Comments on: Is There a ‘Best Time’ to Reach Journalists?

By: B Lawrence

B Lawrence — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:35:00 +0000

First, call when you DON’T need something from a reporter. Email them or leave a message with a really good story idea or insight on new trends you’ve noticed–but not a story that necessarily involves your agency or your company. Just offer it as a tip, with contact info. If it’s good, then the next time you call (after, of course, asking if this is a good time to talk), you might get a better response & recognition as someone with good news sense & credible story ideas. The reporter may be far more willing to hear your pitch at that time. It does take a while to develop those trusting relationships.

By: Ashlee

Ashlee — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:04:25 +0000

Thank you for this article! I’m an intern it just started pitching yesterday.

By: GR Hansen

GR Hansen — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:41:41 +0000

You hit it at the end of your piece here. There is no Best Time, but there is certainly a worst time, and that is at or near deadline. In your relationship-building stages with media, you should get to know their deadline days or hours.

Remember, you are only in this relationship with media to Help Them, not to push your products or services. So get to know the times Not to call. And then you will find the times when they really want you to call. And much of the time, the media does want you to contact them. You can be a valuable source of content and information – that’s all.

By: Rufus

Rufus — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:34:37 +0000

1. Ask, “Are you on deadline?” and RESPECT a yes, don’t just talk faster.
2. On voicemail, state you name/number at the beginning and twice at the end. SPEAK SLOWLY
3. Stick to the 5Ws.. who, what, where, when, why.

By: Fred Freedom

Fred Freedom — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:34:54 +0000

Of course, if the story/product you’re shilling is garbage, as 98% of all pitched are, there is NO good time. There are scads of flacks whose calls I won’t take and whose emails I just delete because they never have anything useful…. just a bunch of PR technique that wastes time.