strong point of view, supported by research and subject expertise. Your pitch should reflect both.
A strong pitch includes:
A clear headline
A short introduction or blurb
A 1–2 paragraph outline of the story
Sources you plan to reference (where relevant)
You do not need to have been previously published, but you should have the necessary expertise or proximity to write the story you are pitching. Please note that our editorial calendar is planned several months in advance. If your pitch is time-sensitive, flag this clearly in the subject line.
We encourage you to read previously published pieces on Goya to familiarise yourself with our tone and scope, and to ensure the story you are pitching hasn’t been covered recently. It goes without saying, Goya does not publish previously published pieces.
Photographers & Illustrators:
Goya loves art, and we are always looking to work with photographers and illustrators. If this sounds like you, please send us a link to your portfolio or relevant editorial work, and we’ll be in touch.
A Note on the Use of AI
At Goya, we value the writer’s authentic voice, language, tonality, and unique regional inflections of English. We believe these nuances add immeasurable texture to stories rooted in a specific cuisine, time, and place. We recognise AI as a tool for assistance, but we caution against its use in generating editorial content. All drafts are screened for AI use, and pieces that rely on AI-generated text will not be considered for publication.
Email us with:
A clear headline (also used as the email subject line)
An intro or blurb
A 1–2 paragraph pitch outlining the story
A note on whether the piece is time-sensitive
Confirmation of whether you have photographs (please see our photo guidelines)
If you have video clips, do mention this—it helps with social promotion
Send pitches to: hello@goyamedia.in
Our editors review a high volume of pitches and drafts. You can expect to hear back within 7–10 days.