Comments on: Five ways to guarantee journalists will reject or ignore your story pitch http://marktzk.com/5ways-reject-your-pitches/ Tips, ideas & resources for professional communicators Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:23:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave Armon http://marktzk.com/5ways-reject-your-pitches/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Dave Armon Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:41:13 +0000 http://marktzk.com/?p=69#comment-79 Mark - When I was a reporter, I bristled when publicists dangled a story and threatened to give it my competitor (AP) if I didn't bite. Another turn-off was unsolicited gifts delivered with press kits. Mark – When I was a reporter, I bristled when publicists dangled a story and threatened to give it my competitor (AP) if I didn’t bite.

Another turn-off was unsolicited gifts delivered with press kits.

]]> By: David Mullen http://marktzk.com/5ways-reject-your-pitches/comment-page-1/#comment-78 David Mullen Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:23:33 +0000 http://marktzk.com/?p=69#comment-78 One of my "do's" is to create a VERY short tease intro with enough info for them to decide if they want to know more or not. I end that intro with "am I catching you at a good time?" For example, I managed publicity for the grand opening of a camp for kids with serious illnesses and diseases. Here's how I opened each phone call. "Hi, [name]. My name is David Mullen and I'm calling with a story about a prominent family overcoming personal tragedy to found a camp for sick kids. Am I catching you at a good time?" They all knew right away if they wanted to hear more and, if not or if they were on deadline, I gave them an out. That intro helped land a two-page feature story in People magazine and a 5-minute feature story on Good Morning America. And, for the GMA placement, I left that intro on her voicemail. You know how reporters/producers/such never return voicemails, right? She called me back 5 minutes later wanting to hear more. If you can synthesize the essence of the story into a single sentence to lead off with, it gives the journalist a very quick read on his/her level of interest. It's a great way to show that you respect his/her time. One of my “do’s” is to create a VERY short tease intro with enough info for them to decide if they want to know more or not. I end that intro with “am I catching you at a good time?”

For example, I managed publicity for the grand opening of a camp for kids with serious illnesses and diseases. Here’s how I opened each phone call.

“Hi, [name]. My name is David Mullen and I’m calling with a story about a prominent family overcoming personal tragedy to found a camp for sick kids. Am I catching you at a good time?”

They all knew right away if they wanted to hear more and, if not or if they were on deadline, I gave them an out. That intro helped land a two-page feature story in People magazine and a 5-minute feature story on Good Morning America. And, for the GMA placement, I left that intro on her voicemail. You know how reporters/producers/such never return voicemails, right? She called me back 5 minutes later wanting to hear more.

If you can synthesize the essence of the story into a single sentence to lead off with, it gives the journalist a very quick read on his/her level of interest. It’s a great way to show that you respect his/her time.

]]>