In response to the below, I've heard from so many freelance writers who are really struggling at the moment when it comes to pitches/not hearing back. I was trying my best to come up with some advice or some sort of solution and realised that, actually, it's not in their control. https://twitter.com/CateSevilla/status/1248214871935799298

As someone who has been the editor of a publication going through huge financial issues (in a very public way) – I have learned a thing or two about how best to deal with suppliers and freelancers during a turbulent/risky financial crisis...

My biggest advice to other editors, managers and leadership figures who are trying to navigate this really scary/risky situation with their freelancers and 3rd party suppliers (and employees) is this: BE AS HONEST, TRANSPARENT AND AS KIND AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

If you're not accepting pitches, SAY SO. Put an autoresponder on your email if you need to. Don't let freelancers just guess if you're accepting pitches. And if you're overwhelmed and you're unable to respond for weeks at a time, tell them this.

If you're only after certain stories from certain people, and it's more of a "don't call us, we'll call you" situation, you can say so! Let your freelancers/regular contributors know that you're limited with commissions right now and aren't taking pitches.

If you're likely to cancel stuff last minute because things are really busy/uncertain and you might start having to pull stuff, either offer a kill fee or make it clear that things might change quickly and you can't pay them if you pull a piece. Be honest about it.

When people are losing their jobs (and you might be losing yours) as a manager, it's fucking terrifying. It's stressful. But absolutely nothing good comes from withholding information, saying "it'll all work out!" or sticking your head in the sand.

If you don't tell people things, their anxiety will take over and they will fill in the blanks, which can lead to some really shit situations/stress. If you don't know what's going on, tell them them that.

Even if you need to a cry a bit, you can just say, "I am so sorry, but honestly we just don't know what's going to happen and we're taking it day-by-day." That is so much better than saying EVERYTHING IS FINE! and then suddenly telling them the exact opposite 12 hours later.

All of this is to say...freelancers, there is no quick fix to dealing with the uncertainty of what's going on right now, There's only so much you can control. There are only so many chasing emails you can send, only so many calls you can make.

But what will help MASSIVELY is if managers/editors are being as communicative, clear, fair and honest as possible with what they're commissioning or not commissioning at the moment.

I just want to stress that I know (all too well) that blind panic of realising that your publication/company is in serious financial trouble, and the feeling of knowing SO MANY PEOPLE will be absolutely furious/devastated by the news you have to give them if things don't work out

Being transparent/honest/kind in times of great stress, when your own anxiety is sky high isn't easy. It's a really vulnerable thing to do, but I think that vulnerability is a huge part of what leadership actually is, especially at the moment.