This document provides guidance for students on how to pitch story ideas effectively. It discusses: 1) Having students bring 3 story ideas to class and only receiving credit if their idea is unique, to avoid duplicate stories. 2) What elements make a compelling story, such as timeliness, events, profiles, and news values like prominence, proximity and impact. 3) How to effectively pitch a story idea, including developing a clear single-sentence synopsis, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the story, and being prepared for questions and potential rejection.

1. Rebecca Taylor
Siena College
Pitch Perfect
BEA IGNITE

2. Pitch Perfect
Rebecca Taylor, J.D.
Siena College
BEA, Spring 2015

3. Call for Stories
• Have each student bring 3 story ideas to class
• If anyone else has the same story, they won’t receive
credit – so have a back up

4. What makes a story?
• Think timeliness
• The difference between a story and a topic
• Events, Press Conferences, Trends, Advances, Profiles,
Look-Backs, Kickers

5. Prominence Proximity Impact
Conflict Relevance
News Values

6. Let’s Pitch …
• Develop a single-sentence synopisis
• Clarity
• Comprehensive understanding of story
• Confidence
• Prepare for rejection

7. Expect questions …
• Audio / Visual elements
• Who will you interview?
• What video can you get?
• Live Shots
• Where can reporter go live?
• Distinguish from competition
• How will story/coverage be better than competition

8. Selling Points
• Team Coverage?
• Exclusive elements
• Interview
• Live locale
• Video / pics
4/11/2015
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9. Just for freelancers …
• Pitch your story to multiple outlets
• Know your publication / outlet
• Get permission

10. Team Assignment
• Student ND conducts story meeting
• Students pitch one story at a time
• ND and others candidly evaluate story
• ND selects top 1/3 of stories for possible coverage
• Team ranks stories in order of importance
• They pit their potential rundown against other team

11. Selecting Winners
• Students and prof identify top ½ of stories among those
selected between 2 teams