Tearline: a pitching guide
We want sharp, first-hand writing from people who work in and around cybersecurity. Here's what we publish, what makes a good pitch, and how to send one.
About Tearline
Tearline covers threats, intelligence, defence, policy, business and the people behind all of them. We'd rather publish one story that explains something properly than ten that repeat the headline. Our readers are security practitioners, leaders, founders, investors and policymakers, plus plenty of curious people outside the industry. They know when they're being sold to, and they don't have much time.
The best way to understand what we publish is to read us and listen to the Tearline podcast. Our tone is calm, clear and sceptical of hype. We like writing with a point of view, evidence behind it and the occasional bit of wit.
What makes a good pitch
The story. Tell us in a few sentences what you want to write and the argument you'll make. A pitch is not a topic. "Ransomware in healthcare" is a topic. "Why hospitals keep paying, and the one change that would stop it" is a story.
Why you. Tell us what puts you in a position to write it: the incident you worked, the research you ran, the decision you had to make. First-hand experience is what makes a Tearline piece worth reading.
Why now. What's happening that makes this worth reading this month? A new campaign, a change in regulation, a breach that everyone is misreading. Product launches and funding rounds aren't news on their own.
Your evidence. Tell us who you'll speak to or what data you'll draw on. Please check we haven't covered the subject recently.
Keep it short and send it as plain text in the body of an email, with no attachments. Give us a reason to say yes.
What we publish
Opinion. A clear argument, made briefly and backed up. We like pieces that challenge received wisdom in the industry, as long as they say what should happen instead.
Expert commentary. Short, quotable reaction to the news from people who understand it. If you'd like to be on our list of people to call, join our expert source list.
Explainers. Pieces that make a hard subject clear to a smart reader who isn't a specialist. Tell us why it matters now, not just how it works.
Q&As. Conversations with defenders, investigators, researchers and leaders who can lift the lid on how something really works. They should be lively and leave the reader with something they can use.
Podcast guests. If you or someone you represent would make a good guest on the Tearline podcast, tell us what they'd talk about and what makes them worth hearing.
If your idea is accepted, we'll agree the length, format and deadline with you before you start. We rarely publish finished pieces sent in on spec, so please pitch first.
Our AI policy
We know most people in this industry use AI tools, and so do we. You're welcome to use them for research, transcription, summarising sources, checking facts and tidying up your grammar.
The thinking and the writing must be yours. We don't publish pieces drafted by AI, and we can usually tell. Your argument, your experience and your voice are what we're commissioning.
Every quote, statistic and source must be real and checked by you. If a tool suggested it, verify it against the original before it goes in your copy. We don't publish AI-generated images presented as photographs.
If you've used AI for more than research or light editing, tell us when you file. You're responsible for everything in your piece, whatever tools you used to make it.
A note for vendors and PR teams
We're glad to hear from vendors, agencies and in-house press teams, and many of the best people in this industry work for vendors. But what we publish is independent and editorial. Pieces that promote a product or company will be edited or turned down, and we don't accept payment for editorial coverage.
If you want guaranteed placement, that's a partnership, and it's always clearly labelled. See Partner with us.
How to pitch
Email your pitch to pitches@tearline.co.uk with a short headline in the subject line. Include a line or two about who you are and a link to anything you've written before.
We read everything, but we're a small team and can't always reply to every pitch. If you haven't heard from us within two weeks, feel free to take your idea elsewhere.