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Pitching in a hot news cycle

Pitching in a hot news cycle

Americans just experienced a drawn-out, contentious presidential election — and for weeks it seemed like every news story was focused on politics. When so much coverage is devoted to a single issue, pitching the media can be a daunting task. But organizations still need to share their messages.

Luckily, there are ways to continue pitching — while acknowledging a hot news cycle. Here’s how.

Tie your message to current events

Did the presidential election make your pitch extra timely? If so, spell it out for a reporter. Maybe now’s the moment to ask the incoming administration to prioritize your issue. Can you make a strong case for why the outcome of the election affects your industry?

Be upfront

Remember that the journalists receiving your emails are real people, not media robots. If you had sleepless nights during the election, they probably did too. And they’re likely still swamped with post-election coverage. It’s ok to acknowledge that and relate on a human level. Try something short and simple like “I’m sure you have a ton on your plate, but when things settle down, I’d love to connect with you on X.”

Try new beats

Even though the election is over, many political reporters are still overwhelmed with work. If you usually focus on political media targets, now might be a good time to try different beats. Is there any angle you can approach education or environmental reporters with?

The world is crazy right now. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit and wait for a lull in the news to get your message out. There are always ways to make your story relevant to the media.

Sandra Ramos
sandra@kbc.us