How to Pitch a Story

• A. Before you pitch, prepare
  • Develop a hook for this audience.
  • Hone your main message and submessages.
  • Identify the most likely questions and prepare answers.
  • Pull together background information and sources for additional detail.

• B. Timing matters
  • Always respect reporter's deadlines.
  • Ask people for the best times to pitch to them.
  • Don’t bug TV staff within 2 hours of air time UNLESS it’s breaking news.
  • Try to reach newspaper reporters soon after their daily planning meeting (midmorning, around 10:30, is usually a good time).
  • Send news releases as early in the day as possible.
  • Send releases Tuesdays – Thursdays (never on a weekend) unless it’s breaking news.
  • If possible, pitch for slow news days (Saturdays and Sundays for electronic media).
  • Avoid busy periods (beginning of school year, holidays) if possible.
  • Aim for the drive-time audience (the biggest) for radio.
  • Aim for your story to air on a day when the radio station offers give-aways, it will have larger audience.