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Want to know how to get your story on the news? Here are some tips from the experts.
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Find the Right Outlet
There are a number of ways to get your story on the news, but it’s important to find the right outlet for your story. If you have a local story, try pitching it to your local news station. If you have a story that would be of interest to a national audience, try pitching it to a national news outlet. There are also a number of online news sites that you can pitch your story to.
Decide what kind of story you have
You have a great story, but is it the kind of story that will interest the news media? Different media outlets cover different types of stories. To give your story the best chance of success, you need to target the right outlet with the right kind of story.
Here are some questions to help you decide what kind of story you have:
-Is it timely? A news story needs to be about something that is happening now or will happen soon.
-Is it local? The closer your story is to the audience of the media outlet, the more likely they are to be interested.
-Is it national or international? Some stories are of interest to people all over the world. These are more likely to be picked up by national or international media outlets.
-Does it affect a lot of people? The more people your story affects, the more likely it is to be of interest to the media.
-Is it controversial? Stories that make people react strongly, positively or negatively, are more likely to be picked up by the media. Be careful with this one, though – if your story is too controversial, it may not be picked up at all.
-Is it positive? In general, news stories tend to focus on problems and negative events. However, there is always room for feel-good stories as well. If your story has a positive angle, make sure to highlight that in your pitch
Find the right media outlet
The first step in promoting your story is to make a list of the media outlets that would be the best fit. To do this, you’ll need to think about what kind of story it is, who your target audience is, and which outlets reach them.
Here are some questions to get you started:
– What kind of story is it? Is it newsworthy?
– Who is your target audience?
– What kind of media do they consume?
– Which outlets reach your target audience?
Once you’ve made a list of potential outlets, the next step is to research each one to find out their guidelines for submitting stories.
Make the Pitch
You have a great story, but how do you get the news to cover it? It all starts with the pitch. The right pitch will make the news editor or reporter want to hear more about your story. Here are some tips on how to make your pitch successful.
Write a great headline
Your headline is your story’s first, and sometimes only, chance to make an impression. So don’t write it carelessly, or you may damage your chances of getting your story read by a busy editor.
Here are some tips to write headlines that will make editors sit up and take notice:
1. Start with a strong verb: “Bake sale benefits hungry children” is better than “Children benefit from bake sale.”
2. Be specific: “Bake sale benefits hungry children in Guatemala” is better than “Bake sale benefits hungry children.”
3. Use numbers when possible: “10 tips for writing great headlines” is better than “How to write great headlines.”
4. Keep it short: Aim for 8-10 words, or less if possible.
5. Make it catchy: Use puns, alliteration, or wordplay to add interest and appeal.
6. Use keyword phrases: Include relevant keywords that will help people find your story online.
Write a compelling pitch
Any good story starts with a great pitch. You need to be able to capture the attention of your intended audience, whether that’s an editor, a producer, or a reporter, in a way that makes them want to hear more. But crafting the perfect pitch can be daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. Keep the following tips in mind the next time you sit down to write a pitch.
Identify your audience
The first step is understanding who you’re pitching to and what kind of story they’re likely to be interested in. If you’re pitching to a local news outlet, for example, they’re going to be more interested in stories that are relevant to their viewers or readers. Think about what kind of stories this outlet typically covers and how your story fits into that.
Keep it short and sweet
Editors and reporters are inundated with pitches on a daily basis, so you want to make sure yours is clear and concise. Get to the point quickly and explain why your story is worth their time.
Make it personal
A generic pitch is less likely to capture someone’s attention than one that is tailored specifically to them. Take the time to do your research and find out who the decision-makers are at the outlet you’re pitching to. Then, address your pitch directly to them.
Provide key details
Your pitch should include all of the key details about your story, including who, what, when, where, and why. The more information you can provide up front, the better. But be careful not to include too much information — you don’t want your pitch to read like a news article.
Include a call to action
End your pitch with a clear call to action explaining what you hope will happen as a result of receiving coverage. Do you want the outlets you pitch to run a story on their website? Or air a segment on their TV show? Be specific about what you want and why it would be beneficial for them.
Find the right person to contact
Start by finding the right person to contact. You can look online for the news organization’s website and find the contact information for the appropriate department or reporter. If you don’t have any luck there, try searching for the journalist on social media, or look up the news organization’s main number and call to be connected to the right person.
Follow Up
You’ve seen the tips and you know the drill: write a great headline, keep it under 100 characters, focus on what’s new, be newsworthy. But, you’ve written the perfect piece and you’ve still heard crickets. Now what? It may be time to follow up.
Follow up with the outlet
After your story airs or is published, don’t forget to follow up! This is an important step, because it not only helps to ensure that your story was received and had the desired effect, but it also helps to build and maintain relationships with members of the media.
Here are a few tips on how to follow up effectively:
-Send a thank-you note: A simple thank-you note can go a long way in showing your appreciation and building goodwill. Be sure to include specific details about why you’re thankful.
-Share additional information: If you have more information that could be useful to the outlet or reporter, offer to send it along. For example, if you provided data or quotes for a story and the outlet only used a portion of what you shared, send the rest of the information along. Just be sure not to overload them with too much material.
-Offer additional resources: If you know of other experts or resources that could be helpful for future stories, put the reporter in touch with them. This will save them time and make them more likely to come to you in the future when they’re working on similar stories.
Have a backup plan
Be prepared for your story to be rejected. It happens to the best of us. In fact, it happens to almost all of us. The key is not to give up and have a backup plan.
If your story is rejected by one outlet, try another. And another. And another. It might take a while to find a home for your story, but eventually, someone will see its value.
And if all else fails, you can always self-publish.
Be Prepared for Rejection
It’s important to remember that not every story is newsworthy and that’s okay. But, if you believe in your story, don’t give up. Keep pitching it to different news outlets until you find the right fit. In the meantime, here are some tips to help you get your story on the news.
Don’t take it personally
Getting your story on the news can be a difficult feat. With so many different channels and programs, it’s hard to know where to start. But don’t despair- there are things you can do to increase your chances of getting airtime. Remember, the media is always looking for a good story, so if you have something newsworthy to share, don’t be afraid to try.
Here are some tips for getting your story on the news:
1. Do your research- find out what kind of stories the program or channel you’re targeting airs. Make sure your story fits their format and interests.
2. Pitch your story with a strong angle- make sure you have a clear and concise answer to the question “why should we care about this?” The more unique and newsworthy your story is, the better chance you have of getting airtime.
3. Be prepared for rejection- don’t take it personally if your story is not selected for airing. The media receives hundreds of pitches every day, so it’s important to stand out from the rest. Keep trying and eventually you’ll get your big break.
Keep trying
According to media experts, the best way to get your story on the news is to keep trying. While it may seem difficult, and you may face rejection, don’t give up. Keep pitching your story to different outlets until you find one that is interested.
It’s also important to be prepared for rejection. Be aware that the vast majority of pitches will be turned down by news organizations. In fact, it’s not uncommon for journalists to receive hundreds of pitches a day and only follow up on a handful of them.
If you are persistent and keep trying, eventually you will find a outlet that is interested in your story.
