Did you know that despite most journalists using social media for work, only 32% of PRs use social channels to contact them? This was one of the many interesting highlights of the 2015 Social Journalism Study, that tracks and explores the PR-Journalist relationship on social, to form the narrative of Cision’s latest webinar: How to Pitch Journalists on Social Media. Hosted by digital specialist Jim Hawker and James Swan of Threepipe Communications, the webinar used good and bad examples of social PR to demonstrate the best practices communications professionals need to keep in mind when pitching on networking sites. From discussing the best platforms and time to contact media, the dos and don’ts on Twitter to a social pitch check list, Jim and James successfully covered all the elements PRs need to be ahead of their game on social media.

1. How to pitch journalists on social media
19th March 2015

2. Webinar Hashtag #CisionUK
Follow us @CisionUK

3. Social Media Usage
Cision Social Journalism Study 2015 key findings:
• The majority of UK journalists use social media as
a professional tool
• Over half (53.5%) of UK journalists said they can’t
carry out their work without social media
• Twitter (75%) continues to be the most popular social
media platform for journalists
• Publishing and promoting content and sourcing
information are the two most important reasons for
social media use for journalists
• PR professionals are the most important sources for
journalists
Yet only 32% of PRs use social media to contact journalists

4. + Business focus
+ Private messaging
- Only use if already connected and worked with previously
- Not recommended
- Must be close personally and already ‘friends’
+ @Accounts blend personal and professional
+ Main platform for open dialogue with journalists
- All ‘cold’ tweets you send are public
There’s a place to pitch on social

5. And a time to pitch
Requests peak on Tuesday/Wednesday around lunchtime
Bottom out on Friday/Saturday

6. Why do journalists use social?
To find ideas, follow news and follow brands
they are interested in
Self promotion and to share their work
Interact with interview sources
Develop working relationships
Personal use (don’t forget about this!)

7. Seeking out journalists and requests
Set up searches
in Tweetdeck
Find people to outreach on
Followeronk
Other free tools
Search on
Cision

8. Approaching and pitching to a journalist on Twitter
Do Don’t
Build up your own Twitter following before pitching Tweet from an account which has just been set up
Learn about a journalists interest and hobbies Pitch to a journalist without knowing a bit about them
Interact with journalists before pitching Pitch to a journalist before interacting with them
Pitch from your own Twitter channel Pitch from you own company’s Twitter channel
Pitch to an individual journalist’s Twitter handle Pitch to a publication’s general Twitter channel
Offer resources for other stories Just think about what’s in it for you
Be personal and create a conversation Hard sell
Check that a journalist is happy to receive Twitter pitches Pitch to a journalist who doesn’t like Twitter pitches
Keep pitches targeted and tailored to each journalist Send out mass tweets
Keep using other channels to pitch Only use social to pitch stories

9. How not to pitch

10. Pitching in action

11. Good pitches

12. Twitter pitch check list
• Journalist twitter handle
• Client Twitter handle
• Make sure you use #client
• Work related bio within your Twitter profile
• Key headline

13. When 140 characters isn’t enough
• Create an online press room where media
materials can be located (link to this in your
tweet)
• Teaser Tweets (Vine)
• Shorten web links
• Move away from social

14. Then take the relationship off social
• Social channels should only be used to
open dialogue with journalists
• Conversation is much more deep and
meaningful via email or phone
• Important to develop face to face
relationships after that
• Journalists will soon be coming to you!

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www.threepipe.co.uk
tellmemore@threepipe.co.uk
+44 (0)207 632 4800

16. Questions

17. Section
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