With the exception of restaurant reviewers who should remain anonymous, a newspaper's
food reporter needs to network with both foodies and the culinary artists of the
newspaper's coverage area.
If covering food events, restaurant openings, food production and the people
involved with them, make sure you:
1. Are on the scene. Go to the food events and be a part of the crowd, stop by the
studio where the cooking shows are being filmed, take culinary classes, and wander
through the picnics at the outdoor concerts. Talk to the people who are creating the events
AND the ones who are attending.
2. Know the people who have influence. You could crack a dozen posh food-filled
charity events just by meeting, and getting to know, the most popular event planner in the
area. Have a Master Sommelier's phone number in your rolodex? He is the perfect
resource to offer tips, clue you in on up and coming trends, and provide you with reviews
of the best for each holiday throughout the year.
3. Carry business cards with all your phone numbers on them. When you give them
to a culinary contact, insist that you are available to take their calls day and night. Pass
them out at business events. Some of the entrepreneurial development seminar attendees
may be starting restaurants, bakeries, cheese processing plants or nostalgic candy stores.
By giving these people your card, you will be the first to bring the information to your
editor, saving you the embarrassment of having a competing paper break the news.
4. Read the business news, property sales, and tax auctions briefs. These can give
you the jump start on articles covering the birth or death of a restaurant or which chef is
moving on to start his own place.
5. Include your work email in your articles, or on the newspaper's website. Sure,
you want the local foodies who know what's going on to contact you, but sometimes you
get outstanding tips from a reader about shops, falafel stands, and outdoor cafes that have
been existing under your radar.
6. Send thank-you's to contacts if they've helped you on a big feature. Nothing big,
but offer to buy them coffee, or write an email thanking the referral to an interviewee for
that last big feature.
7. Love what you do! Be conversant in food-talk. Read the food trade magazines or
spend part of your workday online keeping up with new trends. Sure, your new
informants on the local food scene can help keep you up-to-date, but your research will
show these same contacts that you take your job seriously and understand what's going on
in the world of food.
About the Author:
Pamela White publishes the free ezine, Food Writing. Subscribe at www.food-writing.com , the number one rated food writing site on the internet. Her book, Make Money as a Food Writer in Six Lessons, is available at Amazon.com
