Eagles Care Summit 2015 Team Up! Media Pitching & Storytelling

Structuring Your Story Idea Things to ask yourself: –What’s going on in the world today? –What’s the bigger issue my story/event touches? –Is it timely? –What is the local angle? Strategic Tip: Build a timeline of key national holidays/special monthly celebrations that touch your organization’s mission and time pitches/events for these key times of year.

Delivering Your Message How can I concisely and clearly explain why my story idea is a winner? –TV: think visually; what’s my soundbite? –Radio: think of natural sound; what’s my soundbite (quick); what’s conversational (longer form) –Who are the interviewees – are they ready to deliver the message for the format?

Doing Your Homework Know your target before you pitch: –Understand their job/their work day Ex. TV morning meeting around 9:30am; don’t pitch print after 2pm (deadline time); weekend desks –Reference their work and how it touches your story idea. –Follow them on Twitter (it can be a good look inside their personality; interests) –Practice … practice … practice

Become a Resource Find ways of positioning your organization’s leadership as experts on key issues in the news. Follow media on Twitter and perhaps they will follow you; make your tweets count. Consider repurposing story pitches as op- eds, blogs, tweets etc.

Let’s Practice! Who has a story idea?