When researching
my team's best approach to selling my idea, I wanted to focus my found advice
within the radio medium; pitching a television program means part of what your
selling is visual-something pops, someone dances... Peoples attention is easily
grabbed when their eyes are engaged.
Reversely,
pitching an audio podcast is a different art form. We are not enticing the
producers or the audience with visual colour or movement, per se. My first
source was from CBC Radio, and what they require and look for in a radio
episode pitch. I deemed this resource reliable because of the credibility that
CBC holds as a media outlet, and that their requirements would be along the
same lines of other radio or audio programming. As well, this source was not a
blog post, or an informal guide, but more like a submissions guide for a
periodical.
All of this
research outline what my pitch needs to embody and contain, and the tips I have
to share with the class, and the blogosphere (insert sublime gasp here):
Questions to
know and answer/address in your pitch:
1. What
makes your show perfect for _________ radio show?
Try and answer this right off the
bat. Don't let the producers wonder why you picked their program--assure them you've done your research
2. Does it fit
___________ values?
3. Can you
describe your shows sound?
Is it cheeky, somber, intellectual?
4. Why you?
Tell the producers why it matters
that this pitch is coming from you? What do you bring to the program that no
one else could? Why should you be the messenger of this topic?
5. What makes
this show a GREAT idea?
(CBC Radio, Pitch to
CBC Radio, www.cbc.ca)
As recommended in lecture, I also searched transom.org for pitch advice. There, I found Notes from a Pitching Novice, by Bianca Giaever. But I didn't know who this person was, or what knowledge or credibility she had to advise me. So, I looked her up on linkedin and Google; Bianca Giaever has an established career and was the associate producer of the New York Review Booklist Podcast. For me, this experience reassured me that this source is credible, and most likely an insightful one.
Other things I
found for how to plan my pitch and create the most appropriate presentation geared
towards my audience:
1. KNOW
YOUR STORY
Understand the ins and outs of your
topic; be able to answer any question; write out in point form all of the story/episode points
2. Call a friend
and have them listen to your pitch
Not only does this help you in your
presentation and your confidence in the material, but practice receiving feedback
3. Keeping this
in mind, don't get too attached to your material
CBC advises, "fall in love with
your idea, but don't marry it just yet"
4. Know the show
you're pitching to
Your idea could be wonderful, but
not suited to who your pitching to. Do your research to give yourself the best
shot, and not waste anyone's time at the board room table
My final resoure for preparing for next week's presentation was NPR's submission guidelines (http://www.airmedia.org/PDFs/PitchPanel/NPRPitchGuidelines.pdf). Much like CBC, this is a credible outlet that hosts one of the most well known podcasts - This American Life. With a program as prestigous and well known as TAL, the pitch for an idea, theme of episode must be outstanding - which is why I found the organizations tips most appealing.
What NPR and Ira Glass taught me in preparation for next week:
1. Big quesiton: What is at stake?
2. Has the organization done a similar story before -- if so, you're probably out of luck. So research, research, research.
Best of luck this week, everyone!
____________________________________________________________________________"CBC Radio Pitch - Index." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2014. <http://www.cbc.ca/pitch/radiopitchguide.h
"Notes from a Pitching Novice."Transom.org. Atlantic Public Media, 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Jan. 2014. <http://transom.org/?p=30815>.
"NPR Submission Guidelines."www.airmedia.org. Air Media, 22 Aug. 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2014. <http://www.airmedia.org/PDFs/PitchPanel/
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