An internship at a newsroom is the perfect opportunity to get commissioned for the story you’ve always wanted to write or produce. You’ll be in the same office or Zoom meetings of the most important editors in the industry, all willing to hear exciting ideas from fresh faces.
But, it’s a daunting prospect. As a newsroom newbie, you might be nervous about speaking in front of others and afraid of rejection. You might have no idea what to expect from an ideas meeting, and want to know how to make the most of it.
Here, our guide to pitching a story idea in a newsroom meeting:
Prepare
Editors and journalists usually gather at least once, often twice a day to discuss the outlet’s daily coverage of the top news stories. It’s a chance for everyone to swap ideas, brainstorm, and reflect on what the audience are looking for.
Make sure you know exactly when and where these meetings are, and prepare your ideas in advance. This means you’ll have to read, watch, and listen to the latest news stories from a variety of sources. Note down anything you find interesting. For example: is there a story that’s leaving you wanting to know more? Have you spotted a trend across several recent stories? Do you think a vital perspective is missing from a particular news story?
Have ideas at the ready
Make brief notes formulating a pitch in advance, which you can email to an editor after the newsroom meeting. It should include: a suggested headline, a news peg, and a sentence or two summary of the story. A peg is something that makes the story topical and links to a current issue in the news. If you have an idea of case studies or interviewees for your story, mention these too – it shows you’re ready to tackle the story if it’s commissioned.
Top tip: Your idea should be a story, not a topic. Are there characters? A narrative arch or core message? Does it engage the audience? Think hard about whether the idea needs fleshing out more before pitching. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from colleagues or your line manager.
For pitching verbally in the newsroom, you’ll want to keep it succinct and snappy. Give the editors the top line, i.e. what is your idea, how is it different, and what does it add to the current coverage that’s already out there.
Listen
Internships are all about giving you the chance to learn by osmosis, by absorbing the knowledge and expertise of others around you. Make sure you turn up to the meeting on time, or even better, early. Chat to people around you and find out what stories they’re interested in. Pick their brains and make connections.
When the ideas meeting gets going, don’t just sit there waiting for your turn to speak! Really listen to other people’s ideas and pitches. This will give you a sense of the kind of stories the outlet covers, how journalists there generally pitch, and which editors are drawn to certain stories. Note down the names of any writer, producer, or editor you’d like to speak to later in your internship.
Listening to others may also spark new ideas in your mind that you hadn’t considered before. For instance, a story about a new development in a town that one journalist is working on might spark an idea on traffic issues that you are aware of in the area.
Ideas meetings aren’t simply about pitching; they’re often a chance for members of the newsroom to float suggestions and ask questions. Feel free to contribute by suggesting areas of coverage or interest that the publication could be covering more.
Timing
When it comes to delivering your pitch, wait for the opportune moment. Are the editors discussing the area of coverage that your pitch is about? Have they opened the floor to ideas?
If you miss the moment, don’t worry. Send an email to one of the editors later, or catch them after the meeting to ask if you can pitch to them (but ask when works best for them). Wait until the next meeting if the story isn’t that time-sensitive.
Confidence
It’s definitely daunting pitching an idea that you’ve worked hard on to a room full of people. You’re bound to feel nervous, but it’ll get easier with practice. Just remember that no one is judging you, especially not on your first pitch in a meeting. If anything, editors will be impressed with your courage and initiative in contributing as an intern.
News outlets are always looking for ways to create more interesting, diverse stories. Every perspective is valuable, including yours, so don’t be afraid to promote your point of view.
Persist
Rejection is part-and-parcel of a career in the media. Ideas meetings are a place for discussion and refinement of ideas. With that in mind, don’t expect every pitch to be jumped on by editors.
Most of the time, a great idea will be rejected because it’s simply the wrong time. The outlet may already have plans to cover a story like yours, or they might not have the budget. Even the most experienced journalists will have ideas turned down; the difference is that they will have learnt not to take it personally.
Repeat the stages on this list and you’ll soon find that some of your ideas start to stick. Continue to reflect on other reporters’ pitches and take on board any feedback you receive. You’ll soon get a feel for the stories the editors want. The key is to try, try, and try again!
Follow up
An editor showed an interest in your pitch? Great! Now, you need to follow up with an email summarising the pitch and asking for guidance on how they want the story to turn out. Editors want to feel part of the reporting process and will want to shape the story with you. Also, don’t forget to ask for the key information: the word count, deadline, etc.
Credit: Claire Nakkachi on Unsplash
