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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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
Woah! Thank you!