media camp 2: how to pitch a story idea to a reporter
TRANSCRIPT
How to Pitch a Story
Media relations summer camp2015
Email your pitch
90.7% of reporters prefer pitches by email.
Less than 10% prefer phone.2.7% prefer social media.
Vocus State of the Media Report 2014
One email per reporter.One email per newsroom.
You have about 30 seconds to make your pitch.
• Subject line is your headline.
Treat the subject line like your headline.One screen. No scrolling.
No attachments. Links okay.Make your point with bullets.Don’t write the story yourself.
WSICPoster child
One sentence bio + contact infoWhen to interviewWhere to interview
About you – one sentence boilerplate
Email 3-4 business days before
your event.Never the day of
or hour before.
Be available on weekends.
From: Robb, JaySent: May 1, 2015 9:06 AMTo: [email protected]: A pretty cool Mohawk prof wins North America award for online learning
Emma:
Prof Shaun Iles just won a North American award for online learning excellence. He's one of four educators and the only prof from a community college.
Shaun was a high school drop-out working at Limeridge Mall. He went back to school at Mohawk and then on to Mac and I believe U of T. He's now seen as a leader in developing online courses. His Mohawk course is on sustainability and there's been a marked increase in student retention and higher grades. Shaun's invited to conferences around the world to talk about the work he's doing.
A great guy who we'd really like to clone at Mohawk. Here's more on the award:http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/05/prweb12689306.htm
Shaun's at: @sustainprof on Twitter, (905) 575-1212 ext. 3984 [email protected]
From: Robb, JaySent: June 4, 2015 2:12 PMTo: Carla Ammerata; MacIntyre, NicoleSubject: Mom, daughter graduating from Mohawk next week Carla and Nicole:
Mohawk's Convocation ceremonies are next week. We have approx. 5,000 students graduating.
We have a mother and daughter graduating. Mom returned to school after being in a serious car accident. She'll be completing her fifth diploma / certificate at Mohawk with honours in all 5 programs. She also volunteers with the Mohawk Student's Association and the college's Student Engagement Office - does campus tours for new students and helps at college events and serves as a class rep and tutor.
The mom persuaded her daughter, son and partner to go to Mohawk as well. At one point, they were all at Mohawk and studying in their living room.
Mom is Tammy Cox, 46. Cell is 289 xxx xxxx. Grade average is 89. Graduating June 10 from the Paralegal program.
Daughter is Victoria Ligaj, 20. Graduating June 11 from Recreation and Leisure.
Below's my email exchange with Tammy for more background info....
Cheers,