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Press outreach list

35 outlets across 6 categories, with the best contact path and pitch angle for each. Download as Markdown to email yourself or share.

Outreach strategy

  • 1.Start with 5–8 local outlets in your launch city. Local coverage converts to signups better than national press.
  • 2.Pitch sustainability outlets and tech outlets in parallel — they have non-overlapping audiences.
  • 3.Use the wire service ONLY on launch day for a hard news hook.
  • 4.Follow up once after 5 business days. Don't follow up more than twice.
  • 5.When a journalist responds, reply within 2 hours during business hours.
  • 6.Track everything in the outreach tracker so you don't double-pitch the same reporter.

Sustainability & Food Systems

Outlets that cover food waste, climate, and food-system change. Lead with the environmental angle and neighbor-to-neighbor model.

Waste Dive

sustainability

Daily trade publication covering waste, recycling, and food recovery.

Beat:
Food waste, circular economy

Food Tank

sustainability

Global food-systems think tank with newsletter + podcast reach.

Beat:
Food systems, sustainability

Grist

sustainability

Climate-solutions journalism; covers consumer climate action.

Beat:
Climate, food, solutions journalism

Try the Solutions or Food desk.

Civil Eats

sustainability

In-depth food-system reporting, strong on community models.

Beat:
Food policy, community food

Modern Farmer

sustainability

Reaches food-curious consumers and small producers.

Beat:
Food, agriculture, lifestyle

Ambrook Research

sustainability

Newer outlet covering food, ag, and rural economies.

Beat:
Food, ag economics

Anthropocene Magazine

sustainability

Solutions-focused environmental publication.

Beat:
Environment, solutions

Tech / Startup

Tech press cares about the platform mechanics, free-trial model, and the no-payments-between-members guardrail. Lead with what's novel.

TechCrunch

tech

Largest startup audience; covers consumer marketplaces.

Beat:
Consumer tech, marketplaces

The Verge

tech

Consumer tech with social-impact coverage.

Beat:
Consumer tech, society

Fast Company

tech

Strong on impact-driven companies and design.

Beat:
Innovation, impact

Pitch the Impact or World Changing Ideas desk.

Protocol / Pivotal (if relevant)

tech

Policy + tech intersection.

Beat:
Tech policy

Sifted (if expanding internationally)

tech

European startup coverage.

Beat:
Startups, EU

Built In

tech

Covers regional tech ecosystems (city-specific editions).

Beat:
Local tech scenes

Local & City News

Local press is the highest-conversion channel for community apps. Target the city desk or community/neighborhood reporter in launch cities.

Local NPR affiliate (e.g. WBUR, KQED, WNYC)

local

Trusted local audience; community/lifestyle segments.

Beat:
Local interest, community
Contact:
Search '[station] tip line' or 'pitch a story'

Axios Local (city editions)

local

Short-form local newsletters in 30+ U.S. cities.

Beat:
Local news

Pitch the city-specific reporter directly.

Patch

local

Neighborhood-level coverage in hundreds of U.S. towns.

Beat:
Hyperlocal

Eater (city editions)

local

Food-focused local readership.

Beat:
Food, local

Local daily newspaper

local

Still the biggest single local audience.

Beat:
Local / community / business
Contact:
Outlet's 'submit a tip' or 'news tip' page

Try the lifestyle, community, or business desk.

Local TV morning shows

local

Best for visual stories — a sharer + finder on camera.

Beat:
Local TV
Contact:
Station website > 'Share a story' / 'News tip'

Local alt-weekly (where they still exist)

local

Strong community readership.

Beat:
Local culture
Contact:
Outlet contact page

City magazine (e.g. Boston Magazine, Texas Monthly)

local

Longer-form local feature potential.

Beat:
City feature
Contact:
Outlet contact page

Newsletters & Podcasts

Independent writers with engaged niche audiences. Often faster yes than traditional press.

Heated (Emily Atkin)

podcast

Climate accountability newsletter.

Beat:
Climate

The Counter (archives + alumni)

sustainability

Former food-system newsroom; alumni now at major outlets.

Beat:
Food

How to Save a Planet (podcast alumni)

podcast

Climate-solutions audience.

Beat:
Climate podcast
Contact:
Search current shows from alumni

The Sprudge / food-and-drink podcasts

podcast

Niche food audiences with active communities.

Beat:
Food podcasts
Contact:
Outlet contact page

Local Substack writers in launch cities

local

Hyperlocal newsletters often outperform legacy press in engagement.

Beat:
Local newsletters
Contact:
Search Substack for '[city] news' or '[city] community'

Faith, Community & Nonprofit Press

Reaches communities that already prioritize sharing and mutual aid. Frame as neighbor-to-neighbor (not charity).

Sojourners

local

Faith + social-impact readership.

Beat:
Faith, community

YES! Magazine

sustainability

Solutions journalism with a community focus.

Beat:
Solutions, community

Shareable

sustainability

Covers the sharing economy and community resilience.

Beat:
Sharing economy

Next City

local

Urban-focused solutions journalism.

Beat:
Cities, community

Wire Services & Aggregators

Distribution amplifiers. Use a paid wire only when you have a hard news hook (launch day, milestone, partnership).

PR Newswire

—

Largest paid distribution; SEO benefit.

Beat:
Paid wire

Paid. Reserve for launch day.

Business Wire

—

Wide pickup, often used by tech press.

Beat:
Paid wire

Paid.

HARO (Help A Reporter Out)

—

Free; journalists post requests, you respond.

Beat:
Journalist requests

Free tier available.

Qwoted

—

Modern HARO alternative.

Beat:
Journalist requests

Muck Rack

—

Search journalists by beat + outlet to find current contacts.

Beat:
Journalist database
Contact:
muckrack.com/

Paid for outreach; free for search.