A few years ago at Anime Expo, I attended a panel on breaking into anime journalism featuring editors and publishers from some of the biggest names in anime media. Honestly, I thought we had posted it but I can’t find copies so… I guess the notes somehow disappeared into my drafts folder and stayed there until now—so apologies for the delay to everyone!
I’ll be posting a few more in the coming week/weeks as we try to clear our old drafts. That said, the advice remains surprisingly still relevant for anyone interested in anime news, reviews, features, or industry writing! Anyway, here goes!
The panel included (according to my notes):
- Nicholas Friedman – (Then) Editor-in-Chief of English editorial at Crunchyroll
- Lynzee Loveridge – (Then) Executive Editor at Anime News Network
- Christopher Macdonald – (Then) Publisher of Anime News Network
One recurring message across the panel: write first, figure the rest out later.
(Author Note: Having worked, briefly, with news organizations as a student and then again professionally later–this advice is still very relevant. It’s important to get used to writing and trends for this particular industry and that’s way many journalism students are often “put to work” in student news papers, asked to make blogs or content, and so on rather than just writing for their classes. Okay, back to the notes…)
There Is No Single Path Into Anime Journalism
Many attendees wanted to know the “correct” route into anime journalism: journalism degree? Japanese fluency? Industry connections?
The answer was: it depends.
For traditional news work—especially coverage dealing directly with Japanese sources—journalism training and language fluency remain highly valuable. For example, the panel noted that ANN news positions often benefit from journalism backgrounds and Japanese-language ability because so much anime news originates directly from Japan.
However, editorial and feature work can come from almost anywhere.
Crunchyroll highlights a wide range of contributors and perspectives, including niche feature writing and personal-interest angles. One example mentioned was writing something like “A Mom’s Guide to Anime,” showing that unique viewpoints can matter just as much as technical expertise. Sometimes the perspective is the story.
Anime journalism is not only news reporting as well, though that maybe what comes to mind for many outside the industry to think is the case. It includes:
- Reviews
- Features and opinion pieces
- Convention reporting
- Industry interviews
- Social media coverage
- Editorial writing
- Cultural analysis
- Listicles as well!
The strongest advice from the panel was simple: Write.
Constantly, consistently, and, from that, build a portfolio before you really need one.
If you want to break into anime media, start producing work now.
Portfolio pieces matter more than waiting for the perfect opportunity. Editors want to see clips, samples, pitches, and evidence that you can finish projects.
For feature writers and reviewers, the workflow described for Crunchyroll looked something like this:
Pitch → Write → Submit Draft → Editing (1–2 rounds) → Publish
Turnaround varied widely:
- News coverage could happen within minutes
- Features might take weeks or even months
It truly depends on the piece.
Review opportunities often favored newer series, since timeliness matters.
In discussing content, it is important to also consider the realities of anime news right now: Aggregation and Original Reporting
One particularly interesting statistic discussed was the balance between aggregation and original reporting. The estimate given was roughly:
90% aggregated news / 10% original reporting
Anime journalism often involves collecting, translating, contextualizing, and synthesizing information from official announcements, Japanese publications, events, and industry sources. News frequently comes from:
- Japanese announcements
- Industry events and conventions
- Press releases
- Official social media
- Publisher updates
Original reporting still matters—but aggregation remains a major part of the ecosystem in the West.
(Author Note: AI was not widely discussed at this panel, but is generally not well received in writing communities–so keep that in mind.)
With that said… What are Editors looking for when hiring a new journalist?
Questions about resumes came up repeatedly. Panelists discussed different application elements including:
- Degrees (especially journalism for news work)
- Relevant experience
- Language skills
- Writing clips
- Cover letters explaining why you want to work there
The recommendation was to communicate experience clearly and over-explain rather than under-explain on resumes.
For ANN specifically, applicants were encouraged to explain:
- Why ANN?
- What experience do you bring?
- What have you written?
- Relevant education or specialization
Another point that stood out: be amicable and professional in pitches. Editors are reading a lot of submissions. A clear pitch and a collaborative attitude go a long way!
That said, don’t be discouraged if you don’t receive a callback. Even strong resumes may not lead to an immediate response—or any response for a while (maybe ever). You can always apply again or follow up later. In the meantime, continue building experience and exploring new opportunities. The estimate mentioned for hiring was only about four to five hires a year in some areas. Openings are limited, and so it can be difficult to find placement in the traditional publishing sphere of anime journalism.
Places to Read and Learn the Field
The panel also pointed toward anime and pop-culture outlets worth following to understand different editorial voices and approaches:
Studying different publication styles can help aspiring writers understand voice, structure, audience, and editorial priorities!
Final Advice: Keep Writing
The best thing you can do is the same advice the panel returned to again and again:
Write. Build clips. Pitch ideas. Keep publishing.
The industry may be small, but portfolios grow one article at a time!
Other Helpful Links:
- News Terms
- On Writing Articles (Tips, but not a definitive guide)
- How to Interview “Almost” Anyone | Mike Dronkers | TEDxHumboldtBay
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