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Making Success Pitches
Matthew Simon, KTUU-TV Channel 2 NewsTo Overworked Journalists
Overworked?What’s Our Day Like?
9:30-6:30: 8 hours to put together a stellar story
9:30-10:30: Assignment meeting
10:30-3:00: 4.5 hours to: set story up, travel to story, gather elements (shoot the story), social (Facebook & Twitter,) get a web version done, transcribe & write
Yes, I do write all of my own stories
5pm Story due for editing by 3:00
6pm Story due for editing by 4:15
And one more thing…
Multi Media Journalist
Your Pitch…
Take Away…
How to create better, more effective press releases
Learn WIFM
Make your folks look great
The Press Release
Please, please don’t call to ask if we got your release – we did
The key: ONE page press releases
KISS: Keep It Simple – Too many details hurt the cause
If we want more information – we’ll call you
Timing of event: Keep our deadlines in mind
10 AM has a much better chance of getting covered & will be a better story
The Press Release
Make sure we get it with plenty of notice
Events take logistical planning; ie: getting mics set up
If we get a release right before something happens, chances are you wont be covered
Except if it’s BREAKING NEWS
Make sure all people involved with your event have been cleared to be on TV…Including owners of venue
The Secret: Think Like A Reporter
Not just pitching to the reporter: but producers and a whole management team
They want a great, visual, teaseable story
They want to know how it will look, sound and feel on TV
They want us to be able to successfully pitch that in one to two sentences
In other words, they want a WIMF
What’s In It For Me?Emotional Connection- How will this story impact an Alaskan’s life
Cost – not just financial, long term consequences, health effects, could this happen to someone I love
Personal Safety – people want to feel safe- help us quantify crime stories
Characters- compelling people tell stories- officials don’t. good story telling focuses on feelings.
Location – where event takes place
Impact On Key Demographic- find out who’s watching what shows on our channel…how they can relate to the stories we tell
Emotional Connection
Location, Location
What We Need From YouPlease respond quickly – or be honest that you can’t
Call back when you say you will
We will go on TV and say you’re not respond – believe it or not responsible journalist do not like doing this
If you’re in town, put someone on TV, not the phone
When not to pitch: know when TV Newscasts are on
Give us people who can talk in real people talk
Don’t show favoritism, (except the reporter)
Once you give us an idea – we’ll chose the angle
Call us out on mistakes (Steve MacDonald)
Making Success Pitches
Matthew Simon, KTUU-TV Channel 2 NewsTo Overworked Journalists