Why Your Media Pitches are Unanswered

One-sheet? Check!

Headshot? Check!

Emailed pitch to the editor? Check!

Heard back from the editor? Uh... no.

Here's a little reminder that the media industry is reeling from another round of layoffs. In fact, NPR recently announced that it was cutting about 10% of its staff and even eliminate most of its vacant roles.

What does this mean for you? It means exercising a little more patience and diligence when pitching for news coverage. Editors, producers, reporters and staff writers are taking on their former colleagues' workloads and the pitches haven't stopped coming in. They can barely breathe before they get another assignment. These hardworking folks - some of whom I worked with in my reporting days - have overflowing inboxes and may not have gotten to your pitch just yet.

So, if you're working with a publicist, understand that it could take a while to see the fruit of their labor. Trust and believe that they're working hard on your behalf, but it may take a while for them to have any good news for you.

If you're flying solo and DIYing your pitches, reach out to your media contacts weekly until you hear something. Once they've responded, you can kindly retreat or move forward with whatever instructions they have provided, depending on the type of response you get. Just remember to extend some grace as this is an especially tough time to be in their shoes.

In the meantime, keep showing up for your clients, customers and potentials. It's just a matter of time before your number is called!

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If you'd like help getting in touch with the media to bring awareness to your brand, get in touch with Danielle today. She has more than 20 years of communications industry expertise from reporting to editing to public relations and media relations.