How to Pitch Kevin Raposo

1) What’s the best way to pitch you?

A lot of journalists and bloggers have a lot of different preferences when it comes to the best methods of communication, but for me email always works best. In the past I've had people reach out via Twitter and that works too, just as long as you're not crafting the same tweet to a 100 other journalists before me. Pro tip: do not call my cell phone and pitch me, that's a sure way to get you black listed for sure.

2) What’s the best time to pitch you?

I'm not going to lie, getting a pitch at the end of the day is probably the worst time. So if you're looking to catch me at my most productive time, morning is best. This gives me a chance to tackle it throughout the day. IE: source comments, quotes, etc. 

3) What kind of stories interest you?

I'm a sucker for gadgets and anything that makes life easier. Also, internet related stuff always peaks my interest.

4) What tips would you give someone pitching you?

Keep it short and personalized to me. I can't tell you how many pitches I receive that are well over 800 words. I shouldn't have to work to read your pitches. I don't think any pitch should be over 150 words. Also, know the person you're pitching and make sure whatever you're hawking is something relevant to what I write about. In the end, just be a human being.

5) What will you never write about?

Taylor Swift

6) What's the best pitch you ever got?

The one that addressed me like a human being.

7) Do you prefer to receive news in a press release or a different format?

I prefer a brief summary and a link to the press release. The summary helps me decide if it's even worth my time.

8) How do you feel about embargoes?

They're a necessary evil, I guess. Personally for me, If I was handling PR or outreach for someone, I would provide the scoop to one publication and them alone. Embargoes just give off a feeling that you're whoring out news. As a reader when I see the same story go out at the same time from 30 different publications, it looks fishy and forced.

9) What are some of the biggest mistakes that people make when pitching you?

Relevancy. I get too many pitches about things I have never even written about. Also, hounding me via social media if I don't reply to your pitch.

10) What's the biggest misconception/s that you think people have about the media?

We hate our jobs. A lot of people thing that journalists are miserable people (in so many ways we are) and therefore hate getting pitches. Personally, I love getting pitches, I just hate getting shitty ones.