Don't Be Late: Some Media Need the Story Sooner Than Others

In previous issues of PR Tip of the Month, I've discussed hooking your story to a season, holiday, or other special time of the year. For this to work, you need to be aware of the lead times of the different media. For example, pitching a Mother's Day story in March to a monthly magazine is too late.

A Guide to the Different Media Lead Times

Contact the specific publications or stations you want to pitch to find out their lead times. Below is a general guide:

• Nationally circulated monthly magazines: 5 - 6 months, in some cases a year
• Regional and city monthly magazines: 3 - 4 months
• Regional and city quarterly magazines: 4 - 6 months
• Daily newspapers: varies from no lead time to 1 - 2 months for features
• Television: varies from no lead time to several weeks for feature and investigative stories
• Radio: immediate to 1 day for news, 2 - 6 weeks for talk shows
• Online publications: no lead time