The Role Your “Story” Plays in Your Media Pitch
There are many components of a successful media pitch. One of the most important parts of your pitch isn’t how well you butter up the media representative; rather, it’s the story that you’re pitching. So, let’s take a look at the role that your story actually plays when you’re writing your pitch.
What is your Story?
The story part of your media pitch is just that; it’s the story that you’re proposing a journalist write about. So, any good story has to have some key components, right? A story has to have a beginning, middle, and an end. That means that a story idea about a weight loss drug really isn’t a story. But a story about a weight loss drug that has helped hundreds of people reverse diabetes is. Why? Because there is a beginning, diabetes and the need to lose weight; the middle, which is the weight loss process and how the drug works; and the end, which are the results.
Stories also generally have to have some type of emotional element. We make decisions based on our emotions. Those decisions range from buying decisions to decisions about what to read. Journalists know this, and they know that even if they’re talking about balancing your checkbook, it should have some degree of emotional involvement. If your emotions aren’t involved or triggered, then you won’t care and you won’t read the story.
Your story also has to be consistent with your business brand, products, or services. It must be connected to you and part of who you are and what you have to offer.
The Role It Plays
Your story plays the most important role. You can mess up the entire rest of your pitch, and maybe even misspell the reporter’s name, but if your story idea is a terrific one, then my friend you stand a chance. So, your story is pivotal to your success, as is your understanding of what makes a story. Additionally, consider that what may be a terrific story idea to one journalist may not be interesting to another. This is why it is imperative that you research your media representatives before you send them a pitch.
Read what they write. Read who they write for and make sure that your story idea fits their audience and niche. Then, write a great pitch with all of the trimmings, including an introduction that talks about who you are and what you know about the journalist. Your pitch should very quickly talk about your story idea, as well as why it’s valuable for the journalist’s audience. Conclude with information on how they can contact you and access more information.
Practice writing your pitch before you send it. Make sure it is succinct and to the point. Make sure your story idea takes center stage and make sure it’s a good idea. The rest will take care of itself.
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