By Ron Bolosan and Eric Silverman, Cahill Strategies LLC.

There are two sides to every coin. In this case, you have two people who are eager to get up and practice their public speaking skills and on the other side, they are also anxious about trying something new. The goals were aligned, however, for Meet and Pitch the Media Night in that we each wanted to send out an important message that needed to be heard.

We spent the week leading up to the event going over our pitches and sealing the cracks on possible questions the panel could ask us. That night, the room pulsed with the nervous electricity that tends to permeate these kinds of events, whether from awkward first encounters or just the general discomfort that comes with trying to convince a room of why your story deserves a platform. However, all that would soon disappear as the panel finally kicked off. We watched as the first presenter worked the room; she met all the criteria we had been working on ourselves in preparation for the event, and we began to relax.

The panel was made up of an array of leading local print and broadcast journalists including Archie Snowden of Fios, Jamie Herzlich from Newsday, Jenn Rose from WPIX, and Ryan Bonner of the Patch, each one with their own particular and distinct formula for measuring a story’s relevance and ratings. We were especially taken by their compassion and patience as they explained to us their busy routines. the pressures of meeting deadlines and the work that goes into crafting timely relevant releases. It was an interesting experience to learn the behind-the-scenes process that goes into a journalist’s decision-making about whether to pursue a story. It was especially fascinating to be able to hear their criticisms of some of the more common mistakes people make without realizing it, such as the correct formatting of the subject line in an email pitch so it stands out in a sea of others competing for attention in their inboxes.

Overall, the experience was truly uplifting. We felt confident enough in our speaking abilities, but the event was humbling in its own right. We were grateful to be speaking in front of an esteemed panel of media personalities. The feedback they provided for each pitch was constructive, educational, and informational. Each panelist offered a look into their daily life and routine, what they look for, how to get in touch, and most importantly when it was appropriate to reach out to them. The event offered some great conversation with other outgoing individuals interested in spreading their message. Thanks to PRPLI and the panelists.