Every once in a while, we feel the need to repost this with a few updates based on what we’re seeing in the pitches we receive. Here’s our latest update.
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MadameNoire Business gets tons of email inquiries from business owners and publicists seeking a profile story about a business or entrepreneur. We love getting email pitches, so keep them coming. However, there are some things you have to include if you want to be considered for a feature story on the site. Why? Because we can’t write a story if we don’t know what your story is. We want to cover the most interesting, the most innovative, the most inspiring African American businesses and businesspeople around. So show us that you’re among this group and we’ll be happy to consider your pitch.
-Include a website. If your company doesn’t have a functioning website that we can check out for information about the business and its accomplishments, we can’t make a determination about whether we can do a story. Our writers need something to work with. And a website is a basic for any business that has some experience under its belt and a story to tell.
–Keep it short. A pitch is not a school essay. A pitch is the five W’s: Who? What? Where? When? Why? And how? The first four should be covered in two sentences. The how, in another two or three. A final sentence should lay out what is newsworthy about this story. If it’s longer than that, we simply won’t read it. And if we don’t understand the newsworthiness of this story, we can’t give it any thought.
-What’s the news? Are you launching a new product? Do you have a new twist on an established business idea? Are you using technology in an interesting way? Our readers want to know what’s fresh, forward-thinking, and cutting edge. That means you have to put that up front so we know what we’re supposed to be paying attention to.
-Stick to the facts. We get lots of pitches where the writer tells us how great they are and how wonderful their business is. There’s a popular journalism saying: “Show. Don’t tell.” If the facts are compelling, then all of the innovation, inspiration and creativity will come through without you having to talk it up.
-Follow up. As we said, MN Business gets tons of pitches. So if you don’t hear back after a couple of days, you’re encouraged to follow up via email. You’ve been told that email is impersonal? That calling is a way to be top of mind? No. Nope. Nah. Time is tight at media outlets all over and a phone call to talk about an unread email just isn’t possible.
But keep in mind, stories take time. Contacting us every day whether by phone or email takes time away from us actually looking into your pitch and assigning it to one of our writers. Please give us a chance to consider the story before reaching out again.
We’re looking for great stories that will get readers thinking and drive them to find out more about the businesses we profile. So please send those ideas to tgarcia@madamenoire.com. We want to hear from you, but please follow these guidelines. Thanks in advance.
