The landscape of daily newspapers has changed over the past several years. Heck, even over the past several months! There is no doubt it is a media platform that has changed, shifted and even gotten smaller BUT it is still around. I don’t think it is going anywhere.
That being said, it is more challenging than ever get yourself and your business into the pages of the newspapers, especially when it comes to national newspapers. Like all media, I suggest it is best to work your way up the media ladder. Start your plans with small market media and that goes for newspapers.
Start local and work your way up to the big national newspapers!
So, here are a few tips to help you master your next pitch to a newspaper journalist.
NEWSPAPER
- Look for specific beat reporters that fit your story and audience. You want to get specific. You don’t want to pitch the health reporter if your story is all about technology. Don’t waste their time! You want to tailor your story hook or angle to fit the specific reporter who covers the specific Fit the story angle to the specific reporter that covers that kind of story.
- Don’t pitch the editor in chief or the executive editor. These people are high up the food chain and don’t usually have much to do with the day to day story choices. If you want to pitch an editor look for the section editors, like Style, Business or Features.
- Get familiar with the entire staff directory. Remeber, a story can always be tweaked and pitched again, to multiple reporters. If you have a story about a healthy focused app, maybe it’s an app to help you manage your health and fitness through fitness and calorie tracking, you could pitch it to the health reporter. You could also pitch this story to the technology reporter with a few tweaks making sure it has a stronger focus on technology rather than health. It could also be a story for the lifestyle section. It could also fit with the business section too! Remember, don’t forget to reach out to your local newspaper because they always love to feature the successes of people in the community. Each story angle would be changed to fit the story to THEIR area of interest, but you can move the story to another beat reporter if your first pitch doesn’t land a placement or if they already ran something on your client/employer. You want to make sure you are aware of all the reporters from each publication that might be a good fit for your pitch!
- Go Local. Again, local newspapers love to feature people in their own communities doing good work and having success. Don’t forget to reach out to your local newspaper reporter.
- Share your opinions. Thinking about writing a letter to the editor or opinion piece for your local newspaper? Those should only go to the editorial page editor/reporter or the opinions editor only. This is one way to get your name and business in the newspaper. It could be the start of a regular column in your local paper!
Remember, newspapers are like all other media outlets.
- Story is king!
- Always send targeted, personalized pitches
- Always read several issues of the newspaper to get a real sense of the content that they expect and deliver to their audience.
- Always read several different articles written by the reporter you are looking to pitch in order to get a good feel for the content they report on and what they will expect from you and your pitch
- Follow these key newspaper reporters and editors on Twitter
- Always pitch from the perspective of being of service to the audience
- Write solid, clear and concise email pitches
- Write short, to the point subject lines so the reporter knows exactly what you are pitching
- Give your pitch a solid hook
Answer a few questions so you know you have a solid story and pitch. These are the kind of questions a journalist will ask of you and your pitch the minute they read it.
- Why do I care?
- What is the relevance?
- Why is it important to me and my readers?
- Why you?
- Why are you qualified to speak on the topic?
- What is your expertise?
- Why now?
- What is the relevance?
- Is it timely?
- Is it time sensitive?
- Is it tied to an event, season, holiday or moment?
Happy Pitching. Got more questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
