Pitch Me: David Tyda (take two)

By on October 8th, 2009 In Pitching

Wow, we’ve come a long way here at Valley PR Blog. Below is a “Pitch Me” with David Tyda, editor of Desert Living and now ScoopFactory. David was our first Pitch Me back on April 2, 2007.

Name: David Tyda
Title: Editor in Chief
Outlet: ScoopFactory, a free, daily e-mail.
Website: www.scoopfactory.com
Email: david@scoopfactory.com

1. What are your primary duties and responsibilities?
To burn through as much as information as possible and identify the single-most impressive thing to relay to readers, once every weekday. I write the email, which clocks in between 170 and 220 words, as well as the three “Extra Scoops” below. These are single-sentence bits of gossip, event announcements, or fun Internet finds that are spreading virally, like YouTube videos and new Web sites.

2. What kinds of stories are you looking for?
We categorize items into six subjects: Dining, Travel, Culture, Style, Shelter, and People. I’m looking for new businesses and services, products, home ideas, and people to interview. I am also the editor of Desert Living, so although these two businesses are separate, I am still always looking for fun, fresh ideas and content that’s entertaining and innovative.

3. What is the best way to approach you with a pitch?
Never call. Always e-mail. Suggest an angle. And make it snappy. Also, maybe mention a couple of past items we’ve run that are similar to yours – that helps me visualize how it would fit in the grand scheme.

4. What other recommendations do you have for PR professionals?
First and foremost, subscribe to ScoopFactory. Tell your clients to subscribe as well. It’s rare that I will pick up a story from a press release, because that pitch is not tailored. Get to know the product, understand the tone.

5. What is the weirdest/strangest pitch you have ever received?
I see so many strange tech gadgets I want to tell readers about, but we try to keep at least 3 items per week related to something happening locally. So I haven’t been able to find room for the see-through toaster pitch that came through. I just think that’s the coolest idea.

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