Elections, without a doubt, are one of the biggest hurdles to navigate when it comes to pitching yourself to the media. Newsrooms are constantly spinning in order to quickly and efficiently serve the latest election news to their audience, so much so that it often feels like election news is the only news that exists. This leaves many of my clients to wonder: is it worth pitching yourself during an election year? And how?
Even I jokingly used to tell my team that I might as well take a sabbatical during each election year because it’s a challenge to break through the news cycle, but after almost 10 years of pitching organizations, experts, and authors, and 3 years of pitching during presidential elections, I’ve found that this is simply not true.
Nardi’s Take? Just because elections are considered a major hurdle for pitching doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be pitching yourself at all. The key is to think like a journalist, and thankfully, our entire team at Nardi Media is already doing this so you don’t have to.
Our team of former journalists turned seasoned publicists know exactly how the election news cycle works. Every day, but especially during an election year, we put on our journalistic hats and have our proven tips and tricks at the ready to help our clients break through the election news cycle and get their message across delicately, effectively, and strategically.
Whether you’re pitching yourself to the media or working with a PR firm to help you do so, here is Nardi’s Take on pitching yourself during an election year with strategic tips and tricks to help you get started:
Stay Patient and Pleasantly Persistent
Patience and persistence are crucial. The media landscape is unpredictable, especially during an election year, and journalists, reporters, and bookers are feeling the heat now more than ever. If they don’t respond to your pitch email right away, don’t be discouraged. I encourage you to follow up with them, just as long as you stay patient, and, as Nardi Media likes to say, pleasantly persistent. This means it’s OK to follow up, but be kind, compassionate, and understanding when you do so. The media is under pressure like never before to keep their audiences informed as quickly as possible. Stay patient and pleasantly persistent, and know that your time will come!
Authenticity is Key
You might be eager to join the conversation and insert yourself into election-related topics. Nardi’s Take: before you do that, ask yourself if your message and your work truly align with the election coverage. Is it authentic to you? Is it genuine? Is it relevant? It’s essential to remember that authenticity and relevancy are critical, and you should never force a fit where there isn’t one. For example, don’t pitch yourself to MSNBC to talk about the election when your message is to help busy moms stay organized. Instead, focus on how your message can authentically connect with the current climate, and if your expertise doesn’t naturally align with election topics, focus on what you do best. This leads me to my next tip:
Leverage Lifestyle Content
Election years remind me a lot of the pitching complexities many PR agencies like Nardi Media faced during COVID; for a while, the media only wanted to book experts relevant to COVID, but after a (very short) while, the relentlessly negative COVID news took a hit on audiences everywhere, and journalists recognized the need for uplifting, inspiring, and powerful lifestyle messages. That’s how Nardi Media predicts the election news cycle will go. Without a doubt, no matter what is happening in the world, lifestyle content will always remain a staple, and people will always seek out uplifting and inspiring stories amidst the tidal wave of political chaos. Whether it’s health and wellness, self-improvement, or feel-good stories, there’s a place for it. The trick is to maintain a balance and find the right angles that fit naturally within the broader media landscape.
Timing is Everything
There is a delicate strategy for pitching during an election year. There will be periods when the election dominates the news cycle (such as Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race or Trump’s assassination attempt), and in those cases, it’s wise to hold off on non-essential stories during those times. However, in between those moments, there will be windows when audiences crave a break from the political frenzy and want uplifting lifestyle content. Use your own best judgment to identify and capitalize on those moments and it can make all the difference.
Work with the Right PR Firm
Navigating the media landscape during an election year can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Working with a PR firm that understands the intricacies of the news cycle, like Nardi Media, can offer a huge advantage. Our team’s background in journalism equips us with the insights needed to craft pitches that strategically cut through the noise and resonate with the media so you can ensure your message gets heard.
CLICK HERE to apply to work with Nardi Media so we can support you in getting your message out to the masses, even this election year. You can learn more about us at nardimedia.com.