Media Pitch Skill
Writes media pitches that journalists actually respond to — built around the story angle, not the company's desire for coverage. Most pitches fail because they are press releases in an email. Good pitches are a human proposing a story to another human.
Required Inputs
Work from what is given. If any of these is missing, still produce the complete output: fill each gap with a reasonable assumption marked (assumed, confirm) and list those assumptions at the end. Ask a question first only when the core subject itself is missing (there is nothing to write about).
- The story (what is the actual news or interesting angle?)
- Target publication or journalist (who are you pitching to and what do they cover?)
- Company or organisation (who is behind this?)
- Key proof point (data, customer story, or exclusive that makes this credible)
- Why now (why is this timely?)
- What you are offering (interview / exclusive data / embargoed information / spokespeople)
Output Structure
Pitch: [Target journalist / outlet]
Subject line: [Under 10 words. The story angle, not the company name. Specific, not "Exciting news from [Company]"]
Hi [First name],
[Opening sentence — one hook that makes them want to read the next line. Reference their recent work if genuinely relevant: "I read your piece on X last week, which is why I thought you'd be interested in this."]
[Paragraph 1 — The story in 2–3 sentences. Lead with why the reader of [publication] would care. Not what the company does. The news angle, with the most interesting fact first.]
[Paragraph 2 — Why this is a story now. One data point, trend, or timely hook. Be specific: "In the last 6 months, X has increased by Y, according to [source]." Generic claims about "growing trends" are ignored.]
[Paragraph 3 — What you are offering. Interview with [specific person + their relevant credential]. Exclusive data / first look. Access to [specific thing]. One clear offering.]
[Brief company context — 1 sentence maximum. Journalists don't need your history; they need to know you're credible.]
Happy to send more details, connect you with [spokesperson], or share [specific exclusive asset] under embargo.
[Name]
[Title, Company]
[Mobile — journalists work on deadline and text faster than email]
Pitch Rules
- Subject line is the pitch — if it doesn't earn a click, nothing else matters
- The story angle is not "Company launches product" — it is what that product reveals about the world
- One pitch, one journalist — mass BCC pitches are recognisable and ignored
- Follow up once, after 3–5 business days, with new information (not "just checking in")
- If offering an exclusive, name it explicitly and set a response deadline
Angle Development Framework
If the user doesn't have a strong angle, help them find one:
Quality Checks
Anti-Patterns
Example Trigger Phrases
- "Write a media pitch for [story or announcement]"
- "Draft a journalist outreach email for [topic]"
- "Help me pitch [story] to [type of journalist or outlet]"
- "What is a good angle for a media pitch about [topic]?"