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 story9:30-10:30: Assignment meeting10:30-3:00: 4.5 hours to: set story up, travel to story, gather elements (shoot the story), social (Facebook & Twitter,) get a web version done, transcribe & writeYes, I do write all of my own stories5pm Story due for editing by 3:006pm 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 releasesLearn WIFMMake your folks look great

The Press ReleasePlease, please don’t call to ask if we got your release – we didThe key: ONE page press releasesKISS: Keep It Simple – Too many details hurt the causeIf we want more information – we’ll call youTiming of event: Keep our deadlines in mind 10 AM has a much better chance of getting covered & will be a better story

The Press ReleaseMake sure we get it with plenty of noticeEvents take logistical planning; ie: getting mics set upIf we get a release right before something happens, chances are you wont be coveredExcept if it’s BREAKING NEWSMake 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 teamThey want a great, visual, teaseable storyThey want to know how it will look, sound and feel on TVThey 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 lifeCost – 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 storiesCharacters- compelling people tell stories- officials don’t. good story telling focuses on feelings. Location – where event takes placeImpact 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’tCall back when you say you willWe will go on TV and say you’re not respond – believe it or not responsible journalist do not like doing thisIf you’re in town, put someone on TV, not the phoneWhen not to pitch: know when TV Newscasts are onGive us people who can talk in real people talkDon’t show favoritism, (except the reporter)Once you give us an idea – we’ll chose the angleCall us out on mistakes (Steve MacDonald)

Making Success Pitches

Matthew Simon, KTUU-TV Channel 2 NewsTo Overworked Journalists