Ever wonder what the best day of the week is to pitch media or if you’re pitching at the best time of day? Whether you’re just starting out in PR or you’re a seasoned professional, chances are you’ve found yourself asking the same questions and wishing for a bit more insight. Fortunately for us, Business Wire recently released its annual “Media Blueprint” report, with media survey results for 2016. Based on a survey of more than 600 members of the media from more than 40 countries, the report analyzes trends that surfaced among particular media groups and includes best practices for working with journalists. The survey even went so far as to classify media into subsets based on years of experience, beat categories and outlet types.
Read on to find out my five most surprising takeaways from the report with links to helpful resources:
- Early birds get the worm and the reporter’s attention. According to Business Wire, 61 percent of journalists prefer to receive pitches in the morning. However, afternoon pitches are more popular with 42 percent of media newcomers (less than 5 years of experience) and Gen Z respondents. Recommended read: How to Successfully Pitch Via Email
- Tuesday trumps Monday for the best day of the week to pitch media at 34 percent. A couple of things surprised me about this result. First, I didn’t expect such a large number of reporters to be so enthusiastic about receiving pitches on a Monday, but the beginning of the work week also earned top marks from media groups such as local/national (44 percent), Millennials (42 percent), newswire (42 percent), TV (42 percent), and newspaper (37 percent). I was also caught off guard that media cited Friday as a better day to send a pitch than Thursday, so if anyone took the survey and would care to explain that to me, please feel free to leave a comment below. Recommended read: Timing is Everything: When to Send a Press Release
- Another day, another overflowing inbox. Journalists have no shortage of emails to sort through, with 47 percent reporting they receive more than 25 emails a day. Broadcast journalists reported the highest number of unsolicited pitches each day with 53 percent receiving 1-25 a day and 16 percent with more than 100 daily. Recommended read: The Art of the Pitch
- Hold off on that funeral for the press release. One of the more heated debates in PR is whether the traditional press release still serves as a relevant tool to journalists or is a relic of the past. Detractors may want to hold their tongues as a whopping 91 percent of media listed receiving a press release as their preferred method for receiving breaking news from an organization. Telephone calls received only 1 percent, with company blog posts showing no signs of making any headway with media as a source for news with zero percent. Recommended read: Writing the Winning Press Release
- Six mistakes to avoid with media. Finally, when you’re attempting to build relationships with key reporters, it always helps to start off on the right foot. By spending a few minutes reading their recent articles and scrolling through their Twitter feed, you can avoid committing what 73 percent of journalists named as their biggest pet peeve – not knowing their beat. Other common grievances included cold calling, sending a pitch with typos and not having a press release. Recommended read: Why Slow PR is Crucial for Building and Maintaining Relationships with Journalists
Business Wire’s full survey results can be found here.