The Thrill of the Chase

People often ask what drives us? For me, it’s a good challenge. Tell me that I can’t do something, and I will prove that I can. Say I don’t know what I’m talking about (especially if it involves football and the NFL), and I’ll blow you away with a well thought-out, carefully crafted argument.

What I’ve always liked most about challenges is the thrill of the chase. I like taking a “No” and turning it into a “Yes,” to do whatever it takes to prove to myself, above anyone else, that I can complete a task, learn a new skill or back up my claim. This has been a driver throughout my life—academically, professionally, personally and even romantically.I believe that nearly all PR professionals are driven by the chase, and that is what draws us to this industry. Securing top-tier media coverage—or coverage in general—isn’t easy. Reporters are inundated with pitches every day, and even for those of us who do our due diligence to make a story angle interesting, engaging and timely, sometimes it falls flat. But that “No” only motivates us even more.So, how do we meet this challenge head-on? In our personal lives, we get persistent (don’t confuse that with stalkerish; there is a fine line). We work on building rapports with people. The same approach can be taken with reporters. Here’s how:

• Take it slow: Building a relationship with a reporter doesn’t happen overnight. Often, it takes weeks and sometimes even months to break through, especially if you’re pitching publications like The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times. We are all busy, journalists included. If you don’t get an email back within the first few hours, don’t automatically assume the reporter isn’t interested. I’ve received responses to my emails weeks after I first hit send.

• The 3-day rule does apply: That being said, following up doesn’t hurt, just don’t follow-up with a reporter too soon. Give them time to read their email, digest your angle and decide if it fits the publication’s editorial theme. A rule of thumb I’ve always worked by: one initial email pitch, one follow-up email two or three days later and a final phone call (unless the reporter prefers not to be called). If you don’t get a response after that, move on to the next target and save that other reporter for a different story angle.

• Get to know their interests: Reporters have a specific beat and target audience—get to know what they’re writing about and who they’re writing for. This means taking the time to actually read through their stories. Journalists can tell if you read their writing, or if you simply make mention of the article’s title in a pitch. You can also use social media to your advantage. Follow reporters on Twitter and see what they’re tweeting about. Engage with them in the comment sections of their articles. Or shoot them a quick email to ask what they’re working on. An exchange that isn’t always a pitch can do a lot of good when building a relationship.

• Build trust by keeping your promises: When you finally break through to a reporter, see the opportunity all the way through. Sometimes, unforeseen circumstances will crop up, and if you do have to back out, offer an alternative. Maybe a different client is doing something relevant that fits that reporter’s beat, or maybe you have news coming out in a few weeks that will be of interest. Either way, honest communication during the entire process will let a reporter know you’re someone they will want to work with again in the future.

So, while many PR practitioners are often faced with rejection when it comes to vying for journalists’ cherished attention, we must quickly find ways to embrace that dismissal or lack of response and turn it into a positive. For me, it’s found in the thrill of the chase.The reality is networking with a journalist is a courtship. The most important thing to remember is that the more time and effort you put into it, the more likely you’ll create that connection. Even if your pitches get rejected, don’t give up—it’s all part of that chase.Sydney FiorentinoAccount Executive[cta]