JUF editor Aaron Cohen offers several tips for successful pitching. Pitch Aaron by email at aaroncohen@juf.org or by calling him at the office at 312-346-6700.

Looking for more contacts to pitch? Check out our new Online Media guide for FREE!

WBEZ Education Reporter Linda Lutton offers several tips for successful pitching. Contact her at 312-948-4608. Watch the video to get more info and understand the best way to pitch her.

Chicago Tribune reporter and 2011 Terkel Award winner Antonio Olivo discusses how relationships are a key part of pitching to reporters.

Pitch Antonio at 312-222-4636 or email him at aolivo@tribune.com

Looking to pitch your story to residents living in the South West side? We asked Brad Cummings over at the Austin Voice and the Garfield-Lawndale Voice, “what’s the best way to pitch your organization?” Watch the video to find out and give him a call at 773-889-0880.

Suzanne Baker and Roy Bernard of the Joliet Herald tell you to have your story “focused” and feature people and events within the community the paper serves. Find out more tips and their contact information to pitch them your story!

People to Pitch: Burt Constable, Daily Herald

Burt Contstable offers some great tips on how to pitch the Daily Herald and how to relate to journalists to cover your story. Watch the video to get his contact info!

Scott Davidson, WBPX-AM/1500 radio

If your communications budget is tight, but you need to reach a large audience about your message or event, consider radio.  Scott Davidson, general manager of WPJX-AM/1500, PSA contact and host of “Rebel Radio,” says using public service announcements (PSAs) allows nonprofits to diversify their message and target niche audiences for free.

When pitching to Davidson or other PSA directors, make an initial contact to learn submission requirements, he says. By email, fax or mail is fine for Davidson, however he says other directors may not offer as many options. Some directors only take calls and/or submissions at certain times, he says.  Plan four to six weeks prior to your event if submitting to WPJX, says Davidson. Read the rest of this entry »

Who is telling your story? You can get online and on the radio and do it yourself–every day–as part of the  Vocalo.org/FM 89.5 Daily Thread, says editorial producer Dan Weissmann.

You’ll have a chance to share the personal stories behind your organization’s mission, which can help build your brand and highlight the issues your group is tackling.

“I would say the best way to use Vocalo is the same way to use blogging and social media as a way to project yourself out into the world,” says Weissman. The  online and broadcast station provide direct access to audiences, he says.

Each day, Vocalo has a daily thread where they collect stories based on topics in the news. If you think you have a story that would fit the daily thread conversation, then by all means, send it in. Unlike submitting a press release, contacting the editor or reporter of a news outlet, Vocalo participants can immediately share the narratives behind the work they do. Read the rest of this entry »