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Pitch journalists who reply.

Write a short, personal pitch email to a reporter in three angles: an exclusive, a data story and a founder interview. Each comes with subject lines and a follow-up.

The journalist

Your story

Five or six words, for subject lines.

What you can offer

You

Subject lines

  1. Exclusive for TechPulse: an AI agent that closes IT tickets
  2. Maya, first look at an AI agent that closes IT tickets?
  3. Embargoed exclusive: an AI agent that closes IT tickets (Northwind AI)

Email

115 / 150 words
Hi Maya,

Your piece "Why most AI agents never make it past the pilot" is the reason I am writing to you first.

Northwind AI is launching Relay, an AI agent that closes tier-one IT tickets inside Slack with no human handoff. In a 90-day pilot across 14 companies, Relay closed 62% of tickets on its own and cut resolution time from 9 hours to 4 minutes.

IT budgets for 2027 are flat while ticket volumes keep climbing, so teams are being told to automate before they hire.

I'd like to offer TechPulse the exclusive under embargo until Tuesday, October 13 at 9am ET, plus a 20-minute interview with Dana. Is this one for you?

Priya Raman
Head of Communications, Northwind AI
https://northwind.example/press

Follow-up (send 3 to 4 days later)

Subject: Re: Exclusive for TechPulse: an AI agent that closes IT tickets

Hi Maya,

Bumping this in case it got buried. Quick recap: Northwind AI is launching Relay, an AI agent that closes tier-one IT tickets inside Slack with no human handoff. In a 90-day pilot across 14 companies, Relay closed 62% of tickets on its own and cut resolution time from 9 hours to 4 minutes.

The embargo lifts Tuesday, October 13 at 9am ET, so there is still time. If it is not a fit, a quick no is helpful too, and I will not chase again.

Priya Raman

Before you hit send

  • DoName their recent story so they know this is not a blast.
  • DoMake one clear ask they can answer with yes or no.
  • Don'tNo attachments. Link to a press kit instead.
  • Don'tSkip "Hope you are well" and get to the news in line one.
  • Don'tDo not follow up more than once, and never call to check.

Get new tools first

Optional. New free tools and growth notes, roughly once a month.

How to use it

  1. Add the journalist, their beat and a recent story they wrote.
  2. Fill in your hook, why it matters now and your best proof point.
  3. Pick the angle that fits, copy it and send from your own inbox.

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Questions founders ask

How long should a pitch email to a journalist be?

Keep it under 150 words. Reporters scan pitches on their phones, so the news, the proof and the ask should all fit on one screen. Put anything longer in a linked press kit.

When is the best time to pitch a journalist?

Tuesday to Thursday mornings in the reporter's time zone tend to get the most opens. For time-sensitive news, pitch 5 to 10 days ahead under embargo so they have time to report. Avoid Friday afternoons and major holidays.

How many times should you follow up on a media pitch?

Once, three to four business days after the first email, in the same thread. Add one new detail rather than asking if they saw it. If there is still no reply, move on to the next reporter.