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This is your "How To" for connecting with the media and getting the word out about your Adelaide Fringe show! As you gear up for a fantastic festival season, reaching out to journalists and presenters is a brilliant way to build buzz and attract audiences. This resource is designed to help you navigate the local media landscape, understand best practices for pitching your story, and provide you with key contacts.

Contents

Understanding the Media Landscape

Before you dive into contacting journalists, it's really helpful to get a feel for who's who and what they're looking for. Adelaide has a vibrant media scene, including print, online, radio, and television outlets, all keen to cover interesting stories, especially during Fringe.

Each media outlet, and even specific journalists within those outlets, often have a particular focus. Some might cover arts and culture broadly, while others specialise in theatre, music, comedy, or visual arts. Doing a little bit of research beforehand, like reading their recent articles or listening to their programmes, can help you tailor your pitch and make sure you're approaching the right person.

Remember, journalists are often working to tight deadlines and are bombarded with pitches. Your goal is to make their job easier by providing them with a clear, concise, and compelling reason to cover your show.

What to Send Media

When sending a media release, you should attach the media release itself as a document and include your contact details within the email. Ideally you can also include a media kit with images and video as a link to Dropbox/Google Drive or similar.

The Media Release document should contain the full media release, including the headline, lead paragraph, body, and closing paragraph. It should also have a release date specified at the top. For more information on how write a media release, check out our How To resource.

Crafting Your Media Pitch

So, you've got a fantastic show, but how do you condense that into an irresistible pitch? Your pitch is essentially a concise, persuasive message designed to grab a journalist's attention and make them want to learn more about your Fringe event. Think of it as your show's elevator pitch, but for the media!

Here’s what makes a strong media pitch:

  • A Hook: Start with something that immediately captures attention. What's unique, timely, or surprising about your show? Why is it relevant right now?
  • The Core Information: Clearly state the name of your show, what it's about (briefly!), and the key dates and venue information.
  • Why It Matters: Explain why their audience would be interested. Is it a world premiere? Does it tackle a hot topic? Does it feature a well-known performer or a compelling story?
  • Your Availability: Let them know if you or your performers are available for interviews, photo opportunities, or if you have any high-quality press images or video snippets.
  • Keep it Concise: Journalists are busy! Aim for a pitch that's easily digestible, ideally fitting within a few paragraphs in an email.
  • Personalise It: Address the journalist by name and briefly mention why you thought *they* specifically would be interested in your story. This shows you've done your homework.

Always include a link to your show's official Fringe page and, if you have one, your own show's website or social media pages. This gives them an easy way to find more details.

Making Contact: Adelaide Fringe Media List

Now that you're ready with your brilliant pitch, here's where you can find the local media contacts to send it to. This list includes key journalists and media platforms in Adelaide who frequently cover the Fringe and the arts scene.

Adelaide Fringe Media Contact List

Please note that this list is updated regularly, but it's always a good idea to double-check contact details on the respective media outlet's website if you're unsure. When sending your email, remember to use a clear subject line that immediately tells the journalist what your email is about, for example: "Adelaide Fringe Show Pitch: [Your Show Name]".

Summary

  • Research media outlets and journalists to find the best fit for your show's story.
  • Craft a compelling and concise pitch that highlights what's unique and newsworthy about your event.
  • Personalise your outreach and include all essential show information and availability for interviews.
  • Utilise the provided media contact list to reach out to local journalists and presenters.

Additional Resources

  • How To: Write a Media Release: Dive deeper into structuring a formal media release for your show.
  • Meet the Media: Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to connect directly with journalists and learn more about their work. Keep an eye out for event dates and registration details.