8 ways pitching a reporter is like dating

You wouldn’t go on a date with someone who doesn’t have the same interests as you, so why would you pitch a reporter with an irrelevant beat?

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As experts in both the dating and the pitching world, we wanted to share our advice for securing a story or turning the first date into many more.

1. Have mutual interests. Jenny once went on a date with a guy who didn’t like puppies. It was her first and last date with him. Keep this in mind when you pitch a reporter. If your story is about medical research, don’t pitch someone who only covers style.

2. Do your research. Did you know 43 percent of people Google their date before they meet them? Although you would never admit to it, you can’t help yourself from doing a quick Facebook or Google search on a guy. You should always do this before you pitch a reporter so you can find out what his latest beat is, what he writes about, and how you can pique his interest.

3. Make it timely. You shouldn’t try to schedule a date for Friday night at 5 p.m. that day. The same goes for pitching. Reporters won’t be interested in your pitch if you call them as they walk out the door for the weekend. They will respond with silence or a flat out “no.”

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