Pitching News Stories

Presented byBrett 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…

Research

• Research before you pitch your story idea• Is this really a new idea? • What make it news? • Why will a journalist or the public care?• 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• 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 or reporter 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

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