Failed Media Pitch? Everyone Deserves a Second Chance

Every PR professional has been there. You have all the essentials for the perfect media pitch: a captivating headline, timely topic and a respectable source who can comment – and yet, you get no responses or feedback. Your pitch has fallen flat.

So, how do you revisit a failed pitch? Below are tips you can take to revive your pitch and give it a second chance.

1. Call: Although we often rely on email, calling the reporter can be a better way to connect, assuming you’ve done your homework. Rehearse how you would respond to various objections.
2. Resend: Journalists get hundreds of emails every day, so there is a chance they could have missed the first time. Send them a quick follow-up email with an updated news hook asking if they’d like any more information on the original pitch you sent. Also, be sure to send between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., which is the best window based on numerous studies.
3. Check for updates: If your pitch is on a relevant and timely topic, it’s likely that there has been news covering it. Try approaching the pitch with a follow-up story or new angle.
4. Try a new outlet: The best pitches are the most sincere and personal, but if you cannot get any response from a reporter, it’s OK to update the pitch and send it to a different outlet.  

A media pitch can be time consuming and frustrating, but with research, creativity and persistence you may be able to breathe new life into a failed pitch.