Every week reporters across the nation must fill up many thousands of pages in publications and fill countless hours of radio and TV air time.  As a result, they’re constantly searching for information.  At the same time, reporters are besieged daily by individuals and organizations seeking publicity for themselves or their causes.

What do they want, and how can you get their attention?

Reporters are looking for high impact stories that will capture attention.  They are very sensitive–and averse–to attempts to disguise advertising as news.  When pitching a story about your agency or one of your clients, the most important things you can tell a reporter about your story are who will care about it and why.

Before you make a pitch, always try to put yourself in the editor’s or news director’s shoes and ask:  “Would this story be interesting to my audience?”

Don Beehler provides public relations consulting services to small- and medium-sized advertising agencies and businesses.