Suggesting a story in media lingo is called “pitching.” It is important to tailor your “pitch” appropriately for news or public affairs. News stories require a very timely news hook (event, action, etc.) and tend to be shorter stories (“pieces”) that contain less analysis. Public affairs programs look at unfolding ramifications of stories that are not as breaking or time-dated.
Typically, public affairs programs offer more in-depth analysis of an issue and are longer in length. Be familiar with the program to which you are pitching. It is useful to first look at the producer’s website, review past transcripts, listen to or watch the program, in order to get a feel for the flavor of the program, and look over their submission guidelines.
Submitting an action alert or an article is useful as background material. Note: sending only an article, action alert or press release that doesn’t succinctly explain the story and its connection to larger social, political or economic trends is not an effective pitch.
ABC News
47 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-7777
D.C. Bureau phone: 202-222-7777
General e-mail:
netaudr@abc.com ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings:Phone: 212-456-4040
Fax: 212-456-2795
E-mail:
netaudr@abc.com Nightline:1717 DeSales St., NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-222-7000
E-mail:
niteline@abc.com 20/20:147 Columbus Ave., 10th fl, New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-2020
Fax: 212-456-0533
E-mail:
2020@abc.com ABC's Good Morning America:147 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-5900
Fax: 212-456-7257
E-mail:
netaudr@abc.com CBS
CBS News524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-4321
Fax: 212-975-1893
D.C. Bureau phone: 202-457-4385
CBS Evening News with Dan Rather:Phone: 212-975-3691 or 202-457-4385
Fax: 212-975-1893
The Early Show:Phone: 212-975-2824
Fax: 212-975-7133 or 212-975-2033
60 Minutes:555 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019-2985
Phone: 212-975-2006
Fax: 212-757-6975
60 Minutes II:Phone: 212-975-6200
CNBC
2200 Fletcher Ave.
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Phone: (201) 585-2622
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Email:
info@cnbc.com CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1906
E-mail: cnn.feedback@cnn.com
CNN Washington Bureau820 First St. N.E., Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-898-7900
Fax: 202-898-7923
CrossfirePhone: 202-898-7655
Fax: 202-898-7611
Larry King LivePhone: 202-898-7690
Fax: 202-898-7686
Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229
Email:
comments@foxnews.com MSNBC
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: (201) 583-5000
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Email:
world@msnbc.com NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4444
Fax: 212-664-4426
Washington Bureau4001 Nebraska Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Phone: 202-885-4200
Fax: 202-362-2009
NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw:Phone: 212-664-4971 or 202-885-4259 Fax: 202-362-2009 E-mail:
nightly@nbc.com NBC News' Today:Phone: 212-664-4602 or 202-885-4231
Fax: 212-664-4426
E-mail:
today@nbc.com Dateline NBCPhone: 212-664-7501
Fax: 212-664-7864
E-mail:
dateline@nbc.com Public Broadcasting
PBS1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-739-5000
Fax: 703-739-8458
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer3620 South 27th St., Arlington, VA 22206
Phone: 703-998-2150
E-mail:
newshour@pbs.org National Public Radio635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-3753
Phone: 202-513-2000
Fax: 202-513-3329
E-mail: Jeffrey Dvorkin, Ombudsman
ombudsman@npr.org All Things Considered:Phone: 202-513-2110
E-mail:
atc@npr.org Morning Edition:Phone: 202-513-2150
Fax: 202-513-3329
E-mail:
morning@npr.org National Newspapers
Los Angeles Times202 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 800-528-4637 or 213-237-5000
Fax: 213-237-4712
E-mail:
letters@latimes.com New York Times229 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-556-1234
Fax: 212-556-3690
D.C. Bureau phone: 202-862-0300
E-mail:
letters@nytimes.com USA Today1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22229
Phone: 800-872-0001 or 703-276-3651
Fax: 703-247-3108
E-mail:
editor@usatoday.com Wall Street Journal200 Liberty St., New York, NY 10281
Phone: 212-416-2000
Fax: 212-416-2658
E-mail:
editors@interactive.wsj.com Washington Post1150 15th St., NW, Washington, DC 20071
Phone: 202-334-6000
Fax: 202-334-5269
E-mail:
ombudsman@washpost.com Associated Press50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-621-1500
Fax: 212-621-7523
D.C. Bureau phone: 202-776-9400
Magazines
Newsweek251 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-445-4000
Fax: 212-445-5068
E-mail:
letters@newsweek.com TimeTime & Life Bldg., Rockefeller Center, New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-522-1212
Fax: 212-522-0323
E-mail:
letters@time.com U.S. News & World Report1050 Thomas Jefferson St., Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-955-2000
Fax: 202-955-2049
E-mail:
letters@usnews.com