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Another title for
this page might be
"How to pitch a
story" about your
event or project.
Either way, consider
putting the following
into practice.
If
you’re hosting a huge
event, or have a
great idea you’d like
to promote to your
community, the best
way to accomplish
this is by contacting
your local newspaper.
But before you do
that here are a few
things to review:
Is your story
really
newsworthy? In
other words, does
it fit with current
trends or news and
can other people
relate to it?
Have you rehearsed
your conversation
and taken notes?
Newsrooms can be
pretty hectic
places — real fast
paced, therefore
you might not have
a lot of time to
chat.
Make sure the paper
you’ve selected is
a good fit for your
idea.
Social butterfly
It’s
always best to build
a relationship with
the news editor or
features editor prior
to pitching your
idea. You’re sure to
be more comfortable
convincing someone of
your idea if you know
them.
Big ideas
Hopefully you’ve
become an expert at
networking and even
better at researching
and fully understood
the newspaper of
choice. In the past
have you seen stories
like the one you’re
trying to pitch? If
so, good deal; try to
make your idea even
better, and since you
know the editor –
right, you’ll have a
better understanding
of their concept for
story ideas or at
least have a better
change of changing
his or her mind. Try
spending no longer
than 30-seconds
pitching your story
over the phone. Sound
impossible? Well,
practice makes
perfect.
A
30-second pitch
sounds something like
this:
"Good afternoon
Trish, this is Kelly
Jackson calling to
suggest a story idea.
Is this a good time?
"Trish, I know you
cover the community
here in Fort Wayne. I
am part of Women of
the ELCA at Trinity
English Lutheran
Church. We are expecting
nearly 500
participants at this
years Pet Blessing
Ceremony and at least
one-third of those pets
were adopted from
Hurricane Katrina
evacuation efforts by
our local Humane
Society. Your readers
might want to know
about this in case
they want their pets
blessed during this
joyous occasion."
Big flop
OK.
So, it seemed like a
big idea to you, but
the news editor
doesn’t think so. Do
you give up there?
No. Try a different
angle. Is this a
photo opportunity for
the paper? Isn’t
Mayor Tate coming
with his dog Patches?
Maybe then the paper
will at least send a
photographer, if not
a reporter to cover
the entire event. Oh,
you invited the Mayor
— right? Don’t make
up things to entice
the editor and try to
back track. It might
blow up into a huge
mess and remember,
your reputation is on
the line, Ms. PR.
Not me
Try
not to give up at
your first rejection;
refuel, and try
again. If all else
fails at least have
it posted on the
paper’s community
calendar. Follow up
your call with a news
release.
If
you’ve given up on
this idea of becoming
a public relations
consultant, try
posting a search in
your church’s
announcements seeking
a volunteer or
college student. You
might get lucky with
free press and
services.
Questions? Contact
Ceciley Boykin at
800-638-3522, ext.
2744, or by e-mail:
Ceciley.Boykin@elca.org |
