Even in a class full of upperclassman, we still have some untapped skills that are required of professionals in our industry and one day will be required of us.
Pitching. It’s a term everyone who has taken a basic public relations course has at least heard of. However, it’s a skill and requirement that is learned by repetition and takes practice.
In our classes and at our internships, we have practiced writing pitch letters, but in many cases have never actually called a reporter and pitched a story.
On Thursday, the students working with Baylor OSO PR got firsthand experience at pitching to a real reporter. Bruce Gietzen from KXXV-TV visited our class and took the time to listen to and critique a pitch each student had prepared.
The exercise mimicked a phone call a public relations practitioner may make to a reporter to pitch a story. Students introduced themselves to Mr. Gietzen and pitched their ideas. He then offered feedback on how to improve our pitches by making them more newsworthy, speaking louder or having more information before calling a reporter.
In this class we are offered opportunities to put the skills we have learned in the classroom to practice. PR practitioners with work experience and reporters who regularly work with PR people come to our class to speak and act as mentors to our small, growing agency.
Baylor OSO PR and the accompanying class are great for any student looking to see how the real world of PR looks and works.
Cameron Proffitt
