Pitching News Stories JOURN 305 Brett Atwood

Specificity Flesh out the details of your pitch A general topic is not enough Example: “ College drinking” is too broad a topic Narrow it down Use a specific incident as a springboard for the topic and then dig deeper to find the angle Why is there a problem? Has the problem increased compared to last year? What is being done about it? Etc. etc. etc…

Flesh out the details of your pitch

A general topic is not enough

Example:

“ College drinking” is too broad a topic

Narrow it down

Use a specific incident as a springboard for the topic and then dig deeper to find the angle

Why is there a problem? Has the problem increased compared to last year? What is being done about it? Etc. etc. etc…

Research Research before you pitch your story idea Is this really a new idea? What make it news? How is it developing? Why does it matter readers?

Research before you pitch your story idea

Is this really a new idea?

What make it news?

How is it developing?

Why does it matter readers?

Succinctness Keep the pitch clean and focused “ Edit your thoughts” before the pitch The main point should be easily understood by the editor To some degree, you are “selling” the idea and you may only get one shot!

Keep the pitch clean and focused

“ Edit your thoughts” before the pitch

The main point should be easily understood by the editor

To some degree, you are “selling” the idea and you may only get one shot!

Think Like An Editor Put yourselves in the position of the editor you are pitching What are they looking for? What will they respond positively to? What does the readership and publisher want?

Put yourselves in the position of the editor you are pitching

What are they looking for?

What will they respond positively to?

What does the readership and publisher want?

“ Plan B” Be prepared to be challenged Have a few “alternative angles” prepared so you can save your pitch

Be prepared to be challenged

Have a few “alternative angles” prepared so you can save your pitch

What makes a good story? Substantial news value Exclusive Being first Unique angle Local angle of national story Overcoming adversity Solving a common problem Ties into a national trend

Substantial news value

Exclusive

Being first

Unique angle

Local angle of national story

Overcoming adversity

Solving a common problem

Ties into a national trend

Homework Write three “pitches” and prepare to present to class

Write three “pitches” and prepare to present to class