Radio PR: how to get interviews and mentions on air

Story angles that work for radio

Journalists do not cover companies, they cover stories. These are the angles that most often earn radio coverage:

• An expert guest who can react to the day's news within hours
• A local angle for regional stations, such as a local founder, survey or event
• A radio media tour: back-to-back interviews across many stations in one morning
• Listener giveaways and competitions tied to a launch

How to run radio PR yourself

1. Pick one story. Choose the strongest angle above and write it in one sentence. If you cannot, the story is not ready.
2. Build a short list. Find the 20 to 50 reporters who have covered radio recently. A short list that fits beats a long list that does not.
3. Write a personal pitch. Three short paragraphs: the news, why it matters to their readers, and what you can offer such as data, interviews or images.
4. Follow up once. Three to five working days later, add something new rather than "just checking in".
5. Track what lands. Note who replied and what they wrote about, so your next pitch is warmer.

What reporters on this beat want

Mistakes to avoid

• Offering a spokesperson who reads from a script. Radio needs natural talkers.
• Pitching national shows only. Regional and specialist stations book far more guests.

Who covers radio

InsightFuse lists 9,617 journalists, editors and producers whose role or outlet points to radio coverage, across 176 countries. Here is where they work and what they do.

Frequently asked questions