Unit 2 pitch Letters

To do their job, reporters and editors need a continual supply of news tips and background materials. Your role in public relations is to come up with ideas and sell them. On another level, background information so that reporters understand a subject you’re responsible for providing well enough to write intelligently about it.

Pitch Letters

Publicists write a lot of pitch letters, and most of them are not particularly creative. The vast majority in fact, are rather dull and uninspired. Editors and reporters are busy people receiving stacks of mail every day, so it is important to write letters that will get their attention.

First, a pitch letter is at most one or two single-spaced pages. Many publicists draw the line at one page.

Second, a pitch letter should have an enticing lead.

Third, a pitch letter should get to the point as soon as possible.

A pitch letter should have the following six elements:

1. Enough facts to support a full story.

2. An angle of interest to the readers of that specific publication.

3. The possibility of alternative angles.

4. An offer to supply or help secure all needed statistics, quotes interviews with credible resources, arrangements for photos, and so on.

5. An indication of authority or credibility.

6. An offer to call the editor soon to get a decision.

Vocabulary:

background materials – вспомогательные, дополнительные материалы

draw the line – ограничить, поставить предел

dull - скучный

enticing – заманчивый, увлекательный

lead - начало

at most – максимум, не больше

particularly - особенно

a pitch letter – рекламно-информационное письмо

a publicist - публицист

single-spaced – напечатанный через один интервал

stacks of mail – горы почты

tip - совет

uninspired - банальный

vast majority – подавляющее большинство

УПРАЖНЕНИЯ:

Найдите в тексте слова, которые означают следующее

1. not showing any imagination –

2. a helpful piece of advice -

3. to set a limit on what you are willing to do –

4. very pleasant or interesting so that you feel strongly attracted –

5. not interesting or exciting –

Составьте предложения, как в примере

Reporters and editors/ a continuous supply of news tips

Reporters and editors need a continuous supply of news tips

1. Many publicists/ the line at one page.

2. It’s important to write letters/their attention.

3. You role/ with ideas and sell them.

4. Publicists/ a lot of pitch letters.

5. Most of them/ creative

Соедините слова из левой колонки с близкими по значению словами из правой колонки