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Topic: Pre-pitch research
| Author | Message |
| face | Posted – 2/14/2008 1:55:48 PM | show profile I'm working on a few pitches for a specific publication, and want to do some reporting before I pitch. I've worked with this pub only once before, so I have a line in and know what they like. On the other hand, I am by no means a regular. When I call the source, should I say I'm working on a story for "TK Magazine," even if my pitch hasn't been accepted? I don't often get a reply if I don't have a good title associated with my name. (It's a lot of entertainment reporting). What's the ethics/protocol on this? |
| D_S | Posted – 2/16/2008 9:46:43 AM | show profile Ideally, you should let your potential sources know right out that you are working on a story pitch for XX magazine. If you are trying to hide the fact you haven't been assigned the story yet, you are, of course, kind of lying. So there. A way around this is to tell the concerned person you just want a couple quotes at the moment for the query's purpose. If you are commissioned to write it, you might do a longer interview. Obviously, you could mention you have worked for this mag before. |
