By Roshanda Pratt
News just doesn’t happen. Often, it’s planned.
Most TV stations have what’s called “the morning meeting” or an editorial meeting where news executives share the stories of the day. It starts at 8 or 9 a.m., depending on the station.
This gathering of reporters, content managers or assignment editors, photographers, news director and digital content producers is truly a meeting of the minds. It begins with the content manager or, in some stations, the assignment manager giving a brief overview of the stories they already know are happening in the next 24 hours. Those stories are compiled onto a grid called a “planner.”
Daily content managers are adding events, tips and story ideas to this planner. This is important because it helps with coverage for the following day.
In the morning meeting, after the team goes over the planner, reporters share their story ideas. They can include a follow-up, breaking news or a news tip from sources in the community. The meeting is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the day. What you see on the evening news comes mostly from the ideas shared in this morning meeting.
While I recommend emailing your story idea to the general newsroom inbox, you can also send ideas to the anchors. Most don’t attend the morning meeting. They do, however, attend a similar meeting in the afternoon at about 2 or 3 p.m., and send ideas to other news execs who will be attending.
Another way to stay on their minds during their morning meeting is to call the news desk with your pitch early in the morning, between 7 and 8 a.m.
Elements of a Great Pitch for TV
Let me share something I often tell my clients: The media is interested in your stories. Reporters write stories to inform their audience of important news or trending stories happening in their communities, nation or world.
A local story that ties into a national story, for instance, and catches the interest of the media has several elements:
- An interesting topic or theme.
- Compelling sound.
- Facts.
- Visuals.
During my producer days, I loved stories that included all of them. For example, in September, when kids started school, I received a pitch from a doctor’s office. They asked to appear on our morning show to talk about backpack safety for kids since back pain is growing at an alarming rate among children. The doctor not only provided tips but also demonstrated the proper way to carry a book bag. Here’s a similar story that appeared on CNN.
Authors should pitch the media too. One of the local universities sent us a story idea about their clever partnership with an author.
The university was providing a book to all its incoming freshmen. In addition to reading the book, students were encouraged to take a selfie that showed them reading the book on campus. Why? Because kids love selfies and it got them involved in the story. As a producer, the unique approach to get students engaged in reading and the use of technology made this story really appealing to me.
But where do you begin? The media received tons of email pitches a day. To stand out, your pitch must provide major viewer benefit in a compelling way. What’s viewer benefit? Stories that cater more to the audience watching and less to you getting your moment in the spotlight.
How to Share Your Story Idea
While there are many ways to share your story, here are my three quick tips.
First, be a source.
If you see something interesting happening in your community or something that needs attention, pitch the idea. I have seen the best stories come from genuine concern.
For example, a viewer contacted the station I worked at because she saw a local sheriff’s deputy car with rims, new paint and a wicked sound system. She wanted to know if her tax dollars were paying for that, and the purpose of those features. Great question! We contacted the sheriff’s department and learned that the car is used as a tool for school talks because it appeals to children and teens. Tax money wasn’t used.
Second, be informed.
Often, if the news staff discusses a national story in the morning meeting, they’ll look for a way to localize it. When USA Today partnered with Starbucks on its Race Together campaign, an effort to encourage people to talk about race relations over coffee, the local TV stations owned by Gannett, which also owns USA Today, tackled the issue.
Why is that important for you?
It gives you a chance to insert yourself or your organization or business into the conversation. I love this!
It’s one of my favorite publicity techniques. I can tell you firsthand, when the local media tries to localize a national story, they are sometimes in a desperate search for sources who are TV-ready. That should be you! While you should pitch your own story ideas, make sure to also pay attention to stories already floating out there and how you can be “the local angle.” Use that phrase in your pitch.
Third, be prompt.
News is what’s happening NOW! Your story needs to be timely.
Pitch something that’s new. If you want to send a story idea about an event, you can email it to the news department. Check their website or call the station to get the name and email address of your best contact in the newsroom. Then follow up with an email before 10 a.m. Also, you can resend your press release or pitch the morning of the event.
You can play a major role in deciding what’s news. Every day, ask yourself how you can be part of the television media’s morning meeting without ever leaving your home or office.
How did you get onto TV in your own community? Share your publicity success story below.
This is great information for authors, Roshanda. Do you think it applies to fiction authors as well? Takes a little bit more creativity!
Eva, I’ll ask Roshanda to reply to your comment. Here’s my response. Any time you can piggyback onto a breaking news event, you’re way ahead of the pack. Today, one of my readers sent me a link to this story about how Mattel’s new black Barbie doll, with braids down to her waist, sold out in just 17 minutes:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/12/07/1457743/-Mattel-releases-a-new-Barbie-that-is-flying-off-the-shelves-for-so-many-great-reasons?detail=email
If you write fiction about black women, or anything related to diversity, you can comment on this phenomenon and explain WHY this doll is so popular. The media don’t care that you write fiction. It’s a chance for them to feature a local author who can piggyback onto a hot national story in the news and weave in some stats, perhaps, on the huge increase in diversity in the U.S. and how the market is responding.
Eva, I agree with Joan. Its not about you being a fiction writer or a writer in general. Rather it is about providing value and a different voice or perspective to a hot topic.
I didn’t realize that backpacks were causing back pain in kids. This is really interesting, I can see why they would want to cover this story, it has a lot of the elements that you talked about. Being informed seems like a really important factor, I’ll have to prioritize this while I try to get the news to cover my story. Thank you for all of the helpful tips!
This story has been around for awhile, Brooke, and I continue to see it on the news. So jump in and start pitching!
This was great information! Well though out and put together! We need help getting the message out about the Father & Son Bonding Project!
This is very informative and interesting. I need to assist a nonprofit that needs new bike donations for 2017 Christmas Project and this is important to smiles on underserved youth faces.
Sharron, tell the TV station when you call that you would be willing to bring an old bike into the TV studio with you. It would be a great prop.
I like that you mention being informed. My sister is looking for good local news but needs some help looking. I’ll be sure to talk to her about finding a service that is well informed and give reliable information.
Kyle, if your sister is looking for local TV stations and specific reporters to contact, tell her to start watching the local news and pay attention to which reporters cover which stories. She should also check out the free USNPL database at http://www.USNPL.com.
This is great information. I have a client who is writing a cookbook and would like to be on local TV. She specializes in French & tropical cooking (born in France and now resides in the Keys) and she also makes incredible table settings. So when I pitch to the TV station, I should add that she will bring in a full set up? What other things should I mention? Here’s a little demo I put together for her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxvXk60rH6g
I would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Alanna, here’s my idea. How about pitching a segment on how to set a Christmas Day table in a warm-weather climate? Here in the north, we use natural decorations like sprigs of spruce and pinecones. But I’ll bet you don’t use those in the Keys. What natural items can someone gather from their backyard and use in a centerpiece? Absolutely tell the TV station that she will bring everything with her, including two yummy appetizers that can be made quickly. If there’s time, she might want to demonstrate how to make one of them on the air. Note: TV people LOVE segments that include food because the staff gets to eat it when the segment is over.
What if your not sure if you have a story, or if it’s even important enough to reach the media?
Monica, you send a quick email to JStewart@PublicityHound.com and tell me what the idea is and I’ll tell you if it’s good enough for TV.
I work with a special physician in interventional gastroenterology who does surgery through an endoscope. This doctor just finished his 100th POEM Procedure(Perioral Endoscopic Myotomy). Only certain doctors in the entire country perform this procedure. He has helped so many patients, it is incredible. The before and after stories are life altering, and in many cases life saving.
If you can find a patient who would be willing to appear on camera and talk about how he or she was saved by the doctor and the procedure, that would boost your chances.
Great suggestions by Joan.I would also add if you can provide before or after pics. TV Media is about show and tell.
Thanks for the reminder, Roshanda. We see before-and-after photos all the time on everything from mail hair growth products to weight loss programs. Why not use them for free publicity?
My book, “Run toward the blazing sun” has not taken off as it should,(true story) of my escape from Turkey as an innocent tourist after being accused of insulting the government, I couldn’t even speak Turkish, not even a movie deal after winning the 2016 pacific book award and the fact that I must be the only person who has ever escaped from a country under gunfire, by blinding the eyes of the border guards with the late afternoon sun.
Tom, how much marketing have you done for this book? Despite the quality of the book, you’re competing with about 2 million other books published last year for attention. Congratulations on the book award. Unfortunately, you have to work just as hard marketing an award-winning book as you do marketing a book that has no awards. Are you pitching journalists, podcasters, bloggers and others who appeal to the book’s target market? Have you started in your own community with your local TV news shows and weekly newspaper?
we are looking for donations to help a family who has a long road ahead A 47yr old man has had a horrific tree accident ‘A tree fell right on the top of his head it cracked his head open his shoulder blades broken ‘all ribs front and back broken his spine broke in 3 places one of the breaks was t9 which paralyzes him forever broke leg in2 or3 place he lost4liters which he almost bleed to death Ed has a wife A daughter and a son Ed had been a tree climber 20 years.
Call your local TV station and ask for the newsroom. But first, contact the man’s wife and ask her if she would be willing to be inerviewed on amaera. It wuld make for a better tory.
Hi.
I am a TRU student doing my Masters. I need data/information about the North Thompson River annual high water marks or levels for the years 2017 to 2023. I would be so grateful if you could either send me some data or point me in the right direction.
A million thanks in advance.
Antonio Berardi
I would start by contacting your state’s Department of Natural Resources. If they don’t have what you need, they can point you in the right direction.