OUTREACH & PR
Offer an exclusive to a single outlet
Use when a story is strong enough to give to one publication first, and you need to make the exclusive feel valuable.
exclusive-offer-to-one-outlet.md
You are offering a story exclusively to one outlet before wider release.
The story and why it is strong: {{STORY_AND_STRENGTH}}
The outlet and journalist: {{OUTLET_AND_JOURNALIST}}
Why this outlet specifically: {{WHY_THIS_OUTLET}}
What makes it exclusive: {{EXCLUSIVE_ELEMENT}}
How long the exclusive window is: {{WINDOW}}
What happens after the window: {{POST_WINDOW_PLAN}}
Write an email of under 160 words that:
- Says it is an exclusive offer in the first line and names the window length.
- Gives the story in two sentences, with the strongest fact first.
- States precisely what is exclusive: the data, the interview, the first look, or all of it.
- Explains in one line why them and not someone else, using the reason I supplied, not flattery.
- Sets a decision deadline that is short but reasonable, and says what happens if they pass.
Rules:
- No em dashes, no hype adjectives.
- Do not oversell. If the story as described is not strong enough to justify an exclusive, say so before writing and explain what would make it strong enough.
- Do not promise anything I have not listed as available.
Then give the decline-handling reply in two sentences, for when they pass.
Fill in before running
Replace each placeholder with your own detail. The more specific you are, the less the model invents.
- {{STORY_AND_STRENGTH}}
- {{OUTLET_AND_JOURNALIST}}
- {{WHY_THIS_OUTLET}}
- {{EXCLUSIVE_ELEMENT}}
- {{WINDOW}}
- {{POST_WINDOW_PLAN}}
Getting a better result
-
1
A short decision deadline is a courtesy, not pressure, as long as you say what happens when it expires.
-
2
Name what is exclusive precisely; first look at a report is a much weaker offer than exclusive access to the underlying data.
-
3
Write the decline reply before you send, so passing does not cost you the relationship.