Now take yourself out of the equation. This means the story is no longer about YOUR cause, YOUR event or YOU.
Does it catch your attention? Are you still interested?
If not, a reporter won't be either.
I have met many people who thought they had a story because they were so taken with their own accomplishments -- which, while they were great on a personal note -- did not make a good or intriguing news story.
Gauge the newsworthiness of your story like this: If it were something that had nothing to do with you that came on television, the radio, was featured in the newspaper or online, would you change the channel, turn the knob, turn the page or click away?
If the answer is yes, do not expect a reporter to be interested in a topic that even you don't care about.
Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media consultant with The Write Vision Group, Inc. With a background in print media, she has written hundreds of articles for newspapers and online publications. At The Write Vision Group, Bridgette consults with nonprofits and small businesses about how they can get media attention for their programs and efforts. Meanwhile, she blogs on all things journalism.
