Gone are the days when editors would stay at a single publication for 15 years, slowly moving up their way up the masthead. These days, with print magazines restructuring, folding, moving entirely digital, or reducing the number of issues produced, it’s become increasingly challenging for publicists to maintain an updated media list – both in terms of editor contact information as the latest digital outlets to pitch. Even expensive media subscription services with dedicated teams struggle to keep databases current.
Keeping your own list and developing your own sleuthing techniques for staying on top of media movements is key to successful placements for clients. Here are 5 quick tips for keeping up with media moves:
Be Newsletter Savvy- Sign up for newsletters that track media movement like Daily Front Row and Fashion Monitor and make immediate, weekly updates to your lists.
Stalk Editors on Social – Follow editors on social media, as well as LinkedIn for changes to their profile as well as general announcements. The Cision @media_moves account is a must-follow on Twitter.
Mine Out-of-Office replies – Don’t ignore or delete out-of-office auto replies from editors. They often include contact information for a substitute editor who may now become your go-to at that outlet.
Pick up the Phone- It’s easy to forget, but we can use this thing called a telephone to call media outlets and ask for the best contact for a particular beat/story idea.
Google with a timeframe – When you are searching for an editor’s new contact information, or trying to track down a freelance writer, Google their name and then filter the search by time frame to see their most recent work.
Keeping up with media movements isn’t always easy, but with these 5 simple tips, you will be on the road to maintaining a fresh and up-to-date media list.
