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What are some ways to pitch stories about current events and trends in journalism?

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Journalism is a fast-paced and competitive field, where you need to constantly pitch stories that stand out and appeal to editors and audiences. Whether you are a staff writer or a freelancer, you need to know how to craft pitches that showcase your skills, your originality, and your relevance to current events and trends. In this article, we will share some ways to pitch stories about current events and trends in journalism, and how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes.

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Diana Lammerts

Helping your Business grow by connecting you with the right people to merge your ecosystems | Journalist | TV-Host | PR…

1 Identify your niche and audience

Before you pitch a story, you need to have a clear idea of who you are writing for and what they are interested in. You should research the publication or outlet you are pitching to, and understand their tone, style, format, and audience. You should also identify your own niche and expertise, and how you can offer a unique perspective or insight on a topic. For example, if you are a health journalist, you might pitch a story about how the pandemic has affected mental health among journalists, or how journalists can cope with stress and trauma.

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2 Find an angle and a hook

One of the most important elements of a pitch is the angle, or the main point or argument of your story. You need to show how your story is different from others on the same topic, and why it matters to your audience. You also need to find a hook, or a catchy way to grab the attention of the editor and the reader. A hook can be a surprising fact, a compelling question, a personal anecdote, or a timely connection to a current event or trend. For example, if you are pitching a story about the rise of podcasting as a form of journalism, you might hook the editor with a statistic about how many people listen to podcasts, or a question about how podcasting affects journalistic ethics and standards.

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Diana Lammerts

Helping your Business grow by connecting you with the right people to merge your ecosystems | Journalist | TV-Host | PR Specialist | Media Trainer | Creative Business Strategist | Global AI Council
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Dive into current discussions, pinpointing areas lacking coverage. Seek human stories that connect emotionally, highlighting experiences that illuminate broader issues. Explore contrasts and conflicts, presenting narratives that challenge the norm. Utilize data for uncovering trends, where surprising statistics can serve as hooks. Link local events to wider trends, showing broader relevance. Leverage anniversaries for timely angles. Consider innovative formats for storytelling, making your approach stand out. This strategy ensures your pitches are not only unique but deeply engaging, offering fresh perspectives that captivate and inform. Check Social Media - when you see a story see, if you can find an angle that spins the story further.

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3 Provide evidence and sources

Another essential component of a pitch is the evidence and sources that support your angle and hook. You need to show that you have done your homework and that you have credible and reliable information and experts to back up your claims. You should provide a brief overview of the data, research, studies, or interviews that you have or plan to use for your story, and how they relate to your main point. You should also mention any potential challenges or limitations that you might face in gathering or verifying your evidence and sources, and how you will overcome them.

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Diana Lammerts

Helping your Business grow by connecting you with the right people to merge your ecosystems | Journalist | TV-Host | PR Specialist | Media Trainer | Creative Business Strategist | Global AI Council
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Blend captivating narratives with solid evidence. Start with a hook that grabs attention—think unexpected angles on trending topics or fresh insights into daily news. Dive deep into research, backing your pitch with data and credible sources that add weight and depth. Highlight the relevance to your audience, showing how this story impacts them personally or offers a new perspective on familiar issues. Use a storytelling approach that weaves facts with compelling narratives, making your pitch irresistible. If it's an in-depth analysis, a human-interest story, or an exploration of emerging trends, ensure your pitch stands out by offering both information and inspiration. Make the editors curious and that your story checks the news factors.

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4 Write clearly and concisely

A pitch is not a full-fledged article, but a brief and persuasive proposal that showcases your idea and your qualifications. You should write your pitch in a clear and concise manner, using simple and direct language, and avoiding jargon, cliches, and fluff. You should also proofread and edit your pitch for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, and follow the guidelines and preferences of the publication or outlet you are pitching to. A typical pitch should be no longer than one or two paragraphs, and include the following elements: your name, your credentials, your story idea, your angle, your hook, your evidence and sources, and your expected word count and deadline.

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Diana Lammerts

Helping your Business grow by connecting you with the right people to merge your ecosystems | Journalist | TV-Host | PR Specialist | Media Trainer | Creative Business Strategist | Global AI Council
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It is LOUD out there. Everyone "shouts" me, me, me. To grab a journalist's attention, clarity and brevity are key. Remember, they sift through hundreds of pitches. Write succinctly, avoiding long sentences or long stories. Focus on the story's essence without promoting your product. Consider the return on investment (ROI) for the journalist's audience: why should they care? Highlight the immediate relevance and impact of your story. Your pitch should quickly answer the 'why now' and 'so what' for both the journalist and their readers, making it impossible to overlook. Aim to leave the journalist intrigued and seeing the value your story adds to their audience. Make them curious and remember, journalists have feelings, too. Be nice, please.

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Walter "Buzz" Lamb

Senior Correspondent at The Lake George Mirror
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During 19 years of writing stories I have never written a pitch. I learned early on to “pitch” my story in person to the editor. If he/she has concerns I can address them directly. It also gives me insight to the editor’s interests, likes and dislikes.

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5 Follow up and be flexible

Once you have sent your pitch, you should wait for a response from the editor, and follow up politely and professionally if you don't hear back within a reasonable time frame. You should also be prepared to receive feedback, questions, or suggestions from the editor, and be flexible and open to making changes or adjustments to your pitch or your story. You should also respect the editor's decision, whether it is acceptance, rejection, or a counter-offer, and thank them for their time and attention. If your pitch is rejected, you should not take it personally, but learn from the experience and try again with a different publication or outlet, or a different story idea.

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Diana Lammerts

Helping your Business grow by connecting you with the right people to merge your ecosystems | Journalist | TV-Host | PR Specialist | Media Trainer | Creative Business Strategist | Global AI Council
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After sending your pitch, follow up respectfully. Or maybe just send them a nice note to wish them a great day. Journalists are swamped, so a gentle reminder can help. If there’s no response, write three more emails follow-up email is enough. Maybe they just forgot to respond. Show flexibility in your approach. Be open to adapting your story based on feedback or shifting it to fit the publication’s current needs. Flexibility signals that you’re collaborative and easy to work with, increasing the likelihood of your story being picked up. Understand that timing is everything in news; if your story isn’t timely now, it might be later. Stay patient and ready to pivot.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are some ways to pitch stories about current events and trends in journalism?

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1 Identify your niche and audience

2 Find an angle and a hook

3 Provide evidence and sources

4 Write clearly and concisely

5 Follow up and be flexible

6 Here’s what else to consider

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