If you've tried to contact a journalist to suggest a story idea, it won't come as a surprise that your pitch might not land. Often, you might not even hear back. Journalists and editors are incredibly busy (aren't we all!) and usually don't have the time to respond to the hundreds of emails that land in their inbox on a weekly or daily (yes, daily!) basis. So how can you maximise the chances of hearing back from them. And, even better, them being interested in your conservation story?

Remembering these key points might help

📚 Check the journalist actually covers the topic you're talking about. I got an email yesterday pitching a golf story - you only need to read my company name to know that's not relevant.

🌟 Wherever possible, avoid mass mail outs and tailor your emails to that journalist. I do read press releases but I'm more likely to take note of, and respond to, a tailored pitch.

❗ Be clear and get to the point - I'm often reading emails on the go. If you've buried the lede with a rambling intro, I might not read far enough to pick up on the gem.

👋🏼 Make sure your subject line is clear and concise. This helps us quickly spot key emails to read and find them later if we file them away.

What else would you add? How do you maximise your chances of a response when you're pitching your conservation story or project to the media?