How do you ensure your media pitches are aligned with current news cycles, and can you give an example of a timely pitch?

You have to do the work. Having been on the other side of the editorial desk for many years, I know journalists have little time to analyze the details of your story. So do the work: Write the story as if it was the finished copy, post it, create a URL, send the URL with a 2 sentence pitch (or, in an email, cut and paste the story so they don't have to click your link—time is everything). Headlines sell. Include artwork. Make it as easy as possible. Do not expect a media outlet to run your story verbatim, but you'd be amazed at how tempting that is sometimes. Polish it to a shine and make it irresistible for a journalist to follow up.

“As communications professionals, we need to understand what reporters and their audiences care about, so our pitches fit the conversation. That means keeping a close watch on what's hot in social and traditional media. For instance, if there's growing worry about road safety due to recent accidents, we might pitch a story about launching a city-wide road safety campaign. This could involve more police patrols, community programs, and improvements like new crosswalks, traffic signals, and bike lanes. By connecting our pitch to the current concern and offering solutions, we make it relevant to both reporters and the community, boosting the chances of media coverage and positive engagement with the city's efforts.”

Riding the Wave of Timely Relevance Staying attuned to news cycles is our pitch-perfect strategy. We leverage tools for real-time monitoring, ensuring our pitches align with current trends. For instance, during a surge in remote work discussions, we crafted a pitch emphasizing our client's innovative tools for virtual collaboration. This timely pitch not only resonated with journalists but also resulted in substantial media coverage, tapping into the heightened interest around remote work solutions. Lesson learned: Anticipate trends. By proactively aligning pitches with ongoing news cycles, we not only capture media attention but also position our clients as industry leaders in tune with the zeitgeist.

As a hands-on CEO in tech, I keep a pulse on trends, shaping pitches around hot topics. For example, as companies grappled with remote work adjustment, we developed an AI-powered productivity tool. Our pitch seized the opportunity by demonstrating how our tool could streamline operations in a remote environment while boosting efficiency. We leveraged this trend, resulting in a pitch that was current, relevant, and grabbed attention.