On Deadline with Andrew Hoover

Padilla’s Media Relations Consultants represent a group of agency professionals who are delivering top media relations strategies and placements for our clients. This team invests time and expertise to build strong news media relationships and craft engaging stories that build audience awareness and trust.

The Buzz Bin’s “On Deadline” series introduces you to members of this team with a short Q&A. Meet Andrew Hoover!

Q: Who is your favorite media personality and why?

A: Anderson Cooper. I think his reporting is thorough and fair, articulate and honest.

Q: What’s your go-to outlet for news and why?

A: I’m a CNN guy, but I’ve recently started using the NPR One app. I enjoy NPR’s diverse coverage, narrative style, matter of fact reporting, and the convenience of it being a podcast.

Q: What are the top three things you need in a successful pitch?

A: An interesting subject line—something that will make journalists open the email. If they don’t open the email, what good is your pitch, anyway?

If the editor or journalist has opened the email, you’re off to a good start. But now you need to get them to read the pitch. You need a strong hook, an enticing first sentence that compels your media contact to keep on reading.

Editors are busy; they don’t have time to read your novel of a pitch. Click To Tweet

Brevity and clarity. Don’t overwhelm your media contact with tons of information. Provide the most interesting and important info upfront, and use follow up correspondences to give the remaining details. Editors are busy; they don’t have time to read your novel of a pitch. Don’t make your pitch read like “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace.

Q: How did you become interested in media relations?

A: Several years ago, when I was an associate editor of a lifestyle magazine, I became curious about what it would be like to be in public relations — working on the other side of the media realm. I made the transition from associate editor to PR account executive and have stayed in the media relations world since. Curiosity does incredible things for a human.

Q: What is the best career advice you’ve received? Who gave you that advice?

A: I think the best advice is what I learned by experience: If you want to work in PR, work for a magazine or newspaper for a couple of years first. It’s extremely insightful to have first-hand experience working on the editorial side of the industry.

To talk with Andrew about how he can elevate your media relations program, contact us

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