Pitching masterclass….How to give journalists/editors the kind of

stories they want, when they want them With Janet Murray

What I’m going to cover...

What editors are looking for

Why most pitches don’t work (and what you can do about it)

Stories that hit the spot

The perfect email pitch

What journalists are looking for

● New and/or unexpected

● Scale

● Drama/tension

● Debate

● Politics (the human effects of policy)

Why most pitches don’t work...

A new app that provides resources for young people with mental health issues

A new mentoring project for people who are not in education and employment

Charity launch new anti-bullying project headed by Nell McAndrew

Rethinking your approach to pitching...

Think you haven’t got time to read publications before you pitch?

The Anatomy Technique

Guardian Society 19/3

Guardian Society - 19/3 - World Social Work Day - Death of 18yo highlights failings in care of people with learning disabilities plus first person account from mother- The College of Social Work's advice note on social work roles will be put to the test when the first recruits to the Frontline scheme start on-the-job training later this year- Elizabeth Truss needs to show us clarity – and cash – to help children's centres (comment - Naomi Eisenstadt) -Poverty doesn’t just ruin lives - it’s inefficient too (comment - Julia Unwin) - Care leavers to access to their records under new rules - Interview with President Clinton’s former adviser (interview - regular) - Profile of Olive Stevenson (leading academic social work day) - Social work training needs to offer high quality work placements (network)

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Stories that hit the spot...

Stories that hit the spot...

Stories that hit the spot...

Story idea: why changes to school funding arrangements could lead to SEN children being turned away from schools illegally

Dear X

Would you be interested in doing a story on why changes to school funding arrangements could lead to SEN children being turned away/excluded from school, which is illegal.

This is due to new funding rules for SEN, introduced in April, under which schools are expected to fund the first 6k of the resources needed for children with statements from their own budgets (previously this would have been provided by the local authority).

This has already created financial problems for schools and I have several heads who are willing to talk to you about it - including one whose school is 70k in the red as a result of the changes. I also have a number of parents who are willing to be photographed with their children to talk to you about what this might mean for them. can you underline ‘a number of parents who are willing to be photographed with their children.’

I’m looking to get coverage for this story around the first week of April (when the new legislation comes into force) so if you could let me know if it’s something you’re interested in covering by tomorrow afternoon, that would be great.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Jan

‘Ronseal’

‘hook’

‘politics’ ‘policy’ ‘scale’

‘new’ ‘unexpected’ ‘tension’ ‘debate’

● New and/or unexpected

● Scale

● Drama/tension

● Debate

● Politics (the human effects of policy)

To recap...