How to pitch stories to Utah Valley Magazine and UtahValley360

Rebecca LaneMar 25, 201600

Utah Valley Magazine won three awards, including best magazine, in the 2015 Utah Society of Professional Journalists Awards. Utah Valley BusinessQ won second place in the Best Magazine category. And UtahValley360 won eight awards. See all the 2015 SPJ awards here. (Photo by Rebecca Lane)

Want to grab the media’s attention? Here’s how to stand out from the hundreds of emails journalists receive daily:

Pitching to Utah Valley Magazine

1. Know the audience

Each publication has a specific audience they target. For Utah Valley Magazine and UtahValley360.com, we share stories about people who live in Utah Valley. Utah Valley’s parameters go from the Point of the Mountain down to Santaquin and we have adopted Sundance as part of Utah Valley.

2. Understand the timeline

Utah Valley Magazine is published bi-monthly. We send the magazine to the printer at least two weeks before the magazine comes out (January, March, May, July, September, November). We start planning for an issue of a magazine three months before we go to print.

3. Suggest a section

Check our media kit to see which themes and stories we will be covering. In each issue of the magazine we have a local calendar section, “Must-Dos” and highlight items created her in Utah Valley, “Made in UV.” We have annual stories such as “Fab 40” and “High schoolers who will change the world.” Be specific with where you see your story fitting in the magazine.

Pitching to UtahValley360

1. Know the audience

Each publication has a specific audience they target. For Utah Valley Magazine and UtahValley360.com, we share stories about people who live in Utah Valley.

2. Tell us why we should care

There are many wonderful people in Utah Valley doing incredible things, so we need to know why you are unique. While it is nice to write out a long email, it is easier for us if you break down your email in an easy to read, bullet format, such as:

Who:
What:
When:
Why should be care:
Site:

3. Include photos and videos

We are more likely to share if we don’t have to track down a photo. Make sure you include information about the photo (who’s in it, where you are, what you are doing). If you have something that adds color to your story such as photos, YouTube videos or social media, share that with us.

Pitching YouTube videos

1. Know the audience

Each publication has a specific audience they target. For Utah Valley Magazine and UtahValley360.com, we share stories about people who live in Utah Valley.

2. Attach a high-res photo

We are more likely to share if we don’t have to track down a photo. Make sure you include information about the photo (who’s in it, where you are, what you are doing).

3. Share the 5 Ws and a quote

Journalists sometimes only have five minutes to put together a YouTube story. If you include a unique quote — one that’s not on your YouTube channel — about why you made the music video and answer the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, why), journalists are more likely to share your video.

Send all emails to news@utahvalley360.com.

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Rebecca Lane

While her first language is sarcasm, Rebecca dabbles in English and Russian to achieve her lifelong dream of being a journalist. A BYU sports fan, reading enthusiast and wannabe world traveler, Rebecca is a Colorado transplant that is convinced Colorado's mountains are much larger than the many Utah County peaks. Rebecca manages UtahValley360.com for Bennett Communications. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccalane.