Do you struggle to decide whether to phone or email a journalist with your news update?
The truth is there is no easy answer. Some editorial contacts have a strict 'email it over' policy and will get back to you if they are interested. If you are building up your relationship with journalists a quick phone call to pitch your idea could work but be sure you're not calling when they are up against press day and working to tight deadlines.
In my days working within the editorial team on a weekly magazine, we used to receive hundreds of press releases every day. Every day. Each. Editorial staff simply can't get back to every person who sends a press release in so don't be disheartened if you don't hear back. There are also cases of press releases being used and again, the journalist may not even have time to let you know it has been used. At the end of the day, the job of the journo is to write, fill their page, submit their article. They simply don't have time to get with feedback to everyone. It's worth making friends with the editorial assistant as they may be able to give you some feedback and pointers.
The truth is there is no easy answer. Some editorial contacts have a strict 'email it over' policy and will get back to you if they are interested. If you are building up your relationship with journalists a quick phone call to pitch your idea could work but be sure you're not calling when they are up against press day and working to tight deadlines.
In my days working within the editorial team on a weekly magazine, we used to receive hundreds of press releases every day. Every day. Each. Editorial staff simply can't get back to every person who sends a press release in so don't be disheartened if you don't hear back. There are also cases of press releases being used and again, the journalist may not even have time to let you know it has been used. At the end of the day, the job of the journo is to write, fill their page, submit their article. They simply don't have time to get with feedback to everyone. It's worth making friends with the editorial assistant as they may be able to give you some feedback and pointers.