It can be a hell of a struggle to keep coming up with fresh article ideas, especially if you’re a freelance writer managing multiple clients.

That’s why KnowGoodWords is very excited to offer Pitched-Your-Way.

In addition to article ideas with fresh angles, this resource will offer:

• Pre-compiled lists for your slideshows, listicles and articles.
• Highlights from major legislation and reports
• Lists of resources for hot topics
• Collections of quotes from press conferences, speeches, etc.
• Trends that aren’t yet trending

Writers, editors and other fellows in the content world, Pitched-Your-Way reduces the footwork so you can get your content out faster.

The concept is simple:

Cut the research, cut your turnaround time

Normally, you’ll find the latest on the Pitched-Your-Way page. You will be able to find it on the menu at the top of the page (coming soon). There will also be a link on the resources page.

Sign up in the Direct Connect box on the right and you’ll be the first know about releases.

So, without further ado, here’s what a batch of article ideas looks like:

Coronavirus is in the food chain…

A Sanderson Farms’ employee tested positive for Covid-19. And ShopRite has workers who tested positive at four stores.

Golden Corral “was forced” to shut down 35 company-operated restaurants as a result of COVID-19.

• What did the companies do about it?
• Will the workers get paid?
• How prevalent is infection in the food chain?
• Supposedly, there’s little to no risk of transmitting the coronavirus on food. Really? Is that conclusion backed by science? If so I’d like to hear about it and your readers probably would too.

• The CDC claims “currently there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19.”(March 17) Is no positive evidence enough to reach a conclusion?
• And what’s being done to get evidence?

Want A Different Type of Food Story?

How about a little court action?

McDonald’s is being sued for claiming its ice cream has “natural flavor” but it allegedly comes from non-vanilla sources.

McDonald’s settled the lawsuit claiming it overcharged for $1 menu items.

A lawsuit against P.F. Chang’s was dismissed. The plaintiff claimed the company’s use of imitation crab in its “Krab” products was a bait and switch tactic.

JFC International is being sued by two people claiming its Hapi Wasabi Coated Peas don’t contain wasabi.

Frito-Lay North America faces a lawsuit for not clearly disclosing there’s artificial flavoring in its Ruffles cheddar and sour cream potato chips.

Tropicana is facing a federal lawsuit for failing to disclose artificial flavors in juice drinks.

Looks like people don’t like it when folks don’t keep it real, so bring them the news.

What bright ideas have companies come up with in response to the coronavirus?

iFresh, an Asian-American grocery company, is like why buy masks when you can buy a mask company? So, it’s taking a majority stake in Xiamen DL Medical Technology Co.

Bolthouse Farms instituted a 30-minute gap between shifts to discourage mingling.

Canadian retailers Loblaw, Metro, and Empire will install plexiglass screens at checkout counters and some are using social distancing indicators on the ground or floor. Albertsons already has.

PepsiCo is offering free COVID-19 testing, a “Crisis Care” reimbursement of $100 a day for child care, and access to specially trained mental health professionals.

Farmers’ markets are testing drive-thrus and online ordering.

Canadian businesses were refusing cash at checkouts, drawing rebuke from the Bank of Canada. Second Cup was one of the businesses that said no thanks to paper money.

Over in the UK, Sainsbury didn’t say no to cash but said it prefers cards now.

Hmmm, will the coronavirus have a long-term impact on payment methods? Are people opening more accounts to get cards? That could be article-worthy.

Unemployment is soaring while companies are offering thousands upon thousands of jobs

Here’s the meat for a slideshow or listicle:

• Dollar General wants to add up to 50,000 workers by the end of April.
• Publix aims to hire thousands of workers for stores and distribution centers by the end of March.
• Papa John’s is hiring up to 20,000 restaurant team members.
• 7-Eleven expects to hire up to 20,000 store employees in the near future.
• PepsiCo will hire 6,000 people in the coming months.
• Shipt is hiring thousands of shoppers in six cities.
• Domino’s plans to hire 10,000 workers.
• Kroger already hired over 2,000 people and has another 10,000 positions open.
• Raley’s is “mass hiring” personal shoppers.
• Farmstead is “hiring rapidly” and expects its staff to double this month.
• CVS Health is hiring 50,000 workers.
• Walgreens is aiming to add 9,500 employees, including pharmacy technicians.
• Costco may add up to 2,000 jobs in Southern California.
• Instacart is trying to add 300,000 workers.
• Safeway is hiring over 2,000 workers in northern California. Its parent, Albertsons Companies, is trying to hire 30,000 workers overall.
• Amazon is hiring 100,000 workers across the U.S.

Need a few unemployment stats too? Here you go:

• First-time unemployment benefits increased sharply.
• Unemployment could hit 30% in the second quarter.
• Goldman Sachs projected that 2.25 million Americans filed their first week of unemployment benefits.

There a lot of raises and bonuses going around…

And here’s the meat for that…

• • JB Hunt is providing a $500 bonus for drivers, field operations personnel and staff in customer facilities.
  • Cargill will pay U.S. and Canadian slaughterhouse workers a $2 premium and a $500 a week bonus.
  • Target increased wages by $2 an hour for store and distribution workers and will pay bonuses ranging from $250 to $1,500.
  • PepsiCo increased benefits and is offering at least $100 per week for full-time employees over the next month.
  • Walmart will pay part-time workers $150 bonus and full-time workers $300 bonus and accelerate the payout of its quarterly bonus.
  • Wakefern Food added a $2 an hour wage premium.
  • Fred Meyer will follow suit providing a $150 bonus for part-timers and $300 for full-timers on the front line.
  • Kroger will also issue a $150 bonus to part-time workers and $300 to full-time workers.
  • Natural Grocers increased workers’ pay by $1 per hour and is paying discretionary bonuses.
  • Amazon hiked pay by $2 per hour in the US and Canada and increased pay in the UK and some EU countries.
  • CVS Health is offering bonuses up to $500.
  • Loblaw is paying an $2 more per hour.
  • Metro hiked its pay by $2 an hour retroactive to March 8.
  • Empire is offering “hero pay” of an additional $50 a week plus a $2 an hour premium after 20 hours in a week.
  • Rite Aid is providing “hero pay” at a rate of $2 an hour.
  • Maple Leaf Foods is paying an $80 a week bonus.
  • Walgreens will pay its part-time employees a $150 bonus and full-time workers $300.

By the way…

Is it a coincidence that so many retailers chose the $150 / $300 bonus rates? Where did those figures come from?

Still looking for article ideas?

• Pakistan is being RAVAGED by locusts. The government declared a state of emergency, and the plague is threatening the food supply, but no one is really writing about it.
• And if you write for the Onion.com or anything like it…there were reports China was sending an army of ducks to wage war on the locusts. Apparently, that was fake news.
• The IFDA and FMI-Food Industry Association created a program that connects foodservice distributors that have excess capacity (products, transportation services, warehousing services) with food retailers and wholesalers that require additional resources.
• Bacardi brands pledged $4 million to help bars and restaurants impacted by the coronavirus.
• Hospitality company sbe launched Sam’s Crispy Chicken, a ghost kitchen chain.
• Beware of the keto-flu. Haven’t heard of it? Your readers probably haven’t either. Here’s another link.

Until next time…!!

Oh, and you know how it goes…if there’s something you want to see, drop a message in the comments, use the contact form or send a message on Instagram.