Don't Strike Out: How to Pitch a Story to Your Local Media

Jove OliverRESULTS International Conference

What We’re Talking About

• 10 Ways to Engage the Media

• 10 Insights in Working with the Media

• How to Say What You Want to Say

10 Ways to Engage Your Media

1. Editorial Meetings2. Op-Eds3. Letters to the Editor4. News Advisories5. News Releases

6. Pitch Calls7. Suggest a Feature

Story8. Press Briefings 9. News Conferences 10. Photo Ops

10 Insights in Working with Media1. Start by assuming the best of journalists2. Understand the pressures faced by most

journalists3. Expect some of your approaches to be

rejected4. Don’t be intimidated5. Be passionate and persistent

10 Insights Con’t

1. Make it local and keep it relevant2. Be creative 3. Yet it is appropriate to take the high ground

in making your case4. Be opportunistic 5. When in doubt, don’t make anything up

Advocacy vs Research Communication

Passionate compelling argument based on fact

Quick preparation is needed to seize opportunities

Limit your messages

Jargon confuses

State your

conclusions then support

them

Keep your messages simple

Build your case to a conclusion

Objective &

unbiased

Hasty preparation can be discredited

Explain in detail

Jargon adds clarity and precision

Cover every base

Advo

cacy

Rese

arch

Source: Kraig Klaudt

Questions and Discussion

• What are some past successes you’ve had? • What are some challenges you’ve faced in the

past? • Let’s get informal and talk!