Riding, Rooting & Storytelling
June was all about finding the right angles, whether it was a cross-country ride that resonated internationally, a nonprofit earning statewide recognition, or a storytelling event that finally got its due. Here’s what hit the headlines last month.
Client Wins
Ride Hard Breathe Easy: Jack Owens’ bike ride across the country in memory of his grandmother continued to draw attention. As a Notre Dame student, he was profiled by WNDU while passing through Indiana. Across the Atlantic, the Western People in Ireland tied the story back to his grandmother’s hometown of Mayo.
Black Girls Love Math: Earned coverage thanks to new state funding, with a mention in Technical.ly’s funding round-up and a feature on 6abc.
Mission Story Slam: PWPVideo’s storytelling event was featured by their new media sponsor, The Philadelphia Citizen, and by Billy Penn after a pitch planted last year finally blossomed into coverage.
Story Behind the Story: Jack’s Ride Across America
Jack’s story is powerful on its own: biking from San Francisco to New Jersey to raise money for lung cancer patients. But what made it resonate? Local ties.
In Indiana, the hook was Jack as a Notre Dame student biking through.
In Ireland, the hook was his late grandmother from Mayo.
The same ride, two very different stories, each rooted in place. It’s a reminder that local connections give even the biggest stories more depth — and often more reach.
Coaching Corner
Never overlook the power of tailoring your story to the audience.
For WNDU, the college connection was what made Jack’s journey relatable.
For the Western People, it was about honoring a grandmother and connecting back to Ireland.
For Mission Story Slam, it was finding the right reporter months in advance and planting a seed that eventually grew.
That’s also the key to interview prep: know who you’re talking to, and flex your story so it fits their audience.
Wrapping Up
June’s coverage showed that media wins don’t come from one-size-fits-all pitches. They come from understanding local pride, celebrating personal connections, and sometimes playing the long game.
