If you are pitching your story through a letter, that letter needs to be short and to the point. Reporters do not want to read a long pitch and if they get one, they will probably not look at it. The will especially not look at it if it is really wordy and such.

They will be interested in pitches that are quick, to the point, and interesting. You have to give them something that people want to hear. Your job is to get publicity, their job is to keep the public interested in what they publish and say. You have to keep their job in mind when performing your job or else nothing will work out for you.

If you are trying to get your story published or talked about on a talk show or something of the sort, you will have to be sure that you understand at least a little bit of the reporters style. You have to know what angle he likes to take and what kind of personality he puts into his stuff.

If you know him or her like this then it will be easier for you to make a good pitch. If you know them, you can make a pitch that is suited for them. If it is suited for them they will be more likely to respond and not leave you hanging on your own.

If you were to try to pitch a story with someone who is very serious and your pitch was all humor, you probably would not impress him or her and your pitch would probably be ignored. But if you either pitched something serious, or found a humorous person to pitch your story to then you are much more likely to get it published because your story will match their style.

If you are pitching a story that you want to be published, you will have to make sure to pitch it a lot in advance of when you actually want it published. It will sometimes take time to reach a reporter and convince him or her that you are in earnest.

You have to allow time so that you can pitch it and follow up with it and do everything necessary so that they feel pitching your story is worth their time. If they feel that you do not really care or that your story is not that interesting, they will not give you the time of day. You have to be convincing.
Reporters will feel that you are in earnest if you are sure to pitch and follow up. You do not need to be an annoying little puppy dog on their heals. You need to push while also being sophisticated and mature.

If they feel you are annoying them, they will get frustrated with you. If they feel that you are mature and that you are pushing because the story is important to you, you are a lot more likely to get it published.

For more articles and information on pitching your stories you can turn to the following sites:

http://101publicrelations.com/perfect-pitching.html?s=prideas&c=perfect_pitching
http://101publicrelations.com/pitchletter.html?s=prideas&c=powerful_pitch_letter
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/rewriting_the_key_to_successful_pitch_letters_000097.html
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/followup_calls_the_inside_scoop_000094.html
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/provide_multiple_sources_when_pitching_to_reporter_000046.html
http://www.publicrelationsideas.com/pitching_morning_shows_how_to_handle_the_brushoff_000008.html