How to Get News Publicity

Establish yourself as a credible source and thought leader in your industry before attempting media outreach to increase your chances of coverage. Example: Create a comprehensive LinkedIn profile highlighting your expertise, achievements, and unique perspectives that journalists would find valuable, develop a professional website with an 'About' page, bio, headshots, and examples of your work or thought leadership content, write 3-5 high-quality blog posts or articles demonstrating your knowledge on industry topics that could serve as writing samples, identify your unique angle or expertise that differentiates you from other potential sources in your field, compile a list of 10-15 industry statistics, trends, or insights you can speak to authoritatively in interviews, create a one-page speaker sheet or expert bio that summarizes your credentials, expertise areas, and media availability, gather testimonials or endorsements from colleagues, clients, or industry leaders that validate your expertise, and research recent news stories in your field to understand what angles and topics journalists are currently covering so you can position yourself accordingly.

Identify and compile contact information for journalists, reporters, and media outlets that cover your industry and target audience for strategic outreach. Example: Use Google News to search relevant topics and identify journalists who have covered stories similar to yours in the past 4-6 months, create separate lists for different media tiers including local, regional, national, and trade publications that reach your target audience, research individual journalists' recent articles, social media profiles, and beat preferences to understand their interests and writing style, compile contact information including email addresses, phone numbers, social media handles, and submission preferences for each media contact, identify freelance journalists who often write for multiple outlets and can provide broader coverage opportunities, research podcast hosts, YouTube creators, and newsletter writers in your industry who might be interested in your expertise, create category-specific lists such as business journalists, tech reporters, lifestyle writers, or industry trade publication editors, and document each contact's preferred pitch format, response timeframes, and any specific submission guidelines they've published to personalize your approach effectively.

Set up systems to track journalist requests, trending topics, and breaking news in your industry to identify timely opportunities for media commentary and coverage. Example: Sign up for multiple journalist request services like HARO, Qwoted, and Featured to receive daily opportunities where reporters need expert sources, set up Google Alerts for industry keywords, competitor mentions, and trending topics related to your expertise area, follow key journalists and media outlets on social media platforms like Twitter/X to see what stories they're working on and what sources they need, monitor industry publications and news sites for breaking stories where you could provide expert commentary or additional perspective, track hashtags like #journorequest and #PRrequest on social media for additional media opportunities beyond formal services, use tools like Google Trends to identify rising search topics and seasonal patterns that could inform your pitching strategy, create a daily routine of checking these sources during specific time blocks rather than constantly throughout the day, and maintain a spreadsheet or CRM system to track which opportunities you've responded to and their outcomes for future reference.

Develop targeted, newsworthy pitch emails that capture journalists' attention and clearly communicate your value as a source or story subject. Example: Write subject lines under 50 characters that immediately convey the news value and relevance to the journalist's beat, keep pitch emails under 200 words since 65% of journalists prefer this length according to industry research, start with a personalized hook referencing the journalist's recent work or current events relevant to your pitch, clearly state your newsworthy angle in the first paragraph including what makes this story timely and important to their audience, provide 2-3 specific data points, statistics, or unique insights you can offer that aren't available elsewhere, include your credentials and expertise briefly but prominently to establish credibility, offer multiple formats for coverage such as written quotes, phone interviews, video calls, or in-person meetings, attach a high-resolution headshot and one-page bio for easy use in articles, provide your direct contact information and availability windows for follow-up, and always include a clear call-to-action about next steps while respecting their editorial independence and timeline constraints.

Implement systematic media outreach using multiple channels and timing strategies to maximize your chances of securing coverage and building lasting media relationships. Example: Send initial pitches on Tuesday through Thursday between 10 AM and 2 PM when journalists are most likely to read and respond to emails, start with smaller, local media outlets to build a portfolio of coverage before approaching national publications, respond to HARO and other journalist requests within 2-4 hours of publication when competition is lower, follow up once after 3-5 business days if you haven't received a response, but avoid being pushy or aggressive, use different communication channels including email, social media direct messages, and phone calls depending on the journalist's stated preferences, offer exclusive angles or data to tier-one publications in exchange for prominent coverage, develop relationships by sharing relevant industry news and insights even when you're not actively seeking coverage, track all outreach activities including dates, responses, and outcomes in a CRM or spreadsheet for future reference, and maintain consistent communication with journalists who have covered you previously as they're more likely to use you as a source again.

Amplify your media coverage across all channels and use successful placements to build long-term media relationships and secure additional opportunities. Example: Share all media coverage immediately across your social media channels, website, email newsletters, and professional networks to maximize reach and demonstrate media credibility, send thank-you notes to journalists who covered your story and offer to be a resource for future articles in your expertise area, create a 'Media Coverage' or 'Press' page on your website showcasing all your media appearances to build credibility for future pitches, develop quote graphics and social media content highlighting key points from interviews or articles for extended social media engagement, reach out to other journalists mentioning that you were recently featured in specific publications as social proof of your newsworthiness, monitor and screenshot all coverage for your media kit and future pitch materials, track website traffic, social media engagement, and business inquiries that result from media coverage to measure ROI, analyze which types of stories, angles, and outlets generate the best results for your goals, and maintain regular contact with successful media relationships by sharing industry insights, story ideas, and relevant information even when not actively seeking coverage.