- Learn how to pitch your story to local news outlets
- Gain tips on writing your pitch and being interviewed
We want the world to know about your involvement in Technovation Girls and the incredible ways you bring your ideas to life. This guide includes resources and information to get the word out about the amazing work you’ve done to create solutions to real problems that impact lives of people in your community.
If you have questions or need help, reach out to support@technovation.org with the subject line “Media Outreach Support” and we’ll get you the help or answers you need.
WHAT'S YOUR STORY?
A pitch is a written summary used to spark a reporter’s interest in your announcement, story or event. Today, they are usually sent by email, but you can also consider a written pitch as your ‘cheat sheet’ when you call reporters. Your pitch should outline why your information is important, relevant, and timely and clearly define any requests you are seeking, such as asking a reporter to interview you or attend an event.
The first step in developing your “pitch” to reporters is determining what makes it unique. Is your problem-solving idea addressing an issue that’s already making headlines in your local news? If so, it may be of interest to journalists already following the topic. Is it solving a problem that your community isn’t widely aware of yet? Maybe it is time to bring it to the forefront! There may be something about you, your team or your mentor that makes you special – a story behind how you came to work together, the inspiration behind your idea or a hardship you have overcome.
Templates
Get started drafting an email pitch with the templates below:
Subject: Technovation Girls developing apps to tackle healthcare accessibility in the U.S
Hi Xx,
I read your piece on **insert title of the article that ties to the topic you want to talk about, in this case, it’s healthcare. Our healthcare system is not the best, but the people in it, their passion and dedication to provide care and to push for innovation, never fail to impress me.
I’d like to introduce you to a young innovator developing an app that tackles healthcare accessibility in the US.
AI4MRI – This student developed an app that addresses issues regarding brain tumors by using artificial intelligence to analyze MRI scans, therefore reducing the diagnosis time significantly. The goal of the app is to analyze MRI scans and start the treatment early quickly. Here’s her app demo video – https://youtu.be/1WPukxC1NxA
The girls are a part of Technovation, a global tech education nonprofit designed specifically to equip girls and women with powerful tech tools, knowledge, and mentors that will help them solve real-world problems in their communities like climate change, domestic issues, gun violence, mental health, and more.
If you are interested, I’d be happy to have you sit in on one of our after-school sessions or connect you with the program ambassador so that you can see the curriculum in action and the importance of girls’ participation in tech. I look forward to hearing back from you!
Sincerely,
**Contact name
**Contact phone number
Asunto: Technovation Girls desarrollan apps para abordar la accesibilidad de la sanidad en EE.UU.
Hola Xx,
He leído tu artículo sobre **inserta el título del artículo que esté relacionado con el tema del que quieres hablar, en este caso, la sanidad. Nuestro sistema sanitario no es el mejor, pero la gente que trabaja en él, su pasión y dedicación por prestar asistencia e impulsar la innovación, nunca dejan de impresionarme.
Me gustaría presentarte a una joven innovadora que está desarrollando una aplicación que aborda la accesibilidad de la sanidad en Estados Unidos.
AI4MRI – Esta estudiante desarrolló una aplicación que trata de resolver problemas relacionados con tumores cerebrales utilizando inteligencia artificial para analizar resonancias magnéticas, reduciendo así significativamente el tiempo de diagnóstico. El objetivo de la aplicación es analizar las resonancias magnéticas e iniciar rápidamente el tratamiento. Aquí está el vídeo de demostración de su aplicación – https://youtu.be/1WPukxC1NxA
Las chicas forman parte de Technovation, una organización mundial de educación tecnológica sin ánimo de lucro diseñada específicamente para dotar a niñas y mujeres de potentes herramientas tecnológicas, conocimientos y mentores que les ayuden a resolver problemas del mundo real en sus comunidades, como el cambio climático, los problemas domésticos, la violencia armada, la salud mental y muchos otros.
Si estás interesado, estaré encantada de que asistas a una de nuestras sesiones extraescolares o de ponerte en contacto con la embajadora del programa para que puedas ver el plan de estudios en acción y la importancia de la participación de las chicas en la tecnología. Espero tu respuesta.
Atentamente,
**Nombre de contacto
**Número de teléfono de contacto
IS IT NEWSWORTHY?
One thing you’ll hear a lot when you read advice about pitching to the media is the question, “But is it newsworthy?” Even with an incredible story, in today’s busy news cycle, it can be hard to stand out to journalists who receive so much information daily. So what makes something newsworthy? Why should people care about what you’re talking about?
The answer to this question varies by day and region, but broadly speaking, something is newsworthy if no media outlet/no journalist has reported about it, if it brings a new or innovative angle about a topic that is currently generating headlines, if it affects a lot of people, and is relevant to the community and will resonate with the audience.
Because you’ll be pitching to your local news outlets, think about what makes your ideas, events, or activities interesting to your specific community. Has your school been in the news lately? Does your app solve a big problem the community has been trying to find a solution for? Is your Technovation chapter the first Computer Science club for girls your school has ever had? Because you are so young and impressive, your age will also help make your pitch more newsworthy! Don’t hesitate to share that you are in primary/secondary school.
HOW TO REACH THE MEDIA
With a written pitch in place, you’re ready to begin reaching out. Determining what media outlets to send your pitch to, and the right reporters, just requires a little research. Research which outlets are speaking to a similar audience that you would like to target and make a list of the media that covers news in your area:
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Radio Stations
- Television Stations
- Websites / Bloggers
On the websites of newspaper and broadcast stations, you can usually find general contact information for the News Desk or Assignment Desk, or perhaps there is a general email address for “news tips.”
Try to dig a little deeper and find the journalist you think would be most interested in your pitch. It might be an education or technology reporter, someone who writes a column about happenings in the local community, who covers your school, or a reporter who focuses on people making a difference. You can ask for specific reporters’ email addresses or direct phone lines by calling the main news desks.
Tailor your pitch with a personalized introduction for these reporters. For example, “I saw you recently wrote about XYZ local business that was raising funds for the food bank. I’m a student at [school name] and am also trying to make a difference in our community with a new app I built to address [problem].”
WRITING TIPS: WHAT TO INCLUDE
Once you’ve determined your ‘unique’ factor and the key reasons a reporter would want to cover your project, team or event, you’re ready to write your pitch.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Pitches should be kept to 200 words or less.
- Make sure the subject line is clear and concise, for example, “Technovation Girls develop an app to help refugees in need—see for yourself!”
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Try to capture reporters’ attention with an opening sentence that immediately shares the problem you’ve identified and your solution through Technovation, as well as why it’s important news to your community. (Your research will come in handy here!)
- For example: “The local government estimates that 50% of children in our community don’t have access to XYZ. Now, girls participating in Technovation Girls at XYZ school have developed a solution. Our new app will…”
- Consider what media trends can tie your pitch into something bigger (i.e. climate change, human rights, gender equality, or anything relevant happening locally/regionally).
- Use specific examples whenever possible. If there are materials or videos to show what you are working on, try to include them.
- If there is recent news coverage around the issue your app is solving for, include a link to the most relevant story.
- Include 2-3 photos of your team and/or a link to a video of you describing your Technovation project – reporters like to see who they could be interviewing!
- List recent statistics or studies from well-known organizations that support why the issue you’re solving for with your app is important.
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Include a call to action at the end of the pitch email: Are you interested in learning more? Can I connect you with our team or have them answer questions?
- If you are inviting media to an event, such as a pitch event or even one of your development sessions, include in bold the date, arrival time, any directions/parking instructions they may need, as well as the phone number of an adult attending they can call when they arrive.
- Clearly define any requests you are seeking – if you're asking them to do an interview, would it be by phone call, video call, or in person? If you are reaching out to broadcast news stations, are you asking to come into their studio to discuss your project, or do you want a television crew to come to your next event to film? The more specific you are in describing how you would like a reporter to cover your story, the easier it will be for them to work with you.
- Be ready to respond quickly if a reporter comes back to you with questions or requests for more info. Email press@technovation.org right away and we can help provide any information around the program for you.
- It’s best to send emails to journalists between 5 a.m. and 12 p.m. Monday (ideal) or Tuesday. You may need to follow up 1-2 times, sent 2-3 days apart. When following up, try to share a new nugget of information or make an offer (i.e. I can answer emailed questions or connect you with another source to discuss this trend too).
PRE-INTERVIEW TIPS
If you’ve gotten the attention of a reporter and they are interested in covering your story and experience with Technovation, congratulations! Before you conduct an interview, it’s important to be prepared. Reporters ask a lot of questions, after all.
Don't be Intimidated
It’s perfectly reasonable to get nervous before talking publicly to a stranger, but remember that you are the expert. You know more about the app and your team than the reporter does, and they are relying on you to teach and inform them about how it works, why you created it and most of all, why the work you’re doing is so important.
Prepare
You don’t want to recite answers word for word or sound like you’re reading off a script, but it can be helpful to write down answers in advance to some common questions you think the reporter might ask.
- Where did you get the idea for this app?
- Who is the audience for this app?
- What sort of research did you do for this app?
- Can people download or purchase your app? Is it available in the app store?
- What impact has the program had on you? What have you learned?
- What would you tell other girls who are interested in technology?
If you’re promoting an event, review the key points you want people to walk away with and make sure you’re ready to repeat them!
- What is the event called?
- Where is it being held?
- Who should come?
- Why should they come? Why is it important and exciting?
- What will you be doing there?
INTERVIEW TIPS
Here are some other helpful tips to keep in mind as you’re communicating with a reporter or during an interview.
Don’t be afraid to ask to see the reporter’s questions in advance
Especially if the news outlet is broadcast television and you will be filmed! Reporters expect this question, since they know you want to prepare.
Ask about the format
Will the interview be recorded? If a television crew is attending your event, will their segment be live or taped? How long will the interview last? Knowing the length and format will help you ensure you get all of your “key messages” in.
Research the outlet and reporter beforehand
So you’re aware of what kind of news they cover, their style of writing or any opinions they might hold around your topic.
At the end of your interview, reporters will usually ask, “Is there anything you want to add?”
This is your chance to say any “key messages” you hadn’t had a chance to mention before, or repeat them, so you can ensure they are included in a story. We also recommend using this as a chance to share a “call to action” for other girls to visit technovationchallenge.org to learn how they can get involved themselves!
Remember to keep your responses clear and concise.
Do not speak in long sentences, but short “sound bites.” Reporters must be able to pull short sound bites for broadcast, and complete sentences for print.
When you are finished saying what you want, pause
The reporter will move on to their next question. Do not feel like you need to fill the silence. It is their job to keep the interview moving along!
If there is a question you cannot answer...
It is OK to say “that is not my area of expertise.” However, if it is a question about Technovation and you simply aren’t sure of the correct response you can say, “Let me check and get back to you.” Reach out to the Technovation team and we will prepare a response you can follow up with.
Be animated!
Convey energy and enthusiasm!
Focus on 3-4 key messages
Prepare these messages in advance that you want to present. These should include a few messages around Technovation itself (see next section).
KEY MESSAGES
Your story can help other girls realize that they can create technology, study computer science, and help their communities—just like you!
These key messages are intended to help you talk about Technovation in a clear, informative way. Review them as part of your preparation for building your pitch or being interviewed.
Technovation Girls is a global technology entrepreneurship program and competition for girls. It’s free to participate!
Technovation is open to all experience levels with technology.
Technovation has reached more than 400,000 participants in over 160 countries since 2011.
About you: What are you most proud of yourself for doing or learning during Technovation?
Media alerts are another tool to help spread the word about your project. Rather than reaching out to a specific reporter to make a pitch, a media alert is a short, public announcement that you can link to in a social media post, newsletter, or email.
You can use a public view-only google doc, a blog post, or a page on your website to host your media alert. Click the button below to list to our end-of-season media alert templates.
