I asked several local reporters and producers what makes one press release or pitch stand out above the rest. Click through the slideshow to hear darn good advice from the horses’ mouths on how to get (your business or story) noticed. Happy pitching. *Names and media affiliations are not being disclosed because I would never disclose a source. Come on, I work for the dark side now! Graphics by Emily Hsiao View the article that accompanies this slideshow here: http://www.barnettcox.com/hot-or-not-local-reporters-weigh-in-on-what-really-makes-your-pitch-stand-out

1. OT
H
OR
NOT!
LOCAL REPORTERS WEIGH IN ON WHAT
REALLY MAKES YOUR PRESS RELEASE STAND OUT

2. HOT NOT!
OR
HOW MANY PRESS RELEASES
DO YOU RECEIVE A DAY?
“ABOUT 10 LOCAL RELEASES,
AND I COVER ONE STORY A DAY.”
– SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED REPORTER
“USEFUL? MAYBE 15.
ONES THAT GO STRAIGHT
TO THE CAN? INFINITE.”
– SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY TV NEWS PRODUCER
NOT!

3. IF SOMEONE PITCHES A STORY TO YOU, SHOULD THEY
EXPECT A RESPONSE, AND SHOULD THEY FOLLOW UP?
NOT
HOT
NOT
“DON’T CALL ME. I’LL CALL YOU.
YES, THAT APPLIES TO EMAIL!”
– SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY-BASED REPORTER
“I DO NOT LIKE A FOLLOW UP PHONE CALL,
BUT I DO LIKE A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL THE NIGHT
BEFORE OR MORNING OF THE DAY OF AN EVENT.”
– SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED REPORTER
“A PRESS RELEASE IS FINE. IN FACT, I HATE
WHEN PEOPLE CALL TO ASK IF WE GOT IT!”
– SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY TV NEWS PRODUCER

4. HOT
OR
NOT!
SO HOW DOES ONE COME
OUT ON TOP?
“PEOPLE TRY TO BE REALLY CREATIVE BUT REPORTERS ARE STRETCHED
THIN THESE DAYS AND WE JUST DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO DECIPHER
WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO TELL US. KEEP IT SIMPLE.”
– SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED TV REPORTER
“PLEASE INCLUDE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY. I ALSO LIKE IT IF
THEY LET US KNOW HOW THIS STORY WOULD BE GOOD FOR TV, LIKE
WHY IT’S VISUALLY COMPELLING.”
– SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED TV REPORTER
“SHORT. SWEET. TO THE POINT. JUST SAY WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN,
WHY. ANYTHING ELSE – I WON’T READ IT. AND SEND PICTURES!”
– SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY-BASED TV NEWS PRODUCER

5. AND WHAT ARE YOUR PET PEEVES? ANYTHING
THAT PUTS SOMEONE ON THE ‘NOT’ LIST?
“PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PITCH INCLUDES WHEN AND WHERE. IT ALSO NEEDS TO
CONTAIN A CONTACT CELL NUMBER FOR SOMEONE REGARDING THE PRESS RELEASE.
MOST ANNOYING THING IS GETTING AN OFFICE VOICEMAIL, WHEN YOU JUST NEED A
QUICK QUESTION ANSWERED REGARDING THE PRESS RELEASE.”
– SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED REPORTER
“IF YOU SEND A PRESS RELEASE, BE READY TO DO THE STORY! IT IS SO ANNOYING
WHEN SOMEONE SENDS A PRESS RELEASE BUT THEN IS UNAVAILABLE TO TALK TO
YOU, TELL YOU MORE, OR DO AN ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW.”
– SANTA BARBARA COUNTY-BASED TV REPORTER
“IT SEEMS SO STRAIGHTFORWARD BUT YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE HOW MANY PRESS
RELEASES DO NOT INCLUDE WHEN OR WHERE AN EVENT IS TAKING PLACE.”
– SAN LUIS OBISPO-BASED TV NEWS PRODUCER