How does the news
media really operate when it comes to determining what they cover, how, and
why?
Well, first let’s
state the obvious. Most media act in accordance with a few unwritten rules:
1.
Whatever
ownership has outlined in its mission statement is what it will cover. Politics
and business interests may play a role here.
2.
Every
media outlet has to pay attention to what its readers-listeners-viewers-followers want/expect – and craft stories that appeal
to their interests.
3.
Every
media outlet that charges for access to its content and/or has advertising will
certainly craft its content to please subscribers and advertisers – and to
appeal to its advertising demographics.
4.
The
individual producer/writer/host/editor will have personal preferences, biases,
or needs that will get fulfilled in their approach to covering the news.
In a recent study
published by Muck Rack, an expensive media database, a survey show the habits,
preferences, and needs of today’s media. Take a look:
·
93%
said they prefer to be pitched via personalized e-mail, but only 21% are
receptive to mass emails.
·
64%
like to get pitches between 5 am and noon their time.
·
83%
think 1-7 days is an ideal window to follow up on an email pitch, but 17% said
wait longer than a week.
·
20%
like to get pitches on Mondays, 10% on Tuesdays, and the rest of the days of
the week were 4% or less each. 62% said they had no preference as to which date
you pitch them.
·
64%
prefer you do not call them.
·
84%
of journalists preferred using email to maintain a professional relationship
with publicists. The next closest: 25% like in-person; 25% like Twitter; 23%
like Linked In; and 21% the phone.
·
61%
of journalists prefer a pitch to be no longer than three paragraphs and nearly
a third want a pitch to be no longer than three sentences!
·
75%
of journalists are more likely to cover a story if it is offered as an exclusive.
·
Journalists
reported that the number one factor that makes a story sharable is if it
connects to a trending subject. Having images in stories was a close second.
The media says it
goes here first to get its news:
·
60%
online newspapers or magazines
·
22%
Twitter
·
5% print newspapers/magazines
·
3%
broadcast cable news
·
3%
radio
·
2%
Facebook
·
1%
podcasts
Pitches get
rejected most often because of:
·
Lack
of personalization 33%
·
Bad
timing 31%
·
Too
long 18%
·
Confusing
subject line 15%
·
Large
attachments 3%
These are general
trends to take note of, but always customize your pitch to meet the needs of the
specific media outlet and journalist that you reach out to. Follow-up and be
persistent!
PLEASE CONSULT THESE TIMELY RESOURCES
10 Tips
For Pitching Books To The Media Now
The Right Social Media Strategy For Authorshttps://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-right-social-media-strategy-for.html
Here’s My Graduation Address to the
Class of 2020 on A Writing Career
Are You Really Ready To Write, Publish & Market Your book?
Powerful 2020 Book Marketing Toolkit --
FREE
How Do Authors Promote Books When The
Media Is Corona Centric?
The Bestseller Code For Book Marketers
& Authors
32 Book Deal, Discount & Promotion Sites For You
Brian
Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas
expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or
anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and
email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when
discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog
©2020. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His
writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.
This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and
recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also
named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted
a panel on book publicity for Book Expo
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