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Many fiction writers choose journalism for the profession of their main character.
After all, journalists make good narrators, and they are often where the action is.
Below are a few of my favorite fictional journalists, who inspire me with their talent, wit and sense of adventure—along with guidance on how to approach them with a pitch.
Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher
From the 1985 movie “Fletch.”
Everyone’s favorite undercover journalist, Fletch spars with everyone from his editor to a millionaire bigamist to a corrupt police chief to get the story. All while spewing sarcasm and wearing clever disguises.
How to pitch: When you call with your pitch, lead with, “You probably wouldn’t be interested in this story anyway.”
Lois Lane
From the “Superman” comic books, movies, and TV series. She first appeared in 1938.
A journalist for the Metropolis newspaper the Daily Planet, Lane’s work routinely makes the front page. She’s ambitious, impulsive and will do anything for a scoop.
How to pitch: Tell her you want to pitch your idea in person, and ask her to meet you someplace dangerous, such as an abandoned amusement park or the old water treatment plant.
The Lone Gunmen
From the 1990s TV show “The X-Files”
A group of three government watchdogs/computer hackers, the Lone Gunmen publish a counterculture newspaper called The Lone Gunman. One of the three (John Byers) once worked in PR for the Federal Communications Commission. Though not exactly journalists, the Lone Gunmen are thorough in their research and reach a