NIC Karachi hosted a session titled What Makes a Startup Story Newsworthy, featuring Talib H., who brought more than 20 years of experience across journalism, broadcast media, government communications and corporate affairs to the conversation. The session addressed an area that many founders overlook until they are already trying to get coverage, namely how media decisions actually get made and what separates a story that earns attention from one that does not.
The session brought together startups and professionals interested in understanding how media works and how their own stories can earn meaningful coverage. Through practical discussions and real world examples, participants explored what makes a story newsworthy in the first place, moving founders away from assuming that any product launch or milestone automatically deserves press attention and toward a more realistic understanding of what journalists are actually looking for.
Participants also learned about the different types of media stories that exist and how journalists identify and select stories to pursue, giving founders insight into the decision making process on the other side of the pitch. This kind of behind the scenes understanding can help startups tailor their outreach more effectively, rather than sending generic announcements that are unlikely to catch a journalist’s interest.
A central focus of the session was how startups can effectively present their products, people, data and impact to create genuine opportunities for media visibility. By connecting these specific elements, product details, human stories, measurable data and broader impact, to the earlier lessons on newsworthiness, the session gave founders a practical framework for building their own media narratives. NIC Karachi continues to receive support from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication Pakistan, Tech Destination Pakistan and Ignite National Technology Fund, along with private sector collaborators LMKT, LuckyOne Mall and Orbit Ventures.
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