Press Releases & Networking
Pitching the Story
MPR professionals need to persuade connectors to use their message. It must be positioned as newsworthy. Common themes defining newsworthiness often include the following:
Firsts
Trends
Local, quirky personalities
The underdog
Impact on the audience
Something of an unusual nature
Part 1: Pre-Pitch
Using one of the companies that you began developing in the Unit 2 Individual Project, create a story that you wish to shop to a media outlet. Use the following guidelines:
Provide a brief overview of the company.
Describe the media outlet being pitched. Include information on its target audience (the media outlet must be real).
Part 1 of the Individual Project should be 1 page in length. Be sure to cite your resources.
Part 2: Writing an Effective Pitch Letter
Write the pitch letter, which should include the following:
An attention-grabbing opening
The "hook"
Background information supporting the pitch
Support materials
The action step
Part 2 of the Individual Project should be 2 1/2 pages in length. Be sure to cite your resources.
Part 3: Follow-up and Other Considerations
Describe your follow-up plan.
Discuss the special considerations for pitching a blogger.
Part 3 of the Individual Project should be 1 1/2 pages in length. Be sure to cite your resources.
Your assignment should contain a cover page, an abstract page, and a reference page in addition to the body. The body of the paper should be 5 pages, starting with a brief 1-paragraph introduction and ending with a short conclusion. The entire submission will be 8-10 pages in length.