Our tips on how to pitch to the media

A good pitch is essential to get your story in the media, a great story won’t get noticed if it’s pitched badly, and a bad story can get noticed if pitched correctly. That’s how important a good pitch is. So, whether you’re pitching to TV, radio, digital or print, here are our top tips.

1. Make sure you find the correct person to pitch to – this may involve a google search or a phone call to a newsdesk to find the relevant person – either way finding the correct person is essential to ensure your story lands in the right hands
2. Once you have found the right person, personalisation is key – building rapport with journalists will increase the chances of getting your story out there
3. Use a clear, concise subject line – this is what a journalist will see – it is essential it is to the point and explains exactly what you are pitching
4. Keep your pitch concise – journalists do not have a lot of time – you can follow up with more information if necessary
5. Only pitch newsworthy stories – this is essential for building rapport with journalists – if you pitch good stories, you will be trusted and your stories will get read
6. Don’t pitch too often – if you pitch lots of rubbish stories rather than fewer brilliant ones you will lose your credibility – calls and emails will stop being answered
7. Email pitches may be preferred – if you do pitch over the phone you will probably be asked to send a follow-up email, which is a waste of both your time and the journalist’s time
8. Don’t pitch and run away – you need to be available if the news outlet wants to speak to you about your story
9. Avoid pitching at evenings and weekends
10. Don’t be afraid to chase, resend emails or even call the newsdesk if applicable – but never be rude or snappy

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