4 great ways to reach journalists online

The number of PR practitioners is growing, while the number of journalists is shrinking. PR pros are frustrated that journalists ignore them; journalists are annoyed by the amount of pitches they receive, especially ones that are off topic.

It’s a problem begging for a solution.

For PR pros looking for better ways to reach reporters with their story pitches, some have turned to social media. It seems more journalists than ever are now on Twitter, Instagram and other platforms. So, it makes perfect sense that PR pros would want to use social media to gain better insight into what reporters are covering and what they care about.

Here are some techniques to make the best use of social media:

1. Media outreach. Social media is becoming a popular way to contact reporters, and for good reason. Their inboxes are flooded with pitches, most of which go ignored.

Social media offers a viable alternative; some journalists now invite you to pitch them directly via social media. For example, on Twitter, there are reporters who allow you to DM them—even if they don’t follow you. Some list their contact information and suggested pitching tips in their social media profiles.