Pitching During COVID-19: How to Break Through the Noise of the ‘New Normal’

The pandemic has caused organizations across industries to scramble with both crisis responses and ways to grab attention and favor to bolster their reputations. As newsrooms shrink even more and journalists are struggling to keep their readers and viewers informed and safe, other news coverage has taken a backseat. Yet, you don’t need to put your media relations efforts on pause—rather, you can hone your skills and outreach to stand out from the crowd and provide insights and stories that keep your organization top of mind. In this session, learn insights on the art of the pitch during a crisis from Hugo Rojo, Senior Communications Manager at CBS News; Amanda Ponzar, Chief Communications & Strategy Officer at Community Health Charities; and Sarah Evans, Founder and CEO of Sevans Strategy and Sevans Digital PR.

You’ll learn:

• How to alter pitches and offer additional resources to journalists covering COVID-19 news and beyond
• Tips for uncovering stories and finding angles to land coverage, no matter the current climate or situation
• Ways to integrate paid and owned media opportunities with earned media coverage goals
• Ways to grab a seat at the table and become involved with strategies that can enhance media relations efforts