The Pitch That Has to Land

You are Amy Clarke. A national radio programme has asked you to write a 90-second spoken pitch explaining why Paudie's story deserves a feature — to a producer who has heard a hundred 'cute kid' pitches and is already sceptical.

Know your sceptic

Write two sentences capturing exactly what the producer is thinking before you open your mouth — the objection you must overcome.

What they want

In the left zone, list what the producer needs (a story with legs, a hook, a surprise). In the right zone, list what they will dismiss (sentimentality, novelty without substance).

Needs

Will dismiss

Your one claim

Write the single sentence that is the beating heart of your pitch — the claim that makes this more than a cute-kid story. Then write the one thing you must NOT say, because it will make the producer tune out.

The claim

Do not say

Draft the pitch

Write your 90-second spoken pitch in your notebook — approximately 130 words. Open with your strongest image. End with the detail that will stay with the producer after you hang up.

Hear it as the producer

Read your pitch back as if you are the sceptical producer. Identify the one sentence where their attention would waver — and rewrite only that sentence. Then give the pitch a one-word verdict the producer would use internally after the call.

Why that word?

Discuss Share your one-word producer verdict with a partner — do your verdicts agree, and does the difference reveal something about what the story is really selling?

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