5 Tips For Calling A Journalist

It has been said they Gen-Z are the lazy generation that expects things to be handed to us on a silver platter and are the hardest generation to build relationships with. A survey showed that around 50% of people in other generations do believe that Gen-Z are the laziest generation. However, this is so far from the truth in my opinion. Gen-Z are so hard-working, but we do lack one thing being able to talk on the phone, especially when trying to get through to journalists in the PR industry.

Personally, I love nothing more than talking to people on the phone and getting to know them on a more personal level, but I know for some it may not be that easy. So here are my top five tips for calling journalists.

Tip 1: Start with an enthusiastic tone

I have always found that the more upbeat and excited your sound, the more likely you are to grab the journalist’s attention, with them being much more likely to listen to the story you may have.

Tip 2: Don’t waste valuable time

Come in straight away with who you are, what business you work for and most importantly, ask how their day is going. Grasping their attention with a question straight away is a top tip for keeping them on the phone instead of saying “no thank you” or “can I call you back later”, as the likelihood they do call back is slim.

Tip 3: Get right to the point

Saying that you have a story that you think they will love will grab their attention again. You want to make the journalist want to know more so sell the story using that enthusiastic tone will draw the journalist in more if your excited they will be excited to when you’re getting to the point/story you will make them excited to know more too.

Tip 4: Be prepared

Before calling, make sure you know everything you need to know because the journalist will ask you questions. So, make sure you know your stuff! If you come across as if you’re not 100% sure about the story, the facts, or the details, they are less likely to be interested in the story you’re trying to get them to cover.

Tip 5: Follow up professionally

At the end of the call, ask for an email to send over any press release you have for the story you have been talking about. By asking for a direct email, you have a higher chance of getting through to the right contact at the right time. They know you now and fingers crossed that means you’re one step closer to securing coverage, which is the ultimate goal.

Hopefully these five tips will help you the next time you need to make a call to a journalist or anyone in PR. These tips can be used for various phone calls and for those who get nervous about calling, hopefully these can help you grow your calling confidence.