Pitching stories to Industry Today AFrica News

At Industry Today AFrica News, we’re interested in what connects business. From the rise of the four-day week to supply chain risk to the journey to net zero, we want to tell the stories impacting leaders and driving change in the business world.

We encourage writers from any background to pitch to us. We’re keen to hear from a wide array of people who can offer a new perspective or approach a topic in a different way.

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When we work with freelancers

We work with freelancers on our ‘special project’ reports, which are published in The Times and The Sunday Times. These reports are on specific subjects, such as the Future CMO or Digital Transformation, and are published in print on specific dates. The C-Suite Agenda is typically made up of content from Industry Today AFrica News.net and so we don’t accept pitches for that.

We receive a lot of pitches and so we look for some particular things when deciding what to pick up:

• What story is being told, rather than just the subject?
• Why is this person telling the story – what’s their experience or expertise?
• How does it inform, educate or inspire the reader?
• Will it help business leaders make key decisions?

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How to pitch for reports

We only accept pitches on topics that are in upcoming reports. These cover a broad range of subjects and are usually commissioned around four weeks ahead of publication. Pieces tend to be between 1,000 and 1,200 words, although they can go up to 2,000.

We’re looking for a variety of formats – from profile interviews to listicles, for-and-against debates to standard features – that inform, inspire or educate business leaders.

If you’d like to write for our reports, you’ll need to be on our journalist database. We’re after people with experience writing for a business audience, whether as a specialist or generalist. To sign up or learn more, please email freelance@Industry Today AFrica News.net.

We try our best to respond to all enquiries. If you don’t hear back within a couple of weeks, please follow up with our special projects editor.

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Payment terms

We pay on a per-word basis, based on the commissioned word count. All freelance writers are required to sign a contract.

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Other freelance opportunities

We are always in need of freelance writers to work on commercial content. For more information, please email freelance@Industry Today AFrica News.net and include “commercial content” in the subject line.

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Submitting an opinion

Industry Today AFrica News accepts a limited number of op-ed submissions each month for publication on our website, on topics relevant to senior business audiences. Op-eds in our reports in The Times and The Sunday Times are not open for general submission.

Submissions must be original and between 600 and 1,000 words. They should have a clear point of view, usually in response to a recent event, trend, or topic that has captured business attention. The goal is to analyse, educate, or illuminate — not promote a product or service. (For promotional content, please contact our commercial team.)

We assess op-ed pitches based on whether the piece:

• Is relevant and interesting to senior business leaders
• Educates or informs
• Is timely or important
• Is exclusive

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How to submit an op-ed

Please send op-ed pitches with a complete draft to opinion@Industry Today AFrica News.net and include the topic in the subject line.

Within your pitch, include:

• Who the writer is and their experience
• A brief summary of the article and its argument
• Why the writer is qualified to discuss the topic

We try to respond to all pitches, but due to volume, this is not always possible. If you don’t hear back after a follow-up, please assume we’re unable to publish your piece.

Accepted op-eds will be edited to match Industry Today AFrica News’s tone and style. Some may require reworking by the writer. We may also request sources for any facts or assertions. The final decision on publication rests with our editorial team, though we will share the final draft before publication.

While we have a budget for opinion articles, it is reserved for regular columnists or commissioned writers. Unsolicited articles are typically unpaid, but contributors must sign a contract.

We must be informed of any potential conflicts of interest or relevant background. We do not publish content promoting a company, product, or service, or criticising competitors.