How To Write A Media Pitch – With Real Examples | Otter PR
Tips for writing media pitches
An effective media pitch draws the media’s attention and persuades them to focus on the company news rather than other potential topics. Here are some guidelines for crafting a winning media pitch:
What are media pitch strategies?
Brief communications known as media pitches are frequently emailed to a magazine or newspaper editor, a radio host, a TV news producer, or a prominent media figure. To pitch their company news, marketing and PR professionals can call or use social media to reach out to media personnel. A media pitch’s goal is to persuade the recipient to write an article, produce a news segment, or inform their audiences about your company. Companies gain free publicity and increase public awareness of new products, upcoming events, or exciting company changes by doing this.
8 media pitch strategies and examples
To help you understand, go over the following media pitch techniques and illustrations:
1. Company announcement pitch
A pitch for a company announcement seeks to highlight company news and persuade media representatives to publicize it locally, nationally, or internationally. The company may make announcements about new hires, business growth opportunities, new products or services, improvements to existing products or services, or partnerships with other companies and nonprofit organizations.
Example:
Hello Kennedy Smith,
Our restaurant, Floral Veg, is extending our patio seating on our ground floor to maximize our dining capacity in preparation for the summer 2021 opening of a rooftop dining area and bar. This seems like an interesting tale to share with your readers who frequently eat out in the city.
Please call me so that we can arrange a time to meet.
Thank you,
Jordan Berwick
123-456-7891
[email protected]
2. Cold media pitch
A marketing professional who uses a cold media pitch strategy sends a media pitch to a news organization with which they have no prior relationship. You must introduce yourself, your business, the subject you want them to cover, and why in this pitch.
Example:
Hello Kennedy Smith,
Jordan Berwick is my name, and I manage public relations for Baker Real Estate, which is based in southern Virginia. We assist homeowners in buying, renting, and selling homes that are within their means. We hope to extend our assistance to Southern Maryland.
Your publication focuses on southern living and ways to maximize the DMV region, so I believe mentioning our services would be very beneficial to your readers and their real estate requirements.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
Best,
Jordan Berwick
123-456-7891
[email protected]
3. Benefits-focused pitch
One or more benefits that a media outlet can gain from publishing a story about a company are highlighted in a benefits-focused pitch. The purpose of this pitch strategy is to persuade media professionals of the importance of their story and how it could compete with other media pitch concepts.
Example:
Hi Kennedy Smith,
In order for anyone to grow their own food at home, Baylor Plant Nursery has recently expanded its product line to include fruit trees and shrubs, vegetables, and edible flowers.
To demonstrate to novice gardeners that you can grow fruit and vegetables in even the tiniest spaces, we would love to collaborate on a story with your urban garden magazine. I’d be happy to send you four fruit shrubs, five heat-tolerant lettuce varieties, two squash, two cucumber, two pepper, and two tomato plants, along with containers, potting soil, gardening tools, and anything else you need to set up the ideal small veg patch, if you send me your contact information.
Excited to speak with you further.
Thank you,
Jordan Berwick
123-456-7891
[email protected]
4. Added value pitch
When marketing and PR experts believe they have a company story, news item, product, or service that could add value to one or more stories that a media outlet has already published, they will use an added value pitch strategy.
Example:
Hi Kennedy Smith,
I recently read an article in your newspaper about the employment opportunities for high school dropouts, and I wanted to talk about another story that might be relevant to the topic.
Our staffing company recently launched a new initiative in which we collaborate with neighborhood nonprofits and community centers to support high school dropouts in identifying their interests and pursuing their career goals.
Let me know if I can provide any additional information.
Best,
Jordan Berwick
123-456-7891
[email protected]
5. Previous work pitch (established contact)
Getting in touch with a media outlet or person you’ve previously collaborated with on company news is another tactic for pitching the media. This pitching technique emphasizes your professional relationship with the recipient and introduces a fresh subject they might cover in a story.
Example:
Hi Kennedy Smith,
In partnership with my employer, Garner Parks and Recreation, we worked together on the local farmers market news segment last year. Guess what? This year, we’re stepping up our efforts to hold weekly farmers markets at Brighton, Cecil, and Morgate parks throughout the summer!
I’d love to schedule a meeting with you to talk more about this exciting reporting opportunity.
Thank you,
Jordan Berwick
123-456-7891
[email protected]
6. Marketing trend pitch
You can get in touch with media outlets that cover topics and trends in your industry when your company’s brand, product line, or recent news coincides with these trends and take advantage of it.
Example:
Hi Kennedy Smith,
New HR programs that make it simpler to transfer current HR data into an organized, secure software program have just been created by our software company. Given the recent market trends in digitalized HR practices and the business-focused nature of your publication, I believed this could be an excellent educational article for your readers.
As soon as you can, let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Jordan Berwick
123-456-7891
[email protected]
7. Product or service pitch
This kind of media pitch focuses on highlighting a brand-new, upgraded, or existing good or service that your company provides to customers. This might involve talking about a forthcoming product launch or how a customer used a product or service to enhance a particular aspect of their life.
Example:
Hi Kennedy Smith,
Jordan Berwick, the PR specialist for Creekside Cakes & Cafe, is my name. They will start serving handcrafted ice cream made with ingredients from nearby dairy farms on May 1, 2021. I wanted to get in touch with you to let you know about this exciting addition to the beloved downtown institution because I think it would make a great news story as we head into spring.
Im excited to speak with you further.
Thank you,
Jordan Berwick
123-456-7891
[email protected]
8. Follow-up pitch
Follow-up media pitches are used by marketing and PR professionals to reintroduce a media pitch they previously sent to a media outlet. This increases their chance of being noticed if the media outlet previously received a lot of media pitches.
Example:
Hi Kennedy Smith,
I sent a media pitch last week about the upcoming charity run at the end of this month, and I’m following up with you now. I believe that this would make a fantastic story for the newspaper’s community section, and I would love to meet with you to talk about possible stories and coverage options for the occasion.
I would appreciate a quick response so we can talk about the specifics.
Best,
Jordan Berwick
123-456-7891
[email protected]
FAQ
What’s a media pitch?
- Types of Leads in Journalism. …
- Media Pitch Structure and Basics. …
- Subject Line for Pitch Emails. …
- Use Timely News Stories and Research. …
- Know the Reporter’s Beat. …
- Keep it Concise and Know Your Story. …
- Following Up is Key to Media Pitching. …
- Cold Pitch.
What makes a good pitch in media?
A media pitch is a brief message, usually sent via email or direct message, that suggests a news story to an editor or journalist at a newspaper, radio station, or television network. The purpose of a pitch is to gain attention and ascertain whether your media contact is eager to develop a story around the content.
