What Is The State Of The New Media Today For Authors?

                                          

There are multiple types of media available to authors seeking to promote and market their books today, including news media and social media. Both have paid and free opportunities, and both allow for others to write about or interview you and for you to write things or interview others. So, what are the opportunities out there – and what is the state of mind for the media these days?

 

Let’s start off with a map of the media that you can utilize to get the word out about your book:

 

(1)   News Media:

 

a.      Print Publications

·         Newspapers

·         Magazines

·         Newsletters

 

Types of coverage could include a solo interview, quoted in a news or feature story, written about in a feature piece, book review, byline article or op-ed by you.

 

b.      Digital Media

·         Newswires

·         Web sites

·         Podcasts

·         Blogs

·         Newsletters

 

Types of coverage could include a solo interview, quoted in a news or feature story, written about in a feature piece, book review, byline article or op-ed by you, or a guest post

 

c.       Television

·         National

·         Local

·         Regionally syndicated

·         Streaming

 

Types of coverage could include being interviewed one-on-one, being quoted in a story, participating in a round-table discussion, or being talked about in a news segment.

 

d.      Radio

·         National

·         Local

·         Regionally syndicated

 

Types of coverage could include being interviewed one-on-one, being quoted in a story, participating in a round-table discussion, or being talked about in a news segment.

 

(2)   Social Media

 

a.       Posting content on your platforms like FB, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Pinterest, YouTube

b.      Other people’s social media posting about you or resharing a link/post/comment

c.       Guest-posting on someone’s social media or being interviewed by them or having them write a book review

d.      Your own blog or podcast that promotes your book or brand

e.       Using social media to reach out to targeted groups or make one-on-one connections

f.        Emailing or texting content from your social media, such as a You-tube video or your blog post

 

Muck Rack, an expensive but respected media database company, recently released its annual report on the state of journalism. When it comes to the media, there are many challenges and concerns shared by journalists, including dealing with issues of:

 

·         Disinformation and misinformation from those feeding them news stories

·         A lack of funding/profitability as a news agency

·         Public lacks trust in journalism

·         The unregulated or unchecked use of AI in journalism

·         Understaffing and time-sensitive deadline pressures

·         Government interference in the press

·         Politicization and polarizing of journalism

·         Low media literacy of the masses

·         Legal intimidation or abuse of the legal system to silence the press

·         Editorial independence

 

So, while you worry about getting attention, the media is concerned with its own issues as well.

 

Another issue for journalists is that, according to Muck Rack’s survey of over 1,000 journalists, nearly half of full-time journalists earn only between $40,000 and $70,000, leaving them overworked and underpaid.

 

If you are wondering which social media platforms journalists find most valuable, No. 1 was Facebook, then LinkedIn, X and Instagram. Only 2% said Tik Tok. But when asked if journalists increased their time on a specific platform since last year, LinkedIn showed the biggest increase. Then Instagram, you tube, and Reddit. So, FB influence on the media could be trending downward – even though it is at the top for now.

 

Journalists still say they get a lot of spam. 47 percent said they seldom or never get relevant solicitations or queries. This tells us you need to know who it is that you are contacting to seek media coverage form.

 

62% said they prefer one-on-one email pitches. 78% want to receive a pitch before noon their time. 69% prefer pitches that are 200 words or less. 50% say a follow-up email is ideal and it should come within 3-7 days later.

 

When pitching them media, keep in mind:

 

·         Not to use AI

·         Know that the journalist and their media outlet cover books/stories like yours

·         Keep the pitch short and simple

·         Personal relationships matter

 

Lastly, journalists have a wish-list of what they would like to be available to them when being pitched for a story or interview:

 

·         Show clear relevance to their beat

·         Provide interview access to all relevant sources

·         Provide original data or research

·         Give high-resolution images

·         Provide an exclusive or embargoed content

·         Share usable quotes

 

There are more opportunities today than in the history of mass communication, but each one, on average, has less influence than major media outlets used to have, so the formula is quantity and quality. You need to secure many different types and levels of media exposure in order to have a chance to move the book sales dial. Keep plugging away or hire a professional book publicist to get the job done for you.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator! 

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 6,650,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2026.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum