How to pitch local business reporters: Lessons from Tech Forum at The Hub

Business owners and public relations pros gathered at The Hub last week to learn the secrets of building relationships with tech and business reporters.
The answer to getting press, as with most things, is that there’s not really one answer.
Six panelists from six very different media outlets shared their experiences, and there were no definitive across-the-board solutions. Those panelists included:

• Alex Vuocolo, Digital Editor/Reporter at Delaware Business Times
• DJ McAneny, Digital Editor at DBC Media/WDEL
• Doug Rainey, Publisher and Chief Content Officer at Delaware Business Now
• Jeffrey Neiburg, Small Business Reporter for The News Journal
• Denée Crumrine, Communications Manager at Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
• Holly Quinn, AKA me, Lead Reporter for Technically Delaware

Some (including us) want you to let us know about every notable update from your company, from staff changes to awards, while others don’t.
Some local publications have to grab the attention of a broad general audience, while some (including us) have a more specific demographic.
Old-school news desks have shrunk to one or two people doing the job once done by five or six.  But no matter the size of the newsroom, everyone wants a good story — but connecting and finding those stories can be a challenge.
There’s no magic bullet for getting press, but if you’re reading this and wondering how you can get the attention of Technical.ly, I’ve got three pieces of advice. Just keep in mind, this may not be the preference of reporters at other outlets:

• Networking with us in person is a great way to get on our radar. If you have a chance, catch us at one of our events (Delaware Innovation Week or Technical.ly Super Meetups, for instance) or events we’ll likely cover, such as OpenBracket. We’re always thinking about converting networking conversations into stories.
• Come to a Pitch the Press session. These are held every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to around 11:30 a.m. at 1313 Innovation. They’re informal sessions that provide local entrepreneurs and business owners with an opportunity to share news with local business reporters in-person. I’m there virtually every week.
• Email me with an idea. I don’t need a formal pitch. Press releases are good (especially if they have quotes and a photo attached), but if you email me directly (holly@technical.ly) and introduce your business — especially if you haven’t been widely-covered yet — there’s a good chance I’ll bite. We’re always looking for entrepreneurs to profile in addition to current events.