Great news or stories should contain several values in order to be considered newsworthy or worthy to be shared by the media. These values are called news values, which are combinations of various factors such as the impact of the story, human interest, timeliness, proximity, conflict, and prominence. When we will pitch to the media, we should consider those things for example what kind of impact will my brand or this story have on the readers, is the theme or topic of the pitch is trending at the moment, or whether the subject, brand or figure is something that is familiar for the audience. These are important to capture the interests of the media as well as the audience.
In 2023, media pitches are an important tool in getting your message out to the right people. Here's my best tip for writing a successful media pitch: get creative! Don't just rely on what you already know or have seen done before. Think of new angles that no one has thought of yet. Brainstorm ideas and put them down on paper first, then refine them into an effective narrative. When it comes to pitching your story idea to the media, it's not enough to be well-informed and articulate; you need to stand out from the crowd. Make sure your pitch is clear, concise, original, and attention-grabbing - this will increase the chances that someone will take notice and give you the opportunity you deserve! Don't be afraid to take risks and try something new. You never know, you might just find the perfect pitch for success. Good luck with your media pitch!
Journalists are interested in pitches that go on to be inspiring publishable stories - the kind that connects to the interests of their audiences. The best tip for writing a successful media pitch is to ensure novelty and show how it will relate to the journalist's audience. To do this, ensure that there is a conflict that the audience identifies with. Connect their human interest with a character that then works to resolve this conflict in a manner that inspires them. Join these two points with storytelling, and you have a winner. Journalists will pick or follow up on a pitch that meets this crucial criterion.
It is important to research the publication or outlet in order to understand the audience and editorial focus of the publication or outlet you are pitching to. This will help you tailor your pitch and increase the chances of it being accepted. Try to keep it concise: Media professionals are often bombarded with pitches, so it is important to make your pitch as concise and to-the-point as possible. Use bullet points or numbered lists to make it easy to read, and be sure to include only the most relevant information. Clearly explain the value of your story, in order for a media outlet to cover your story, they need to understand its value to their audience. Make it clear why your story is worth covering, and how it will benefit the readers or viewers of the outlet.
I sent over 200 media pitches in 2022 and earned nearly 100 placements, including features with Business Insider and Time. When responding to media pitch requests, I developed what I call the PQA Formula: Personalize, Qualify, Answer. I personalize my pitch using the editor/writer's name or a warm, friendly greeting if the name is unknown. Next, I qualify myself in the first sentence of my pitch. My goal is to show them I have the authority to answer their question or respond to their query. Last, I answer their query as succinctly as possible. It's a pitch, not a full article or feature, so keep your response to 3-5 sentences. Be thorough enough to give them an idea of what you can contribute, but stay on topic. I also include a CTA to contact me if they're interested or need more info. The easier you make it on them, the more likely you are to get a response.
The subject line is the place to start. Journalists will read this first to gauge their interest in your pitch. Finding a distinct justification for your pitch comes next. Is it a business announcement, executive interview, or product launch? You have to put as much information in as few words as possible. No journalist wants to read a 1000-word monstrous pitch but most people can easily spare a moment to go through 150-200 words. Include key phrases or keywords that are connected to the subject matter of the journalist's coverage as well as the pitch you are making. Show that you have done your homework and you know why you are pitching them.
Identifying your target audience is important for writing a successful media pitch because it helps tailor a pitch to the specific needs and interests of the targeted journalists or outlets. By understanding the audience that a particular journalist or outlet serves, it's possible to craft a pitch that speaks to their specific concerns and interests and is more likely to catch their attention. For example, if you are targeting a journalist who writes about business and finance, it would be important to highlight how your pitch relates to those topics and how it could be of interest to their readers.
Tell rather than sell. For example, brand storytelling is probably the most important aspect of a successful media pitch, because it's your story that makes people care. While a pitch is supposed to do exactly that, it's also supposed to draw a connection between your business and your audience that gives them a reason to become personally invested. Without brand storytelling, your pitch is more of a cold sale than anything else.
As you’re writing your pitch, keep your tone in mind. The tone of your pitch will dictate how your target audience perceives you. You can be informative and persuasive with the right tone. You can also be over the top and annoying with an inappropriate tone. Before you write your pitch, think about the type of person you would enjoy talking to about the subject. If you wouldn’t have fun chatting with them, then your audience probably won’t either. Once you have a tone that you think is right, ask others to read your pitch and let you know how they perceive you. The pitch isn’t finished until you get a positive response from your target audience.
One of the most crucial components of the media pitches is to follow up on initial email pitches. Setting reminders to do this is essential because this is where the majority of your interest and answers will come from. Make sure you have a lead that will interest the person you are reaching out to before you even begin to write a pitch. Your story's lead provides the entry point and gives everything context. At the end of your follow-up email, provide your initial pitch to refresh the recipient's memory and give them more context. See my example below to learn more about how to follow up on a pitch.
Everyone knows how to find that one fascinating angle and how to write a compelling pitch to cover their story, but it is also pivotal to find the media outlet that knows what the brand wants from them. Finding a media outlet is important as finding the perfect angle for the story and writing a compelling pitch. When you focus on finding the perspective and writing the pitch, you are missing out because you are not researching which media outlet will accept your story. It is important to know about the media outlet because they give you an idea about the audience and their style of broadcasting the message.
Make it flashy and snappy. A media pitch that is lengthy and inundated with information is going to lose the attention of your audience more quickly than you can afford. Rather, keeping your information your concise and catchy, short and sweet will actually work to attract and hold your audience's attention.
The best way to have a media pitch be successful in 2023 is to be informative. You need to make sure that your pitch has data, insights, or another valuable spin on it that will make it useful to the media source. Be as detailed as possible, share your expertise and your reasoning!
From my point of view, the best tip for writing a successful media pitch in 2023 is to focus on the content. In this digital age, it is important to have a well-crafted pitch that stands out from the competition. To ensure your message is effective and attention-grabbing, you should create captivating headlines that are tailored to each platform you’ll be pitching to. Additionally, make sure to include some multimedia elements such as photos, videos, effects...
Start with a catchy subject line to generate intrigue. Journalists can receive dozens, if not more, pitches per day. Often, these emails have simplistic titles that don’t stand out. Try using alliteration, asking a question or stating a non-obvious angle. Your title is your first step to their email opening, so it needs to grab their attention. A catchy subject ups your chances that a journalist will read your pitch, leading to success.
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Media pitches are written to make it easy for the target media outlet and the journalist to cover them. To achieve this, there's a need for extensive research on the outlet and the journalist’s preference in story and content covering. This knowledge will enable you to craft a pitch that endears to their interests and areas of expertise. Having this knowledge will save you time and resources since you will only zone in on the relevant stuff and avoid irrelevant stuff.
My best piece of advice for writing a successful media pitch in 2023 is to concentrate on the story itself. A compelling narrative that draws readers in and keeps them engaged is essential for a good media pitch. It should also be tailored to the specific media outlet to which you are pitching. If you're pitching to a lifestyle magazine, for example, focus on the lifestyle aspects of the story and how it will be interesting to their readers.
It might be intimidating to pitch to brands, especially if you're just beginning your career as a content creator. Make sure you are pitching the appropriate media content, for starters. To create a media list, or a list of people who might be interested in covering your story, you need first discover relevant media contacts before drafting your media pitch. It is advisable to direct your pitch to the individual most knowledgeable about the topic you are writing about rather than the news outlet's general email address.
Research the publication or media outlet you are pitching to: Keep it concise: Media professionals are busy, so it's important to get to the point quickly and clearly. Clearly explain the value of your story: What makes your story unique and interesting to the publication's audience? Be sure to highlight the relevance and significance of your story in your pitch. Include supporting materials: Depending on the nature of your story, it can be helpful to include additional materials such as photographs, video, or data to support your pitch. Follow up: If you don't hear back from the media outlet, it's okay to follow up to inquire about the status of your pitch. However, be respectful of their time and avoid bombarding them with multiple emails or phone calls. Overall, the key to a successful media pitch is to clearly and concisely communicate the value and relevance of your story to the publication's audience.
In 2023, the most successful media pitches are the ones that will disrupt an industry. Highlight the moves your team is making and don't be modest. Share your edge with the world and let your competitors know why they should be taking you seriously. For example, if an industry legend has joined your team, shout it to the heavens. If you secured millions in VC funding, specify how many millions. Make the most of every opportunity you have to share your attack plan for 2023! I hope this helps! Best, Nick Varga nick@eridejournal.com