Submitting a tip to FOX31: Did you include this information?
DENVER (KDVR) — FOX31 employees receive thousands of emails every day, with most of them coming from tips viewers submit.
The tips range from questions and feedback to personal stories that viewers want broadcasted and put online.
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While the team reads through every email, specific criteria will stand out if you’re trying to get your story out to the public.
Submitting tips to FOX31
If you’re pitching a story to the station, a few factors will help the team decide whether to include your content in our coverage.
Give us the basics
If there’s not enough information in the email, the story might be passed over. It’s helpful to answer these questions:
When did this happen?
Where did it happen?
What happened?
Is there anyone we can talk to?
Provide proof
Many great story ideas get skipped over because there is not enough proof in the pitch. For news stations to cover a topic, we need proof that this event happened.
If the story pitch does not include pictures, videos, police reports or other evidence of an event, the story will not always be picked up.
Keep it local
FOX31 is a local news station with coverage across the Front Range, and sometimes all of Colorado. When FOX31 covers news, it usually includes an event happening in the area or a person from the state. While this is not always the case, it is one factor the team looks at.
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With that said, each staff member has their own way of looking through tips.
Here’s what FOX31 reporters look for
News reporters are part of the team that gets the content on air and online, and yes, they look at the viewer tips too.
Here’s what some of the FOX31 reporters look for when they’re sorting through their emails:
What I look for when someone sends in news tips is having the email/message get right to the point. If the tip is too long, it can be often overlooked because we are often looking for something that grabs our attention. I know everyone has their own stories/tips they want shared, but community impact pulls me in too. Also, if you are describing something visual always include photos or videos, please!”
Courtney Fromm
Some of our best stories come from tips from the community. A good subject line immediately pulls us in. When I look through tips, I ask myself, ‘Is this a visual story?’ ‘Would our community be interested in hearing about this?’ ‘Is there a greater impact?'”
Samantha Spitz
While this seems like a lot to consider, FOX31 often picks stories that come from viewer emails. The Problem Solvers usually investigate stories that come from tips, as well.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
