So, following our last five tips, you now have the perfect pitch…or do you? Here, tip 6 offers you more detail on positioning your pitch and giving it context:
- POSITIONING: summarise your entire pitch in the first sentence and be sure to give it context. Basically, this means explaining to the journalist why you have sent them your pitch and why it’s good for them / their media. Is your pitch following a recent article they wrote that appeared within their media? If so, let them know and include a link to the article you’re referring to for their ease and information. Is your pitch informing the journalist of a new market trend? If so, explain what the new trend is and why it is so important that the journalist and their media cover it. If your pitch is discussing other aspects, e.g. introducing a brand new, key company spokesperson or a new product within the industry, let the journalist know why the company spokesperson is a key commentator on the industry and what changes the new product might implement within the industry’s future developments.
Next week’s tips will offer you the five w’s and whether attachments are a good idea.
Here's the rest of the series:
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 1: talk don’t pitch
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 2: timing
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 3: contact
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 4: subject lines
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 5: everyday news
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 6: positioning
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 7: preamble
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 8: attachments
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 9: summarise
- The ideal pitch to the press – part 10: time sensitive
