Last week we posted our first top tip on what to consider when targeting the media with a pitch. In addition to ensuring that your pitch is written in an informal, conversational tone, our second most important tip is all about timing awareness:
2. OBTRUSIVE TIMING:
know before pitching when media deadlines are, as journalists are less likely to have the time to read your pitch if they are up against it timewise on a date right before the publication goes to print. Call the media you are pitching to and ask them their deadline dates – usually these are one day a week and, if on a Tuesday, the journalists who work there will avoid any non-urgent communications on the Monday and the Tuesday so Wednesday would be your best day to send them your pitch.
Tip 3 next week will give you information on how to contact the journalist with your pitch.
- Here's the rest of the series:
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 1: talk don't pitch
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 2: timing
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 3: contact
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 4: subject lines
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 5: everyday news
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 6: positioning
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 7: preamble
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 8: attachments
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 9: summarise
- The ideal pitch to the press - part 10: time sensitive
