10 ways to ensure a journalist will delete your emails
A journalist offers PR pros helpful warnings about taboos that will relegate your pitch to the recycle bin and, quite possibly, your email address to the blocked senders list.
There are a few things (well, about 10) that make the delete key look far more appealing than the reply button. A few even warrant taking the time to route anything from the sender directly to my spam folder.
Hopefully this list of 10 things that send me darting for the delete key can help a few of your emails dodge the trash folder:
1. Addressing me as Mr. Natalie, Ms. Navel, or Cindy. (I go by Natalie. Even “Hey there!” is a better option.) It takes time to go through emails. Though I try to respond to everyone who contacts me, it’s really hard to want to take time out of my day when you clearly didn’t take time out of yours.
2. Pitching an unrelated story immediately after (or during) a national crisis, mass shooting or enormous storm. It’s challenging to go from spending all day talking to victims about tragic losses and then getting hit with two emails about a new company’s latest financial gain and the CEO’s new book. When someone is insensitive to devastating news, it’s really hard to want to circle back to them to hear about why theirs is the best company ever.
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