How to Pitch a News Story

Writing a Press Release or Calling a Reporter Takes Preparation

Aug 17, 2008

There is a proven method for getting a story idea or event considered for coverage by a local newspaper or TV station: It's all about effective communication.

Having realistic expectations and understanding how to talk to an editor, producer or news reporter is key to getting the coverage that's desired.

Making the Pitch

Editors, producers and reporters at local newspapers and TV stations are working under tight deadlines and juggling competing stories everyday. Breaking news, regular coverage of prescheduled events such as city council, and print space and airtime considerations make each day unique.

Recognize that several people and organizations are competing for news coverage or whispering ideas into reporters' ears. So before contacting local news organizations, ask the following questions:

Provide as much advance notice of upcoming events or story ideas as possible. Be prepared to make the case for why a particular story idea deserves attention. If the pitch is more complicated or politically charged than a community event, be prepared to share documents, meet with a reporter and argue for why the public needs to be presented with the story.

Write a Press Release, Then Follow-up

If trying to pitch coverage of an event, it's best to put the details into a press release that summarizes the story and answers the Who, What, When, Where and Why of potential news coverage.

As a general rule, keep a press release to one-page and include contact information at the top of the page. It's often helpful to give the release a short, simple headline that conveys the news. Use as few words as possible to get the information across quickly and effectively.

Call local news organizations, briefly tell them what the release is about and ask who the release should be addressed to. Fax or email it. If no response is received in a few days, check back by phone and ask to speak with the person the release was sent to. Be polite and prepared to quickly inquire about whether the person received the release and had news coverage plans.

When to Call a Newsroom

For news tips that are phoned in, it's always better to call before the lunch hour and avoid the late afternoon. Most reporters and editors plan out their day in the morning and are often reporting or editing a story by the afternoon.

It's best to pitch a story in the morning, during the planning stage. The closer it gets to the end of business hours, the closer that reporter or editor is to their deadline and the less likely they'll time to consider the idea.

The copyright of the article How to Pitch a News Story in Newspaper Publishing is owned by Sean Harder. Permission to republish How to Pitch a News Story in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.