story-pitch

Story pitch guide

Good stories die in bad pitches. This skill covers pitch structure, angle development, and outlet-specific formatting.

When to use

• Pitching stories to editors (internal or external)
• Developing freelance query letters
• Refining story angles before reporting
• Competing for assignment in a newsroom
• Proposal writing for grants or fellowships

The pitch fundamentals

What every pitch needs

1. The hook: Why should anyone care? Why now?
2. The story: What will you show/reveal/explain?
3. The evidence: What do you have? What can you get?
4. The access: Who will you talk to? What will you see?
5. The ask: What do you need (time, budget, resources)?

The "so what" test

Before pitching, answer:

• Why this story? (significance)
• Why now? (timeliness/news hook)
• Why you? (access, expertise, angle)
• Why this outlet? (audience fit)

If you can't answer all four, you're not ready to pitch.

Pitch templates by type

Daily news pitch

For quick-turn stories to assignment editors.

**Slug:** [2-3 word identifier]
**Pitch:** [One sentence: What's the news?]
**Why now:** [What makes this timely?]
**Sources:** [Who you'll talk to]
**Timeline:** [When you can file]
**Format:** [Length, multimedia]

Example:
**Slug:** Council-Budget-Vote
**Pitch:** City council votes tonight on controversial police budget increase.
**Why now:** Final vote after months of debate, protests expected.
**Sources:** Council president, protest organizers, police union rep.
**Timeline:** File by 10pm for morning.
**Format:** 600 words + photos from hearing.

Feature pitch

For longer-form stories with more development time.

## [Working title]

**The story in one sentence:**
[What is this story about?]

**The hook:**
[Why should readers care? What's the emotional/intellectual entry point?]

**What's new:**
[What do you know/have that hasn't been told?]

**The shape:**
[How will you tell it? Narrative structure, key scenes, characters]

**Sources and access:**
[Who will you interview? What will you witness? Documents?]

**Visuals:**
[Photo opportunities, graphics, multimedia]

**Timeline and resources:**
[How long to report? Write? What do you need?]

**Why me:**
[Your connection to story, relevant expertise, access]

Example:

## The last ferry captain

**The story in one sentence:**
After 47 years, the last original captain of the Staten Island Ferry is retiring, and taking decades of institutional knowledge with him.

**The hook:**
8 million New Yorkers depend on this ferry. Most have never met the people who run it. Captain Mike Carbone has seen mayors come and go, survived 9/11 from the water, and trained every current captain. His retirement is the end of an era.

**What's new:**
No one has profiled the ferry crews since the 2003 accident. Carbone has agreed to a ride-along on his final week. He's kept a journal since 1977.

**The shape:**
Narrative profile. Open with his final departure. Flash back through career highlights. Include voices from crew, family, passengers he's befriended across decades.

**Sources and access:**
- Carbone (confirmed, ride-along approved)
- NYC DOT ferry division chief
- Other captains he's trained
- Regular commuters
- His family

**Visuals:**
Photographer on ride-along. Harbor shots at dawn. Carbone's home with memorabilia. Archive photos from his collection.

**Timeline and resources:**
2 weeks reporting, 1 week writing. Need photographer availability for 3 early mornings.

**Why me:**
I grew up taking this ferry and have always wanted to tell this story. I've already built rapport with Carbone through initial conversations.