How to Pitch a Spot
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Don't start off your pitch to a newsdesk producer with "You probably don't want this spot, but..." It sends a message to the producer that the story you're looking to file is not really that interesting and more importantly you're not sold on the story yourself. We are interested in any stories that you feel would be of interest to a national audience. We are especially in need of business spots that can run during the midday time period. The back half of our midday newscasts (12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern M-F) is dedicated to business news.
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If you're calling to pitch a spot during so called off hours (overnights/weekends) please don't do so between five-minutes before the hour and six minutes after the hour. The producer and newscaster will be in the studio doing a newscast at that time. We are checking into the possibility of getting phone-mail for the newsroom so reporters can leave messages during the short time period the newsroom is unstaffed.
Note: If you're calling to PITCH a spot....you should make sure you are pitching to the PRODUCER on that shift...if it is a spot for later on that day or next day....ask the PRODUCER..to make sure he/she puts it on passoff for next PRODUCER up.
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Once the pitch is made and the spot is agreed to, you do your reporting, write the spot and then call back for an edit. When you call back, especially after there's been a shift change, it's important to let the producer on the desk know that you've already spoken to a newsdesk producer about the spot and you're ready for an edit. DON'T PITCH the same spot all over again. If this is not clear, it won't always be clear to the producer taking the desk at the start of his/her shift that the spot is something that has been already been accepted.
Note: Spots are 45-seconds in length whether they are wraps or voicers. The maximum length for a spot is 50 seconds.
Introductions should be no more than three or four lines. Don't put things in your spot that will date quickly (i.e. injury/death tolls). Those sort of things should be handled in the introduction. If you're pressed for time and if its a important breaking story, we will do Q-and-A with you, then ask you to write a spot.
After you've done the edit and BEFORE you are transferred to the R-C to record the spot, ask the editor or producer if they'll need additional spots from you on the story you're covering. Also, please let us know if you're passing off the story you're covering to someone else at your station at the end of your shift and who that person will be.
Note: If it's a breaking story, you should check in with the newsdesk every couple of hours. Doing so will serve two purposes. It will let the newsdesk staff know you're still on the story, and it will allow you as the reporter on the scene to give us the latest information you have. Also...if it's a big/breaking story we will need to know if you/the reporter can file during each cycle (i.e.-morning, afternoon/pm drive).
