Deck 14: Pitching the Story

Question 1

Most editors are reluctant to greenlight investigative projects.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Most editors are supportive of investigative projects in concept.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A storyboard can be used in place of a project memo.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Most reporters fail to plan out in advance investigative projects they would like to carry out.

Question 5

According to Bob Greene, a good story is one that people readers feel compelled to read.

Question 6

In putting together a story pitch an editor will want to know which of the following?

A) Whether you took an investigative reporting courses
B) Whether you know how to do computer-assisted reporting
C) Whether you have a story focus
D) Whether you filed any public records requests

Question 7

What are visceral juices?

A) The feeling that most reporters get before tough interviews.
B) Emotional feelings readers get when they read something that makes them care.
C) The revved-up feeling an investigative reporter gets when he has nailed a story.
D) The feeling an editor gets when she knows an investigative story is an award-winner.

Question 8

A nerd box refers to which of the following?

A) The box where you input a program to scrape data of the Internet
B) One of the cells in the storyboard of your proposed investigation
C) The box of information that explains the methodology of an investigation
D) The box at the top of a story that credits all the reporters involved in it

Question 9

When is the best time to approach an editor with an investigative proposal?

A) As soon as you've done your preliminary research
B) As soon as you've done most of your reporting
C) As soon as you've done your key interviews
D) As soon as you develop a focused premise

Question 10

What might be a news angle for a big investigation?

A) A tip from a reliable source
B) A document you get from a public records request
C) An action expected at the state or national level that is relevant to the story
D) A problem you observe while you go about your day

Question 11

Why is a story pitch essential to the success of an investigative project?

Question 12

What's one way of convincing a reluctant editor to greenlight a project?

Question 13

What's one reason an editor might be reluctant to let you do an investigative story?

Question 14

Name two things you should include in a project memo.

Question 15

Why should you get a firm commitment from your editor for time off a regular beat?

Question 16

Why should you have a back-up plan ready when proposing an investigative project?

Question 17

How can a deadline help you get your editor to be more enthusiastic about your project?

Question 18

To build credibility, what kind of investigative story should you do at the beginning of your career?

Question 19

How can you get an editor to let you do bigger stories in the future?

Question 20

How can you prove that you can prove your premise?