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Pitching 2.0. Gordon Mayer. Oscar’s Law. The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. ( from “The Picture of Dorian Gray” ). CMWho?. Why we communicate. Turnout Attendance at an event. Awareness Usually traces back to money. Advocacy Best to engage audience.
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Pitching 2.0 Gordon Mayer
Oscar’s Law The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. (from “The Picture of Dorian Gray”)
Why we communicate Turnout Attendance at an event Awareness Usually traces back to money AdvocacyBest to engage audience
2. Practice http://bit.ly/newsrelease
The headline (not a slogan) game If you could write one of these yourself: • A newspaper headline over your story • the teaser before your story comes on radio/TV • or the blog post title about your story What headline would you like to see about your organization in the next 6 months?
3. Pitch “Do youhave aminute for meto pitch youa story?”
The subject line • The most important part of the pitch • Need to make most impact in fewest words • Competing with spam • Balance between playing it straight, using humor or shock value
Huh??? “Do cats need e-mail accounts?” (for cat owners’ Web site) Results: MSNBC, Wall St. Journal, USA Today “Stevie Wonder, Dick Cheney and a Volvo” (for Inventors’ Hall of Fame) Results: L.A. Times, AP, SF Chronicle “47% think it’s OK to use cell phone in bathroom” (for Sprint PCS survey on cell-phone etiquette) Result: Several radio placements
The spam problem • Filters increasingly in higher gear • Innocent words can trip filters: “free,” “money,” “check,” “cash” • Action verbs, like “buy,” “save,” and “get” cause problems • To learn more, google “spam filter words”
Tomakenews,youneedto doorcreate something Man bites Dog, Peter Blapps, from flickr
Telling stories Storyteller FigureJalisco, Mexico, AD 100/800 Art Institute Chicago
Like what? • Identifying a Problem • Finding a Solution • Creating a Conflict • Making a Fresh Start • Doing Something New • Doing Something Unusual
Not these “mission statement” by Ecastro, from flickr
6 types of media stories • Oh No!...disaster, tragedy, bad news • Yes!...victory, agreement, improvement • Wow!...extreme, unique event • Hmmm!...thought-provoking, stimulating • Rituals...opening days, funerals, birthdays • News You Can Use...helpful information
The alternatives may be better http://bit.ly/cmwethnic Community news
To pitch bloggers, first be one • Read first • Make your own list • Even more custom if you can
Don’t try this at home, from mhaithaca, flickr DIY, or hire a consultant?
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The News… Bob Black for CMW
Tribune and Sun-Times, 1986-2008 Source = Newsbank, March 2009
…and You How has communications changed? (summer 2009) Disagree Agree