Advice from a Journalist: Telling a Newsworthy Startup Story with Maija Ehlinger

In this mini-episode of the Extraordinary Pursuits podcast, host Rachelle Kuramoto interviews Maija Ehlinger, editor-in-chief of Hypeopotamus. They discuss the nuances of storytelling in the innovation economy, the importance of timely news, and how entrepreneurs can effectively pitch their stories to journalists. Maya emphasizes the need for tailored pitches and understanding the audience to increase the chances of coverage. 

Timestamps: 

• [01:26] Understanding Timeliness in Storytelling 
• [03:54] Crafting Effective Pitches for Journalists 

Points of Wisdom: 

• Don't be discouraged if your news isn't a full story. 
• Timeliness is key in determining what makes a story. 
• Pitches should be tailored to the journalist's audience. 
• Avoid superlatives in pitches; get straight to the point. 
• Include a clear ask in your pitch. 
• Understand the trends relevant to your pitch. 
• Your pitch is an opening for conversation, not the final story. 
• Curate every pitch for better response rates. 
• Know the journalist's beat and what they cover. 
• A compelling story often hides behind timely announcements. 

About Maija Ehlinger: 

Maija Ehlinger is the editor-in-chief of Hypepotamus (aka “Hype”), the leading innovation digital news source in the Southeast. Maija's experience as a journalist has given her the chance to cover companies of every size, from seed to enterprise, but her passion is innovation companies. She took the helm of Hype after spending close to five years at CNN. 

• Website: https://hypepotamus.com/author/maijaehling 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maija-liisa-ehlinger 

BIP Ventures 

• Website: www.bipventures.vc 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/bipventures/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bipventures/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bipventures 
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@bipventures