5 Techniques for Crafting Attention-Grabbing Media Pitches that Secure Coverage
In the fast-paced world of media relations, securing coverage requires more than just a good story. This article unveils expert-backed techniques for creating media pitches that captivate and compel. Drawing from insights shared by industry professionals, readers will discover strategies to build connections, craft audience-driven hooks, and leverage global trends to become indispensable assets in the eyes of journalists.
- Build Genuine Connections with Journalists
- Craft Audience-Driven Hooks for Media Pitches
- Leverage Global Trends in Pitch Strategies
- Prove Your Value as a Permanent Asset
- Become a Trusted Resource for Reporters
Build Genuine Connections with Journalists
The most effective technique I've found for grabbing journalists' attention is making my communications genuinely conversational rather than formal or sales-oriented. I've had great success adding small informal elements to my pitches, like casual phrases or even the occasional emoji, which helps establish a human connection in what journalists know is a professional exchange. When following up, I've learned to be patient and strategic—waiting an appropriate amount of time before checking in and sometimes switching to LinkedIn if emails go unanswered. What truly makes the biggest difference in securing coverage isn't just the initial pitch, but building ongoing relationships with a small number of publications that align perfectly with your expertise, rather than casting an impossibly wide net. I always focus on providing real value in every interaction, which journalists remember long after the specific pitch has passed.
Craft Audience-Driven Hooks for Media Pitches
One technique that never fails us is to start the pitch with a fantastic, audience-driven hook—explaining the story in terms of why it would be relevant to the journalist's readership now, not why it would be relevant to us.
The combination that delivers the greatest impact is newsworthiness coupled with specificity. Instead of vague claims ("We launched a new product that is innovative"), we find:
- Timeliness - Do we have a trend, event, or cultural moment we can tie it to?
- Impact - How does it affect their everyday life, industry, or bottom line?
- Proof - Can we back it up with facts, expert opinion, or a compelling story?
For example, when presenting a new AI platform, instead of "We launched an AI app", we framed it as:
"AI-generated video is about to take off on TikTok—our app enables everyday users to accomplish in seconds what took studios days. Our early adopters are already seeing their videos achieve 10 times more views."
That shift from feature-driven to story-driven and audience-driven created a ripple effect and gained various media pickups.
Leverage Global Trends in Pitch Strategies
I analyze the news landscape to identify global trend discussions. Then I offer relevant news related to journalists who have recently covered these topics.
There are some techniques I use in the subject line when emailing them. For example:
1. Sometimes, I play with the title of their recent article. This helps to increase the open rate.
2. Numbers, popular names, and research are among the standard attention-grabbers. I put the word [research] in square brackets. The same applies to [exclusives].
In the email body, I use a simple structure and bold the main phrases. Some of these could sound like potential topics for their next piece.
If I offer speakers from different organizations who can cover the topic from various angles, it often accelerates journalists' engagement.
If we are in contact but I notice that the email wasn't opened, I may reach out to the journalist on WhatsApp or LinkedIn to ensure my email wasn't lost.
We never know newsrooms' plans for the day, but if your news is timely, important to a large number of people, and you have sufficient information, it undoubtedly boosts the chances of securing coverage.
Prove Your Value as a Permanent Asset
My business often hires temporary staff for our busiest seasons. The traditional approach for many people is to simply do the job and hope for a permanent position. However, this is a passive strategy. The most valuable people, the ones we retain, don't just do their work. They prove they're indispensable.
The single most valuable tip I can offer is to stop behaving like a seasonal employee and start acting like a full-time operations director. From an operations standpoint, your job isn't just to handle customer problems as they arise. It's to identify recurring problems and solve them. You need to become an expert on the pain points in the system. From a marketing perspective, this is your opportunity to market yourself as an essential asset. You don't just manage the day-to-day operations. You improve the entire operation.
The process is straightforward but requires a different mindset. First, pay attention to what goes wrong or what takes too long. Is it a certain process? A question that consistently arises? Second, take the initiative to find a solution. It could be as simple as creating a brief guide for your team or suggesting an alternative way to handle a common issue. Third, present that solution to your manager. You're not complaining. You're coming to the table with a new process.
The impact of this approach is immediate. You've transformed yourself from a temporary expense into a permanent asset. The company doesn't just see someone who can answer calls; they see someone who is invested in making the entire system more efficient. When a full-time position becomes available, you've already demonstrated your worth. You are no longer just a candidate; you are the solution to one of their problems.
What I've learned is that the best way to secure a permanent job isn't about just doing what you're told. It's about building a case for your own value. My advice is to stop being just a worker. Instead, identify a problem in the business and fix it. The people we retain aren't just good at their job; they're the individuals who make our business run better.
Become a Trusted Resource for Reporters
I don't "craft pitches" for journalists. My business is a trade. The one technique I use to get a local reporter's attention is simple: I make myself a resource for them, not a source for a sales pitch. The element that makes the biggest difference is a simple, old-fashioned one: trust.
The process is straightforward. A local reporter will call me after a storm and they'll ask for my opinion on the damage. I don't use it as a chance to plug my business. I just give them a real, honest opinion on the work. I tell them what to look for on a roof, and I tell them what to look for in a contractor. My "technique" is to just be a person who is a good neighbor.
This has a huge impact on our business. The local news story was a huge success. The phone was ringing off the hook with calls from people who were already convinced that we were a local, honest business. The "element" that made the biggest difference was that they saw that I was a person they could trust.
My advice to other business owners is to stop looking for a corporate "solution" to your problems. The best way to "craft a pitch" is to be a person who is honest and transparent. The best "element" you can have is a simple, human one. The best way to build a great business is to be a person who is a good craftsman.
