4 opening lines that impress reporters

Sometimes, journalists need to be convinced.

They have inboxes full of potential sources, and they won’t work with just anyone. They won’t even consider a pitch if it doesn’t excite or reach them in some way.

As a PR professional, it’s your job to “wow” the journalist you’re pitching, and that requires research and strategy on your part. If you want to impress the press, you’ll have to get personal.

Here are the best PR “pickup lines,” outlined by journalists themselves.

1. “Dear [journalist’s name]…”

This might seem obvious, but many PR reps don’t address their media contact by their name, which only tells the journalist that they aren’t the only one being pitched.