Before pitching journalists as a public relations professional, I was one. Between interning as a reporter in local and national news and reporting in local broadcast news for half a decade I received thousands of pitches during my career. Some I automatically deleted knowing they weren’t tailored to me and were mass pitched nationwide. Others I could jot in my planner upon noting the correct geographic location and if the topic piqued my interest. Catchiness and newsworthiness were the biggest intrigue. Being on both sides of the pitch email or phone call, I’ve learned best practices that create win-win scenarios for journalists and PR pros.