💡 TOP TIP THURSDAY 💡 No.4: Location. Location plays a critical role when pitching to journalists. I talk to so many people who want coverage here, there and everywhere but the reality is, you need to have geographical relevance in order for it to potentially stick. This relevance can come in all shapes and sizes but things like having a spokesperson in the area is a good start. Data and customers (case studies) also help. And so does impact! A journalist's geographical base will often influences the type of stories they cover, particularly for local or regional outlets so make sure your pitch aligns with a story happening in the immediate area or region. Journalists want content that resonates with their readers or viewers, so understanding where they are based - and the geographical coverage of the publication - allows you to tailor your pitch more effectively. Additionally, the location tied to the story itself is equally important. For example, pitching a story with a local angle to a national outlet might not work unless it has broader appeal. Similarly, if you're pitching to a publication that covers a specific geographic area, such as a regional newspaper or city magazine, your story needs to fit within the boundaries of what they typically report on. Good luck 🍀
Amanda Bunn FCIPR’s Post
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What every #journalist should consider when pitching stories.
Highly experienced comms. specialist | Head of Brand & Partnerships | Accredited CIPR Fellow | Director of The Norwich Seeker
💡 TOP TIP THURSDAY 💡 No.4: Location. Location plays a critical role when pitching to journalists. I talk to so many people who want coverage here, there and everywhere but the reality is, you need to have geographical relevance in order for it to potentially stick. This relevance can come in all shapes and sizes but things like having a spokesperson in the area is a good start. Data and customers (case studies) also help. And so does impact! A journalist's geographical base will often influences the type of stories they cover, particularly for local or regional outlets so make sure your pitch aligns with a story happening in the immediate area or region. Journalists want content that resonates with their readers or viewers, so understanding where they are based - and the geographical coverage of the publication - allows you to tailor your pitch more effectively. Additionally, the location tied to the story itself is equally important. For example, pitching a story with a local angle to a national outlet might not work unless it has broader appeal. Similarly, if you're pitching to a publication that covers a specific geographic area, such as a regional newspaper or city magazine, your story needs to fit within the boundaries of what they typically report on. Good luck 🍀
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Travel + Lifestyle Media Relations Expert | Publicist | Consultant | 💻 andrewhickeymedia.com | 📧 [email protected]
When pitching journalists, respect their inbox by following these eight tips: 1. Research: Ensure your pitch aligns with the journalist’s beat and past work. 2. Compelling Subject Line: Highlight the newsworthy aspect clearly and concisely. 3. Personalize: Address them by name and reference their work to show relevance. 4. Be Brief: Get to the point quickly, providing essential information up front. 5. Respect Timing: Space out follow-ups and keep them polite and concise. 6. Availability: Be ready to respond promptly if they show interest. 7. Avoid Attachments: Use links instead to avoid clutter and spam filters. 8. Unsubscribe Requests: Honor any requests to be removed from your list promptly. These practices help build positive relationships and increase the likelihood of your story being picked up. #mediarelations #publicrelations
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🔍💡 How to pitch like a Pro! Here are 4 tips for you to increase the wins on your pitches: Know Your Audience - Research the journalist or publication you’re pitching to. Understand their interests, the type of content they publish, and tailor your pitch to align with their style and focus areas. Craft a Compelling Subject Line - Your subject line is the first thing a journalist will see, so make it attention-grabbing and relevant. Be Clear and Concise - Journalists receive numerous pitches daily. Make your pitch easy to read by being concise and getting straight to the point. Highlight the key newsworthy elements in the first few sentences. Follow Up Professionally - If you don’t hear back, send a polite follow-up email. Reiterate your initial pitch briefly and offer additional information or another angle that might be of interest.
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💡 TOP TIP TUESDAY 💡 If I had a pound for every time someone shared their frustration and confusion as to why their pitches to journalists have not worked, I probably wouldn't be doing the day-job. (Sorry Kirsty Jarvis 😜). But, I get it! You spend time crafting the pitch, you genuinely feel what you have to share is worth talking about and right for the publication - in fact, you can even picture the headline - and then, nothing! 👻 Well fear not because over the next few weeks I am going to share a number of tips (Top tip Tuesday (and maybe Thursday) if you will) that will help you craft pitches to stand out from the sea of distractions and convince the media to cover you. My top tip for today: Do your research. Might sound obvious but so many people make assumptions about a publication, rather than fully understanding why those being featured are. Researching the journalist and publication before pitching is crucial to ensure your story aligns with their interests and editorial focus. Journalists receive countless pitches every day (up to 500) - across various channels too - and those that fail to resonate with their specific beat or the publication’s audience are quickly overlooked. By taking the time to understand what a journalist typically covers, the tone and style of their writing and the type of stories that the publication prioritises, you can significantly increase the chances of your pitch being considered. Moreover, a well-researched and tailored pitch helps in building stronger, long-term relationships with journalists. When you send relevant, thoughtful pitches that align with a journalist’s work, you become a trusted resource and can lead to more frequent coverage opportunities. In contrast, sending generic or misaligned pitches can damage your reputation and decrease the likelihood of future pitches being accepted. Best of luck! 🍀
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When pitching the media, here are some common mistakes to avoid: 1. Not researching the journalist or outlet: Sending a pitch without understanding the publication’s focus or the journalist’s beat is a huge miss. Make sure your story fits their coverage. 2. Overloading with technical jargon: Journalists aren’t looking for a product manual. Keep it simple and focus on the bigger picture—what problem you’re solving and why it matters. 3. Long, unfocused pitches: Keep your pitch concise and to the point. Journalists receive hundreds of emails daily; grab their attention quickly with a compelling hook. 4. Failing to offer a clear story angle: Simply saying your product is innovative isn’t enough. Show why your story is relevant now, and how it fits into broader industry trends. 5. Pitching without news: If your pitch doesn’t have a clear newsworthy angle—like a product launch, funding round, or significant milestone—it’s unlikely to get traction. Hope that's helpful!
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Avoid the pitching horror! 😱 We gathered insights from top journalists across entertainment, finance, business, healthcare, and lifestyle publications on what NOT to do when pitching. Here are some chilling takeaways: ▪️ Avoid Cryptic Subject Lines: A vague subject line sends shivers down a journalist’s spine. Be clear and direct! 👻 ▪️ Organize with Bullet Points: Dense paragraphs can feel like complicated spells. Keep it concise and easy to read. 🧙♀️ ▪️ Stick to Their Beat: Pitches outside a journalist's beat will have them running in the opposite direction! 🏃 Check out the rest of the journalist's responses... if you dare! https://hubs.ly/Q02WlQBH0
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How do you secure top tier coverage? Amy Lawrence, our Deputy MD, recommends: ➡️ Appeal to journalists: Have a unique perspective, stay relevant and back up your opinions with FACTS ➡️ Nail your pitch: Be punchy, interesting and original ➡️ Research: Make sure you know what your journalist likes (simple but often forgotten) ➡️ Keep an eye on your competitors: What are they talking about? How can you stand out? ➡️ Lead the conversation: Be an expert in your field and share your insights and opinions tactically Easier said than done? Get in touch.
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Literally me every time I start pitching a new story. Especially on a Friday. Yep, I sometimes send pitches on a Friday afternoon. Here's why: 1️⃣ Less Competition: Depending on the beat and time of year, Fridays tend to be quieter in terms of news cycles. Many journalists are wrapping up their week and may have more time to consider pitches. With less competition from other pitches, yours might stand out more. 2️⃣ Planning for Next Week: Journalists often plan their stories for the following week on Fridays. By pitching on Friday, you're getting your story in front of them at a time when they're actively looking for content to fill their editorial calendars. 3️⃣ Weekend Reading: Even if journalists don't respond immediately, they might read your pitch over the weekend. If they find it interesting, they could follow up on Monday when they're back in the office. Those are my "two cents," but remember, every journalist and publication is different, so what works for one may not work for another. #PR friends, what do you think about sending a pitch on a Friday? And my #journalist friends, would you like to receive a Friday pitch? Share your thoughts in the comments; I love learning new perspectives! #earnedmedia #digitalpr #publicity #publicists
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I wish I knew this a year ago the mistake that kept my pitches unread. A few weeks ago, I came across a post from Hannah Smith. She shared how journalists prefer pitches that actually match their beat, rather than just being super personalized. Honestly, it hit me hard. Back then, I was so focused on getting to know the journalist, trying to craft the perfect personalized pitch to prove I’d done my homework. But here’s the thing: I wasn’t asking the right question—Is my pitch even relevant to what this journalist covers? Here’s what I’ve realized: Journalists don’t write for themselves. They write for their readers. Their goal isn’t just to get stories published, but to get stories that people actually want to read. So, if your pitch doesn’t align with their beat or what their audience is interested in, chances are it’s going to stay unread. Now, before I hit send on any pitch, I ask myself these questions: ✅ Is my story valuable? ✅Who is it valuable to? ✅Who would care enough to read it? ✅Who else is writing similar stories? ✅Why should they pay attention to my pitch? Sure, personalization is important—it shows you’ve done your research. But making sure your pitch matches the journalist’s beat? That’s what makes a difference. What do you think—should we prioritize personalization or focus more on aligning with a journalist’s beat?
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In the latest edition of The Write Fit newsletter, Sarah Mitchell is taking on the tricky problem of writing an effective press release (AKA media release). In an age when online distribution services are closing, newsrooms are shrinking, and journalists admit to deleting thousands of press releases every year without reading them, how you write your press release can make a big difference to whether you'll get the attention you want.
Is the media release relevant in 2024?
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