Everything Comes Down to This

All the planning. All the research. All the experience.

It all comes down to this: your pitch -- and ultimately your story.

Have you ever noticed, when someone gets their story in the news, that everything they have done for their whole lives gets included?

That dermatologist interviewed about the new face-eating bacteria? Suddenly, we know everything there is know about where he went to school, what hospitals he worked at and where he interned.

It's research into the background for the story -- and it's very handy information for you to have for the reporter when you contact them.

Consider having the answers ready for background questions the reporter may have such as:

• How long you have been involved in the story;
• What changes you have seen related to your story over some past time period;
• What makes you qualified to be involved in your story.

The moral of the story? Everything comes down to this. Summarize everything that is related to your story in a neat package for reporters, because they will want to know the background.

Bridgette Outten is a journalist and media relations consultant with The Write Vision Group, Inc. With a background in print media, she has written thousands of articles for newspapers and online publications. At The Write Vision Group, Bridgette consults with nonprofits and small businesses about how to get their programs and efforts in the news. Meanwhile, she blogs on all things journalism.