QUICK GUIDE FOR PITCHING STORIES TO ‘THE REST OF THE WORLD
Thank you for your interest in helping to tell important stories about people and global issues that deserve far more attention than they are getting in mainstream media. As mentioned in the above video, I am an independent journalist and I am not selling anything to NGOs. I earn money from subscribers to my TheWorld.Substack.com newsletter. I hope that NGOs and their important work can benefit from wider exposure on global social media.
When will the newsletter publish on a regular schedule? As soon as I get enough episodic pieces done to serve up on a frequent basis.
What kinds of stories? News and features.
(1) NEWS This means a story about a new development of some kind. It could be progress, or a setback, in any kind of project, program, ongoing disaster, or issue. Don’t worry about whether it is a big international story. The whole point of ‘The Rest of the World’ newsletter is to draw attention to news stories that do not normally appear in the world’s major papers or websites. It might be a small piece of a big international development or issues. Or it might be an isolated development that only you and a small group of others know about.
The main point is that it needs to be ‘newsy’ (and not old news that everyone around the world already knows). Also, ‘newsy’ does not necessarily mean that it needs to be an event that occurred today. We’re NOT trying the be a CNN-type headline service. For our purposes ‘newsy’ means new to the wider world.
You may think that your particular piece of news is not worthy of international exposure. But don’t think that way. As long as your story ideas relate to your mission in some way, you have a potential story of widespread interest. That’s what I am here for, to discuss your ideas and determine whether they can be turned into the kind of stories that can interest a global audience, and to produce such ideas into multi media stories that contain news, as well as emotional impact.
It does not mean that I will automatically produce a story just because you think it is newsworthy. I use my professional judgement and experience to (A) determine whether there is potential for appealing to a global audience, (B) communicate with you about how the idea might be developed and what would be involved in terms of accessing video, or audio, phone chat interviews, photos etc., and (C) turn good ideas into produced pieces that appear in the Substack newsletter.
(2) FEATURES This makes it possible to tell important stories without them needing to be ‘newsy.’ As I always say, everyone has a story with natural (organic) drama and suspense. The secret is to focus on features that (A) provide the audience with an ongoing emotional connection to individuals, (B) inform readers, viewers and listeners about the major Issues that these individuals are dealing with, and (C) provide the natural suspense to attract audiences to stay engaged (watch my own ‘serial storytelling’ techniques).
What kinds of Features? Stories about people whose lives are caught up in big issues. Refugees, farmers, human rights abuse victims, hungry families, teachers, poor students, persecuted minorities, scientists, health workers, doctors, nurses, refugee workers, NGO staff, women’s right workers, women’s rights victims, innovators, counsellors, struggling families, war victims, famine victims, campaigners for better government. Those and countless other types of individuals are living through circumstances that include intensive personal drama, big issues beyond their control, and an uncertain tomorrow, They are our feature stories.
Here is an example. You are caring for a family that has been displayed by war, persecution, disaster or other cause. We learn their names and history. Their dreams and challenges. Two of the family are still missing. It is an hour by hour, day by day wait. I tell that story in serial form. Each instalment opens with a summary of the story so far. Then the latest challenge, event or struggle; physical, financial, psychological, as we report the latest and update their status. We interview you, the NGO official, or other officials in order to include into context of the big issues animated by or report on this family, or individual. We tease ahead to the next instalment. The audience is primed to subscribe and find out what happens next. Readers and viewers are also motivated to share the story with their social media friends. We have embedded the most potent triggers for social media growth; emotional attachment, empathy, a sense of being on a journey with a family or individual, and the motivation to keep coming back to experience the evolving story over and over again. Plus, we have included your donation link. This kind of approach can be applied to many stories out there. Real drama, real suspense, real proof that you are involved in making the world a better place.
WHY I LOVE SERIAL STORIES WITH SUSPENSE As I point out in my Video Guide to Serial Storytelling (watch below), natural suspense is the key to (A) telling a story that holds your attention from moment to moment, and (B) keeping your audience coming back for future episodes. Serial stories will be a unique and frequent feature of my ‘Rest of the World’ newsletter. I can also be an important factor toward helping you to increase the global reach of your public support campaign.
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HOW MY STORIES ARE PRODUCED
The Pitch. It begins with you. Your ideas or concepts. Don’t try to limit yourself. No matter how obscure the location or difficult the logistics, tell me about your work and the people who benefit. I will help you refine any story idea, but I can not make them up on my own. Only you know what is out there and the world needs to know. Some ideas will work, others may not. But can not help you get to that point unless you contact me first. If an important story , a chance to publicise something important, falls through the cracks because you were not sure if you should pitch me or ask me, it might be an opportunity lost. These are your stories to champion or to leave in the dark.
The Plan In the next production step I will make a plan. I will suggest how to structure the story, how it will unfold, who I should interview, how many segments there should be, and what kind of cooperation I will need from you in setting it up.
Logistics I will suggest, step by step, how to obtain all the material needed to produce the most possible story. This can include such things as video which you already possess, phone call videos during which I conduct interviews. live video calls which I will record, and photographs. Some locations will be difficult to access by internet. In those cases I will make a plan for diaries to be recorded on audio, video or on paper, and send to me. I will be able to tell you well in advance whether a story is logistically feasible or not.
Writing and Editing. That’s all done by me.
Publishing I will post the edited stories onto my page at TheWorld.Substack.com The format will be multi media. In other words, I will use all the material available to me. A typical story might have text and well as video. I will also use audio only, when video is not available.
Credits Your logo or your web link will be including in the newsletter and in any versions of the story that appear on other social platforms.
KEEP THEM COMING Do not give up if your story idea is not suitable for the newsletter. It might be due to logistical issues, timing or other editorial reasons. I’ve often pitched ideas to my network producers that didn’t work out. But I learned that the odds are if I kept them coming, something would click. Further down on this page I will provide some ideas to help pitch ideas more likely to be winners. And remember, a great story idea can come from anyone within an organisation.
I look forward to working with you to tell your stories to a global social media audience.
