You can be a source without a fancy title

You can be a source without a fancy title

Many beginners assume reporters only want CEOs and PhDs. Not true. Reporters constantly need "real people" sources — folks with hands-on experience, not just credentials. Think of it like a cooking show that needs a home cook, not only chefs.

Three kinds of experience that count:

1. Lived experience. You paid off debt, ran a marathon, switched careers. You did the thing.
2. Frontline work. You're a barista, a nurse, a delivery driver who sees patterns others don't.
3. Hobby depth. You've kept bees for ten years, even if it's not your job.

Reporters love these because they make a story feel human and true. Your everyday knowledge is a resource, not a consolation prize.

Try this today: list three things you've actually done or do daily that someone might want to read about. Each one is a topic you can pitch on with full honesty and zero impostor feeling.