Media contacts database

In public relations (PR) and marketing, a media contacts database is a resource which catalogs the names, contact information, and other details about people who work in various media professions.^[1] These include journalists, reporters, editors, publishers, contributors, freelance journalists, opinion writers, social media personalities/ influencers, TV show anchors, radio show hosts, DJs, and others.

A media contacts database usually contains the following information:

• Full name of the media contact,
• The publication or channel they work for
• Designations^[clarify] (past and present)
• Topics they cover, or their beat
• Contact information found in public domains
• Online presence like blogs and other social networking sites
• Education Information

Overview

A media contacts database is a public relations tool that is maintained and used by PR professionals to pitch stories on a particular topic, product, or company to a specific group of journalists. These journalists would then write or speak about the particular topic in a relevant issue or episode of their shows.

A media contacts database allows a PR professional to gain easy access to hundreds of journalists within a short span of time. Media contacts database are created and sold by many media research companies that offer such PR software for professionals.

References

1. Hartomo, Tjempaka; Cribb, Julian (July 17, 2002). Sharing Knowledge: A Guide to Effective Science Communication. Csiro Publishing. p. 52. ISBN 978-0-643-09955-5.