Nothing drives a reporter or editor bonkers more than someone who calls with story ideas but has never seen their publication or listened to their show. Many people-even seasoned public relations professionals-pitch story ideas but don't have a clue what the magazine or television station needs.

Here are other things to watch out for. What types of people do they interview? If they use multiple sources, can you recommend more than one source to the reporter? What kinds of charts/graphs/maps do they use to illustrate stories, and would you be able to supply information later for an interesting graphic?

Watch several weeks worth of TV shows where you would love to appear as a guest. Listen to a particular radio show regularly to get a good feel for the host's interviewing style and the types of guests who appear on the show. If you still aren't sure about the kinds of guests the host is looking for, you can always call an assistant producer and ask. Be forewarned, however, that the bigger the media outlet, the less time they will have to answer your questions. Pay attention to newspaper and magazine columnists, too. They always need fresh ideas but are often overlooked by people who call feature editors and reporters instead.

For more information on how to write the perfect pitch, and who to send your pitch letter to, see Special Report # 7 "How to Write the Perfect Pitch Letter That Convinces an Editor to Write About You"