The Food Section, a publication covering food industries across the American South, will stop accepting story pitches through its online form starting in September. Instead, prospective contributors will have to call a dedicated pitch hotline - a deliberate move to filter out AI-generated submissions that founder Hanna Raskin says have become a serious problem.
Raskin decided to change the pitching process after what she described as a summer "deluge" of AI-generated and AI-assisted story ideas. The increase became noticeable after the publication raised its freelance rates on July 17. Raskin estimates that roughly a quarter of recent pitches were entirely generated by AI, including proposals where neither the supposed writer nor the suggested story appeared to exist.
The volume of questionable pitches began affecting how she assessed genuine writers. Raskin told Nieman Lab that she found herself more likely to dismiss pitches from writers without established portfolios or connections to journalists she already knew. That creates a serious problem for a publication that wants to discover new voices and give opportunities to emerging reporters.
A phone call as a filter
The new system adds a distinctly human element to the process. The Food Section will operate a dedicated pitch hotline during designated hours, while Raskin will coordinate with journalists to take calls at times that suit them.
There is an obvious limitation: AI may eventually find a way around the phone system too. "I'm not a fool," Raskin said, acknowledging that she expects an AI-assisted workaround will eventually emerge. But for now, she believes the added friction will make a difference.
The move raises questions about who gets access to journalism. Requiring prospective contributors to call an editor could be difficult for freelancers with hourly jobs, inflexible schedules, or other obligations. Raskin said she was conscious of that concern and planned to accommodate writers where possible.
For writers navigating these changes, resources like AI for Writers can help clarify how automated tools are reshaping editorial workflows. More structured training, such as AI for Technical Writers, covers how to use these tools without crossing the lines editors are now policing.
A wider industry problem
The decision comes amid broader concerns about AI-generated material flooding newsrooms. Last year, Wired and Business Insider retracted stories attributed to an alleged AI-assisted freelancer using the name "Margaux Blanchard." More recently, Futurism reported that public relations firms were using AI to generate pitches and contact journalists at scale.
For editors, the problem is increasingly not simply identifying bad writing. AI can produce pitches that are polished, targeted, and apparently tailored to a publication's interests. The harder question is whether there is a real reporter, a real reporting plan, and an original idea behind them.
Why this matters for writers
If you pitch editors, the bar for proving you are a real person with a real idea just went up. A polished email is no longer enough - editors are becoming skeptical of pitches that arrive with no prior connection or verifiable portfolio. The practical takeaway: build relationships before you pitch, be prepared to talk through your idea on the phone, and expect editors to verify that you exist and can do the work. The Food Section's approach may be unusual now, but it signals where trust in digital pitches is heading.
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