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Media Relations · Published January 1, 2019

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

Things to know when pitching a story

story pr storytelling public relations and brand narrative development
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Everyday journalists are inundated with pitches from business owners and PR professionals looking to get their products and services features in an article. They are fighting for a spot in the limelight because media exposure is a great way to introduce your product or service to the public. However, of the many pitches that journalists receive only a selected few make it onto the pages of their media outlet. Pitching is an art form that requires hard work, attention to detail and creativity. So, if you want to craft a winning media pitch that catches a journalist’s attention, then it requires much more than just drafting a generic email. Here are a few tips for getting journalists to pay attention to your pitch:

Know what the journalist has written about recently

Understand what the journalist writes about. Go in depth into his or her recent stories. It’s not enough just to look at the most recent story and pitch something related to that. Sometimes that strategy might backfire, since the journalist might not be interested in writing about that particular topic again. Don’t assume one article is the sum of his or her interests. Get a holistic taste of the journalist by analyzing the sum of his or her recent stories. A bold tactic to grab a journalist’s attention is to offer a perspective that the journalist may not have considered or ignored in his or her former work. Different points of view on a similar topic will make him or her stand up and pay attention.

Know the journalist’s interests

While it might not be important to know that a journalist enjoys long walks on the beach, it definitely helps to know things and topics that a journalist is interested in. There are tidbits of information that you can retrieve from just reading his or her articles, for example - what sports or athletes he or she likes, or if he or she enjoys reading, cycling or watching political thrillers. It is common for writers to add a personal touch to their work, so pay attention to the little comments and nuances in their articles that give away bits and pieces of their personality. Use this to your advantage to grab their attention. Start your pitch email telling them about a similar interest you share.

Focus on what you know, not what you do

Let’s face it - profile pieces can be quite plain and boring. Unless you’re business has an incredibly amazing out-of-the-ordinary story, it is advisable to pitch stories based on what you know. For example, if you’re a start-up, pitch a piece about things you learned about getting financed. If you’ve developed a product, share insights on your failures in the beginning and how you overcome them. If you’re a company entering a new market, enlighten your audience on how you make yourself stand out from your competitors. The best articles are the ones that are reflective of your experiences, challenges, successes, mistakes and lessons learned along the way.
Ronn Torossian

Written by

Ronn Torossian

Founder Ronn Torossian Ronn Torossian Founder & Chairman, 5W Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards. Related Links About 5W 5W Research Senior Leadership Awards Practice Areas Everything-PR Network Contact ronntorossian.com Frequently Asked Questions Who is Ronn Torossian? Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W, the AI Communications Firm, and owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States. When did Ronn Torossian found 5W? Ronn Torossian founded 5W in 2003. Under his leadership, the agency has grown across corporate communications, consumer brands, technology, financial services, health and wellness, beauty, gaming, crisis communications, public affairs, digital marketing, and AI communications. What is Ronn Torossian’s current role at 5W? Ronn Torossian serves as Founder and Chairman of 5W. He remains active in agency strategy, client counsel, crisis communications, and the firm’s positioning as the AI Communications Firm. What is Ronn Torossian known for? Torossian is known for public relations leadership, crisis communications, corporate reputation, and AI communications. He has counseled public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. Has Ronn Torossian written a book? Yes. He is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. What awards has Ronn Torossian received? Recognition includes the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, the American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider’s Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Where does Ronn Torossian publish his writing? He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer. His commentary has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Adweek, PRWeek, and O’Dwyer’s. He appears on CNN and CNBC. What is the Everything-PR Network? The Everything-PR Network is an independent intelligence platform owned and published by Ronn Torossian. It covers public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across a network of publications.

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