Pitching ideas and getting commissions

Course Description:

As all experienced freelance journalists know, coming up with a great idea and writing an interesting article is only half the battle. Unless you know how to sell your ideas even the most brilliant work can end up unused. Understanding who will be interested in your story and what will make your idea attractive will drastically increase the number of commissions you receive. This one day course will teach you how to sell your ideas by phone and by email and who to pitch them to in order to get commissions.

This course includes the following modules:

Introduction

• Understanding who will be interested in a story
• What makes an idea attractive to a publication

Who To Pitch Your Ideas To

• Deciding which editors to approach
• Tailoring your pitch to different editors

How To Pitch Your Ideas

• Selling your idea by phone
• Selling your idea by email
• How to ?¢‚Äöá®Ä∫blanket pitch

Pitching By Phone

• There is an art to selling your ideas on the phone; what to say and what not to say

Pitching By Email

• Your email must capture the editors interest and make sure they read your proposal. Learn to create short, succinct emails that convey the message and interest of your story idea.

The Importance of Attention-Grabbing Headlines

• A headline can make or break a story. Many editors commission story ideas based on the headline alone. We show you how to write clever, attention-grabbing headlines that will get you those vital commissions.

Writing your Proposal

• How to structure a proposal
• Deciding how long a proposal should be and how much information to include.
• Why it's important to include case study pictures in your initial story idea
• How to present an idea in different ways to enable you to pitch to several different publications

When and How To Follow Up Your Initial Pitch

• How long after you've sent in a proposal should you start pestering the editor? Learn how to enquire about your idea and receive useful, constructive feedback, even if your idea is turned down.

How to Build Relationships With Editors

• A good relationship with a commissioning editor can lead to last-minute commissions, regular employment and recommendations for other work.

How to Approach New Contacts

• How to 'sum up' your skills and experience
• How to develop ideas suitable for different magazines and papers