Tips on requesting news coverage
Whether you’re from a non-profit planning a fund-raising event or you’re just looking for some publicity… it’d be nice to have some television coverage without having to spend big cash on hiring a public relations firm to help you get the word out. Here are some basic tips on how to pitch a story to our news department.
The key to a successful story pitch is an interesting, informative press release. Think about the following questions…
What is your event or project? Include the details – date, location, time, etc.
How or why is it special? Explain why it should be of interest to our viewers.
Who will be available for interviews? Include their name and titles or relevance to the project.
What kind of video can we shoot? Since television is a visual medium, we need different scenes of video. Make it interesting. Someone speaking at a podium is not good video. Offer interactive activities at the event — anything that shows action. Or you can offer video of the programs the non-profit offers.
Remember that the news department receives hundreds of press releases so they’re looking for stories that are informative and exciting. Make sure yours stands out above the rest.
Submitted by Sofia Salgado, Public Relations & Marketing Specialist.
Thanks for the information. Can you let us know if we should make follow up calls after emailing the press release? And who should we ask for in the news room?
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Yes, you can make a call. Ask for the news assignment desk. The assignment desk folks are the ones who usually decide which stories will be covered for the day.
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