Even better, write an article about how substack writers can respond to the media when it’s them who are doing the pitching. When substack writers go into the community and start covering stories important to people, the media will take notice, especially the local media.
Ya, how to respond to media is important. Identifying whether it’s a good fit for you is an art. You are rolling the dice because you don’t control their presentation of you.
Absolutely. So many Substack and newsletter authors are not into seeking public attention, however, I can tell you from experience, the boost in subscribers that comes from being featured somewhere feels good when it happens.
If one has to plan and undertake all such marketing tactics, tricks and text baits, there is little time left to write something worthwhile or original. Indeed, most people on Substack are generating content that is generic (food reviews, fashion, mindfulness etc etc) Substack seems to have abandoned the value (and effort, labor) of writing something useful - instead is heckling us to become managers and bureaucratic agents of our own work. Sorry pal, all your advice looks amazing as text, however does not pan out in reality.
There is only time to pen one-of-a-kind material. Or you blur into the sea of sameness. I disagree that most Substack writers are producing generic stuff.
The reality is nothing memorable comes easy in comms, and if people can't make the time to do something right, their audience sniffs it out, their staff knows and doesn't want to support it, etc. Best of luck finding your people elsewhere.
Hi.. lets lead by example. Please show what (and how many) authors outside the popular subjects that I mentioned in my comment. What is the audience sniffing? Text or Click Baits?
"The reality is nothing memorable....comms"? Your sentence does not make grammatical sense. However the article posted by Substack is bogus, because there is no garauntee that one will succeed if one follows all the suggested tricks.
Best of luck, here or anywhere, peddling mediocrity as a norm!
Simultaneously, most of these content creators don't ever reach out to those who represent new media or alternative media (and I'm not talking about the deranged "media outlets" that call themselves new media or alternative media).
Love the How To format ;) We are the media now, no need for MSM. Collaborating with other Substackers is fun, as I have visited and hosted several podcasts. Always down to banter and practice free speech in the world's best subscription network and marketplace for ideas!
I honestly hadn't even considered sharing my Substack to the press, and this planted the seed that that's an option. Probably not personally ready yet, but at least it's something I am thinking about now.
This is helpful insight, AND - I think part of the issue is that anyone who wants to get more media attention (Substack writers and beyond) ultimately might want to think of the endeavor not as "pitching" at all. Instead - lead with and emphasize how important it is to be doing that warming contacts part. This is exactly what I emphasize with my climate and sustainability clients. It can feel so counterintuitive but it works. "Pitching" is the old way. Building relationships and being seen as an accessible resource over time is the gold.
Yeah. I used to be a journalist and I would read every email that came from someone I had met in person. If it was cold emails that percentage dropped significantly.
I've heard this from so many of the journos in my world. It's basically human nature (of course you are more likely to read the emails - or DMs - from folks you know.
So - that's another plus for anyone trying to get press. This may not be a "PR person" thing, it gives anyone who wants to be seen as a leader/good resource on a topic the ability to build relationships with even a few key press people. "Warming contacts" is a sort of very smart DIY approach that anyone can use.
Great information — I appreciate the level of detail included here. I think it is important (for those Substack writers who want to) to interact and collaborate with both local and national media, particularly those whose focus is politics/culture like mine. A friend suggested fashioning one or two of my posts into an op-ed piece for our local paper, which has a pretty large circulation.
Good tips! Our main audience for the ChangeWire substack is journalists, and most of our subscribers are journos. Many have written me noting how useful it is for their coverage -- and that's sort of my advice on this -- make sure you lay out how your content is useful for them. As with any form of pitching, it's a two-way relationship and needs to be beneficial for you both!
We're able to offer a niche where we introduce and connect media folks to directly impacted people and grassroots organizers who they can use as sources. Oftentimes, journalists have a tough time building trust with directly impacted sources. These folks can have a distrust of mainstream media because they've been burned before.
Our newsletter helps get their stories out in their own voices, so they are heard authentically, and journalists can see the fuller picture of what they have to offer as sources, rather than fitting stereotypes. It's really about starting an honest dialogue, and that's what works for us to get journos interested in ChangeWire and get great coverage of our issues.
This is such a great post! Clear, concise, and informative. Having been on both sides - as a journalist being pitched to and a writer pitching to media - this is a gem! Thanks for sharing all of these great resources for Substack writers!
Thanks for the great info. Lots of ideas to unpack here, and plenty of food for thought for a newbie like me. 🙂👍
As others have said here, a lot of us Substackers love the freedom we get on here to write openly and freely. I think that's a big concern for self-published writers trying to pitch to press now.
Maybe an article giving advice to on how to negotiate or circumnavigate creative control (or lack thereof) when it comes to bigger publishers‐ etiquettes and do's and don'ts, would be beneficial?
Thanks for this! I'm actively looking to be on more podcasts/interviews/publications, but it can be hard to know how to approach it without feeling spammy- especially if you've seen a lifetime worth of hustlebro tweets and LinkedIn posts.
Love up the podcast hosts/podcasts/publications for what they are doing - way in advance of pitching them. Act out of support, not an agenda. The good karma built will help your pitch get noticed when you do it!
The irony is I don't even have a Substack yet - but feel free to follow me on LinkedIn. I talk about Climate Influence and Living Change (which is my podcast). I'm sure I'll get more active here soon.
This is really helpful and a next step I’d like. I really want to write for other publications because I love sharing stories but I have no idea where to start.
Im interested and have written on a variety of things such as outdoor recreation, challenges faced by people in their twenties, and macroeconomics.
I really want to start writing for publications just to learn about the business but I can’t seem to get my foot in the door.
I know they say that as a writer you should expect a ton of rejection and I’ve tried to take it in stride but it gets me down sometimes. Man I’d love the opportunity to tell stories but sometimes I think about giving up and I feel like an imposter even though I write every day.
Being a writer is truly a joyous activity but it also brings a lot of hurt into my life
try the warm contact approach. you'll get further faster. and always remember that editors *need* you. they need material that their publication could benefit from! (key: research the publication—see what they need :)
Even better, write an article about how substack writers can respond to the media when it’s them who are doing the pitching. When substack writers go into the community and start covering stories important to people, the media will take notice, especially the local media.
love the "flip" on this! :)
Ya, how to respond to media is important. Identifying whether it’s a good fit for you is an art. You are rolling the dice because you don’t control their presentation of you.
اا
I love the information you guys share AND I think a lot of us are here because we don’t have to/want to pitch to press.
Absolutely. So many Substack and newsletter authors are not into seeking public attention, however, I can tell you from experience, the boost in subscribers that comes from being featured somewhere feels good when it happens.
If one has to plan and undertake all such marketing tactics, tricks and text baits, there is little time left to write something worthwhile or original. Indeed, most people on Substack are generating content that is generic (food reviews, fashion, mindfulness etc etc) Substack seems to have abandoned the value (and effort, labor) of writing something useful - instead is heckling us to become managers and bureaucratic agents of our own work. Sorry pal, all your advice looks amazing as text, however does not pan out in reality.
There is only time to pen one-of-a-kind material. Or you blur into the sea of sameness. I disagree that most Substack writers are producing generic stuff.
The reality is nothing memorable comes easy in comms, and if people can't make the time to do something right, their audience sniffs it out, their staff knows and doesn't want to support it, etc. Best of luck finding your people elsewhere.
Hi.. lets lead by example. Please show what (and how many) authors outside the popular subjects that I mentioned in my comment. What is the audience sniffing? Text or Click Baits?
"The reality is nothing memorable....comms"? Your sentence does not make grammatical sense. However the article posted by Substack is bogus, because there is no garauntee that one will succeed if one follows all the suggested tricks.
Best of luck, here or anywhere, peddling mediocrity as a norm!
Yes there will be no replies no evidence to back all such scam claims. Audience sniffs and best of luck balls aside.
Some people are at SubStack to write things that are not permitted in legacy media, which is beholden to advertisers or governments.
Simultaneously, most of these content creators don't ever reach out to those who represent new media or alternative media (and I'm not talking about the deranged "media outlets" that call themselves new media or alternative media).
Love the How To format ;) We are the media now, no need for MSM. Collaborating with other Substackers is fun, as I have visited and hosted several podcasts. Always down to banter and practice free speech in the world's best subscription network and marketplace for ideas!
That’s great! I wrote a piece touching on free speech:
Communication Insights From Movies: Tips From Five Films To Help You Communicate Better
https://moviewise.substack.com/p/communication-insights-from-movies
It ends with this beautiful quote from Evelyn Beatrice Hall (paraphrasing Voltaire):
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Want a media pitch template? Grab this one that has landed subscribers of mine in Digiday, Forbes, Entrepreneur and elsewhere: https://forberger.substack.com/p/the-take-pandemic-proof-media-pitch
Thanks
I honestly hadn't even considered sharing my Substack to the press, and this planted the seed that that's an option. Probably not personally ready yet, but at least it's something I am thinking about now.
Same, there's some great information out there, that I will certainly keep in mind when I reach that point.
How ironic is that, Kevin? ! :) I am very happy about this seed. :)
Have to plant the seed to begin.
Extremely helpful! Thank you!
This is helpful insight, AND - I think part of the issue is that anyone who wants to get more media attention (Substack writers and beyond) ultimately might want to think of the endeavor not as "pitching" at all. Instead - lead with and emphasize how important it is to be doing that warming contacts part. This is exactly what I emphasize with my climate and sustainability clients. It can feel so counterintuitive but it works. "Pitching" is the old way. Building relationships and being seen as an accessible resource over time is the gold.
Yeah. I used to be a journalist and I would read every email that came from someone I had met in person. If it was cold emails that percentage dropped significantly.
I've heard this from so many of the journos in my world. It's basically human nature (of course you are more likely to read the emails - or DMs - from folks you know.
And usually it was PR people so they would tend to have a professional package to offer.
So - that's another plus for anyone trying to get press. This may not be a "PR person" thing, it gives anyone who wants to be seen as a leader/good resource on a topic the ability to build relationships with even a few key press people. "Warming contacts" is a sort of very smart DIY approach that anyone can use.
This! 💕
You have experience with this, I see. :-) It's so counterintuitive and may take a tad more time and intention, but it is SO worth it!
Bookmarking this for some point in the future 🤞 thanks!
"How to pitch?"
"Subscribe here: https://livmkk.substack.com/"
😜
Great information — I appreciate the level of detail included here. I think it is important (for those Substack writers who want to) to interact and collaborate with both local and national media, particularly those whose focus is politics/culture like mine. A friend suggested fashioning one or two of my posts into an op-ed piece for our local paper, which has a pretty large circulation.
Good tips! Our main audience for the ChangeWire substack is journalists, and most of our subscribers are journos. Many have written me noting how useful it is for their coverage -- and that's sort of my advice on this -- make sure you lay out how your content is useful for them. As with any form of pitching, it's a two-way relationship and needs to be beneficial for you both!
We're able to offer a niche where we introduce and connect media folks to directly impacted people and grassroots organizers who they can use as sources. Oftentimes, journalists have a tough time building trust with directly impacted sources. These folks can have a distrust of mainstream media because they've been burned before.
Our newsletter helps get their stories out in their own voices, so they are heard authentically, and journalists can see the fuller picture of what they have to offer as sources, rather than fitting stereotypes. It's really about starting an honest dialogue, and that's what works for us to get journos interested in ChangeWire and get great coverage of our issues.
this, absolutely: "it's a two-way relationship and needs to be beneficial for you both." :)
This is such a great post! Clear, concise, and informative. Having been on both sides - as a journalist being pitched to and a writer pitching to media - this is a gem! Thanks for sharing all of these great resources for Substack writers!
Thanks for the great info. Lots of ideas to unpack here, and plenty of food for thought for a newbie like me. 🙂👍
As others have said here, a lot of us Substackers love the freedom we get on here to write openly and freely. I think that's a big concern for self-published writers trying to pitch to press now.
Maybe an article giving advice to on how to negotiate or circumnavigate creative control (or lack thereof) when it comes to bigger publishers‐ etiquettes and do's and don'ts, would be beneficial?
Thanks for this! I'm actively looking to be on more podcasts/interviews/publications, but it can be hard to know how to approach it without feeling spammy- especially if you've seen a lifetime worth of hustlebro tweets and LinkedIn posts.
Love up the podcast hosts/podcasts/publications for what they are doing - way in advance of pitching them. Act out of support, not an agenda. The good karma built will help your pitch get noticed when you do it!
Sage advice. Thanks for that!
The irony is I don't even have a Substack yet - but feel free to follow me on LinkedIn. I talk about Climate Influence and Living Change (which is my podcast). I'm sure I'll get more active here soon.
This is really helpful and a next step I’d like. I really want to write for other publications because I love sharing stories but I have no idea where to start.
Im interested and have written on a variety of things such as outdoor recreation, challenges faced by people in their twenties, and macroeconomics.
I really want to start writing for publications just to learn about the business but I can’t seem to get my foot in the door.
I know they say that as a writer you should expect a ton of rejection and I’ve tried to take it in stride but it gets me down sometimes. Man I’d love the opportunity to tell stories but sometimes I think about giving up and I feel like an imposter even though I write every day.
Being a writer is truly a joyous activity but it also brings a lot of hurt into my life
oh, i remember being in this place. so much.
try the warm contact approach. you'll get further faster. and always remember that editors *need* you. they need material that their publication could benefit from! (key: research the publication—see what they need :)
Lol that last sentence is a good quote haha
Here you go, Mike. You inspired. :)
https://tspoetrypress.substack.com/p/lets-decline
Woah! Thank you!