8.4.2 The story outline (pitch)

Once you have figured out what kind of images will appear in your piece, you can include those ideas when you pitch your story to a TV producer.

In general a pitch should not exceed 150 to 200 words. It should contain a “hook” – a sentence that immediately attracts and impresses the person responsible for TV assignments ¬– and a few sentences about the content and significance of the story you’ve chosen.

It is useful to study the style of outlines written for the TV station where you wish to work. Above all, however, the outline should be compelling. It should also show that you are capable of grasping the subject and maintaining the right perspective. Sometimes, it is better to astonish the audience, to surprise them through images, rather than just educate them through words.

EXAMPLE:
You will see this sample pitch again in Exercise 1 of Section 8.22 Self-teaching questions [ www.wfsj.org/course/en/L8/StqL8ex1.html ]:

From battlefields to our homes
A revolutionary substance, developed originally for neutralisation of poisonous gases, will now clean polluted air in our homes. Czech researchers were the first in the world to find a substance that can decontaminate military gases without causing harm to hi-tech electronics. Now, the substance will be used in the civilian sphere, for example as a component of paints on the interior and exterior walls of our houses. Our environment is filled with invisible harmful particles released by glue, rubber, carpets, lacquer and various emollients that can have a negative effect on us.

Thanks to a new technology called anatas modification of titanium dioxide (TiO2), researchers at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the company Rokospol, have created a substance that triggers photocatalysis (a reaction that uses light to split organic substances), to significantly reduce the amount of harmful elements in the air (within 10 hours by approximately 10 %) and transform them into harmless water and carbon dioxide. Its use in future in multifunctional paints will not only enhance the durability of surfaces and beautify our walls – but also protect the air we breathe.

previous | home | next