How to Get Featured in City Lifestyle Magazine

Short answer: start with your local publisher. Every City Lifestyle magazine is run by a local publisher who works with a local editor to decide which stories to pursue. Find your magazine at citylifestyle.com/magazines, email the publisher listed on the market page, and send a short pitch: who the story is about, why it matters to your neighbors and why now.

How does City Lifestyle choose its stories?

Each magazine is made by a local team. The publisher owns the magazine and knows the community. A local editor, often working with a group of local writers, plans and writes the stories. City Lifestyle's corporate editorial team supports each market's editor, but the stories are always written locally. Many stories begin the same way: someone in the community tells the publisher or editor about a person, place or business worth knowing.

Every story is local and every story is good news. City Lifestyle celebrates the families, business owners, coaches, chefs and volunteers who rarely see their names in print. A family bakery turning 50 is a City Lifestyle story. So is the volunteer coach who has run the same youth program for 20 years.

What kinds of stories does City Lifestyle publish?

• People: neighbors doing something remarkable, local leaders, coaches, teachers and volunteers.
• Local businesses with a story: a milestone anniversary, a family business passed to the next generation, a new opening with roots in the community.
• Homes and design: renovations, gardens and spaces with personality.
• Food and drink: restaurants, chefs, bakers and the people behind a local favorite.
• Style, health and wellness: local experts and the trends they are seeing.
• Travel close to home: day trips and getaways worth the drive.
• Community and causes: nonprofits, schools, events and the people who make them happen.

Many issues follow a monthly theme shared across markets, such as the Style Issue or the Food and Drink Issue. If your idea fits a theme, say so in your pitch. A look at a full issue is in what's inside a City Lifestyle magazine.

How do you pitch a story to City Lifestyle?

1. Find the right magazine. Look up your city at citylifestyle.com/magazines. Stories are chosen market by market, so pitch the magazine that covers your neighborhood.
2. Email the publisher. Every market page lists the publisher's name and email under Message from the Publisher.
3. Keep it short. Three to five sentences: who or what the story is about, why it matters locally and why it is timely.
4. Mention photos. Say whether you have good photos or whether the subject would be open to a photo shoot.
5. Pitch early. Monthly magazines plan issues ahead, so seasonal and event stories need lead time. A few months ahead is safest.
6. Follow up once. Publishers get a lot of ideas. One polite follow-up after a couple of weeks is plenty.

What makes a pitch stand out?

• A person at the center. Readers connect with people more than products.
• A clear local angle. The story should belong to this community, not any community.
• Something readers can see, taste or visit. The best stories send people out the door.
• A reason it is timely. An anniversary, an opening, an event date or a season.
• A positive story. City Lifestyle is a good-news magazine for the whole family.

Can a business be featured in City Lifestyle?

Yes, in two ways. A business with a genuine local story, such as a milestone or an unusual history, can pitch it the same way anyone else does. Businesses that want a guaranteed presence can build an advertising partnership with their local publisher, which can include articles about the business in the magazine and on CityLifestyle.com, along with a dedicated business page. The options are in how to advertise in City Lifestyle.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to send a story idea? No. Anyone can send a story idea to their local publisher at no cost.

Can I nominate someone else for a story? Yes. Many of the best stories come from people who want a neighbor, coach or volunteer recognized. The person does not need to pitch themselves. If you know someone facing hardship rather than someone to celebrate, the Kingdom Building Foundation's Giving Campaign is the right place for that nomination.

How far ahead should I pitch? As early as you can. For seasonal stories or a specific event, a few months ahead gives the publisher and editor time to plan.

Who writes City Lifestyle stories? Each City Lifestyle magazine has its own local editor, and many work with a group of local writers. The people writing the stories live in or near the community they cover. A corporate editorial team supports those editors, but it does not write the articles.

Is a feature guaranteed if I pitch? No. Each magazine's publisher and editor choose the stories that fit their community and their upcoming issues. A strong, local, timely pitch gives you the best chance.

What if my town does not have a City Lifestyle? New markets launch every month. Check citylifestyle.com/magazines for the current list.