Amy Traverso
As seen in:
Yankee Magazine,
Apple Podcasts,
Substack,
Salon,
The Boston Globe,
Serious Eats,
Epicurious,
AARP,
AARP The Magazine,
Boston Magazine,
MyRecipes
and
Covers:
We are an entirely New England-focused magazine. That's a firm rule. I am interested in food features with great narrative and five or six delicious, reliable, well-tested recipes.
Doesn't Cover:
I do not assign general features or travel stories. Those queries should go to Mel Allen (mela@yankeepub.com)
Food editor at Yankee Magazine. Co-host of WGBH's Weekends with Yankee. Author of The Apple Lover's Cookbook. She/her
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Editorial assistant at Boston Magazine.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
I write primarily about food and travel, so my first priority is to be of service. Elegant writing, reliable, compelling recipes.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Emails with a detailed pitch, a brief bio, and clips.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Why did you become a journalist?
I was a college student who resisted choosing a major. A career in journalism offered a chance to pursue a liberal arts education for life.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No, but I did work on the University of New Mexico paper, during a brief sojourn in Albuquerque.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
It takes time to develop your voice. Be patient. Write often.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I usually do most of my story planning between December and April.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Any pitch from a great writer who has strong kitchen skills and knows our format.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Any pitch in which it's clear the write has never read the magazine, doesn't understand our format, and doesn't include clips.
What's your favorite drink?
Good, small-batch hard cider from New England or France.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
In my kitchen or on the road.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That it's all free dinners and press junkets. Recipe development takes skill and precision and good service journalism is hard work.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.