How do you turn a good idea into a published story? It starts with a pitch!
But what exactly is a pitch? And what makes a good one?
In journalism, a pitch is an idea for a story that you send to an editor in hopes they give you the green light, so you can move forward to make your story and get it published.
Student reporter Dakota Hendren shares tips for writing a successful pitch. Student reporter Dakota Hendren shares tips for writing a successful pitch.
Topics can be interesting, but SRL is looking for you to pitch a specific story. Stories have a narrative structure: a beginning, middle and end, conflict & resolution, and interesting characters.
Who are the people in your story? Find your characters(i.e. the people you interview) before you send in a pitch. Are these people willing to talk to you on the record, and be in a published story? Confirm their willingness to participate in your story before pitching SRL.
Speak to your potential interview subjects ahead of timeand do a "pre-interview". Spend time taking notes on what they say, and incorporate the knowledge people share with you into your pitch. Discuss logistics: when, how & where you will meet to do the interview.
What data or statistics can inform your story?
Why should your audience learn about this story right now? What makes it timely?
Why does this story matter?
After you do all the research, make phone calls and talk to people. Write up a plan and keep your pitch fairly short (a paragraph or two max.) Create a suggested headline and think about why someone else would stop what they’re doing and pay attention to this story.
Note: Pitches will go through a review process before any decisions are made about producing the story.
If the story pitch was selected, a Youth Media Producer will reach out to you for next steps.
If your pitch is approved, SRL typically requires stories to go through at least two rounds of editing and revisions.
Before pitching, please be sure you’re willing to engage in this back-and-forth editing process, which involves receiving and responding to constructive feedback from the SRL team, and submitting more than one draft of your story.
It can be time consuming but hopefully worth it in the end!
Check out an example of a successful pitch here.
