If you have an expert comment, a strong case study, or a data insight that actually says something worthy, we’d love to see it.
Send it over to pitches@synapse.media, and we’ll help get it in front of the right journalists who are looking for stories just like yours.
Right, let’s get into The Loop – your weekly scroll of journo requests, media moves, and PR moments worth knowing about.
🔥 MUST READ
…because we want you to hear it from the experts themselves
Amelia Evans, freelance PR consultant at Amelia India PR, shared a simple reminder: journalists aren’t looking for marketing copy, but something worth covering.
Her key takeaway?
“The best PR doesn’t shout about a brand. It gives people something interesting to talk about.”
Lead with the story, not the product. Cut the brand hype. Make it useful to the reader. And most importantly, write like a human.
👉 Read Amelia’s PR tip on LinkedIn
🗞️ PR-Y STUFF
Here’s what we think you should see this week:
- The Rest is Podcasts: Why comms professionals need to grasp the biggest growing sector of the media – Podcasts are booming – partly because they are unlike anything else in the mainstream media. Conversational, niche and community-based – but a goldmine for PRs. read more
- PRMoment Podcast: The February PR Pitch & MA Review – Ben Smith and Andrew Bloch reviewed the UK PR pitch and M&A market in February, noting that the pitch market was “steadier” with clients taking longer to decide, while agency M&A was “booming” with high demand and competition driving up prices for agencies around the £20 million enterprise value, especially those leveraging AI. listen to the episode
- Why nobody can “wing” a great pitch or presentation – Media trainer and former PR pro Benjamin Thiele-Long says strong speaking comes down to structure and preparation. In pitching, keep decks tight, make every speaker count, and never rely on improvisation. read more
- Axel Springer agrees £575m deal to buy The Telegraph – The German publishing giant has outbid DMGT to acquire The Telegraph, promising fresh investment and aiming to position the title as the leading centre-right publication in the English-speaking world. read more
- One fifth of in-house pros think agency budgets will increase in 2026 – Around one fifth of in-house comms professionals believe their budgets for agency PR and for marketing services will increase in 2026, according to a survey for PRWeek and In.Comms; whereas only around one in 10 expect it to decline. read more
- New AI licensing scheme to help smaller publishers strike deals with platforms – A new collective licensing scheme for the “fair and lawful” use of content in AI products has launched in the UK. read more
🔎 JOURNO REQUESTS
Here’s what journalists are currently looking for on Synapse:
The Sun:
- Looking to speak to someone who has lost a significant amount of weight via any method and following it has had a promotion, pay rise or been treated better at work
- Looking to speak to someone who left a well-paying office job to learn a trade – and is now earning as much/similar or more in the blue-collar job
- Looking to speak to someone who struggled to get an NHS dentist
Reach plc:
- Looking for expert comments on support for people on disability benefits
- Looking for expert comment/opinion on WASPI decision and improving financial awareness
- Looking for expert comments on triple lock for next year
- Looking for expert comments on how to stay warm / what to do if you are feeling the cold
- Looking for expert comments on how to care for house plants going into the spring
- Why cucumber is wrapped in plastic in the supermarket? Expert commentary needed
- Looking for expert comments on what to do if someone blocks my drive with their car?
- Looking for expert ISA comments
The iPaper:
- Looking to speak to financial advisers about annuities
- Looking to speak to an inheritance tax expert on how to avoid leaving children with large tax bills
- Looking to speak to an expert about student loan interest and/or someone who can look over some figures for me
Huff Post:
Mail on Sunday:
- Looking to speak to someone who is currently in council tax arrears and struggling to repay the debt
Newsquest:
- Looking for expert comment regarding Windows 10 ending its security for users in October this year.
- Looking for additional comment from UK experts – things like how to get rid of asbestos, why it was used in the first place, can it devalue homes if found?
- Looking for an expert opinion on whether hay fever sufferers should start to worry now that there are rising temperatures. Is the pollen count rising too?
Freelance:
- Looking for interior designer/stylists to provide comments on OUTDOOR Easter decorating ideas for an online piece – Chelsea Magazines
- Looking for an expert within the field of AI to talk about the benefits AI can bring to SMEs
- Looking for a fitness expert to discuss all things vibrator plates for an article I’m working on
Or head to the marketplace now to look at requests yourself.
📆 NEXT MONTH’S HOOKS
…because we don’t want you missing out on stuff in April.
🔍 1 Apr: Searches for ‘ISAs’ peak in the first week of the month.
🎬 1 Apr: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) – Animation / Adventure / Comedy, starring Chris Pratt
📊 2 Apr: Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators release date – Early experimental data and analysis on economic activity and social change in the UK, using rapid response surveys, novel data sources and experimental methods.
🎬 3 Apr: The Drama (2026) – Comedy / Drama / Romance, starring Zendaya, Robert Pattinson
💼 6 Apr: Tax Year Begins – Completing tax returns is the #4 financial concern for 18–34s (41%), according to MailMetroMedia.
🏇 9 Apr: Grand National – The 2026 Randox Grand National Festival is one of the UK’s most iconic sporting occasions, with three days of world-class racing from 9 – 11 April 2026, including official hospitality.
🐴 10 Apr: Aintree Ladies Day
🎡 10 Apr: Coachella begins, taking place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, with weekends on April 10-12 and April 17-19
🐾 11 Apr: National Pet Day – 7 in 10 agree that their pet helps with their mental health, according to DailyMail.
📈 16 Apr: GDP monthly estimate released
📊 22 Apr: Consumer price inflation report released
🏴 23 Apr: St George’s Day
👑 24 Apr: Prince Louis’ 8th Birthday
🏃♂️ 26 Apr: London Marathon – starting in Greenwich Park and finishing on The Mall at Buckingham Palace
🏃 26 Apr: London Marathon Events reported that an astonishing and world record-breaking 1,133,813 people from the UK and across the globe applied in the public ballot for an entry to the 2026 TCS London Marathon, which is a 36% increase from 2025.
🏆 30 Apr: Campaign Media Awards Ceremony
If you’ve got a strong expert comment, a case study, or a data story with a clear angle, send it to pitches@synapse.media, and we’ll get it in front of the right journalists who are actively looking.
Now, onto The Loop, your weekly scroll of journo requests, PR tips and news you don’t want to skip on.
🔥 MUST READ
…because we want you to hear it from the experts themselves
Olivia Edmondson, Founder of Auctus PR, breaks down three fast ways PRs damage journalist relationships, and they all come down to one thing: making the journalist’s job harder.
Her key takeaway?
“If you create friction, you lose trust”
Whether it’s poor research, unreliable experts, or overdoing follow-ups, each one signals the same thing: you’re not making this easy for me. And in an inbox of hundreds of emails a day, that’s enough to get ignored. The PRs who win? The ones who are easy to work with.
🗞️ PR-Y STUFF
Here’s what we think you should see this week:
- The reputation economy is real, PR just needs to prove its role – Burson’s The Global Reputation Economy report, released in January, and Echo Research’s UK Reputation Valuation Report 2026 show that reputation drives real financial value, up to 28% of FTSE 350 market value, but PR still struggles to clearly prove its contribution. The gap? Linking communications activity directly to business outcomes. read more
- Publishers warn reduced FOI cost limit would put public-interest information ‘beyond scrutiny’ – UK news publishers have warned the Government against “extremely concerning” proposals to reduce the cost ceiling for processing Freedom of Information requests. read more
- Beyond The Noise: City A.M. editor-in-chief on what PRs are getting wrong – In this PRWeek podcast, Christian May shares what actually lands at City A.M., and what doesn’t. From the rise of legal pressure on media to fake AI experts and worsening press releases, the message is clear: relevance, credibility and understanding the outlet matter more than ever. listen to the episode
- AI search is surfacing your past, not your latest work – A recent piece highlights the risk of AI search directing users to outdated or less relevant providers, and Cheryl Crossley’s take sums it up perfectly: AI reflects the weight of everything ever written about a brand, not just what’s current. read more
- AI is reshaping journalism, and some are already all in – The Wall Street Journal explores how AI is set to disrupt media, with some journalists already fully integrating it into their workflows. As AI tools speed up production and reshape how content is created, the shift raises big questions around quality, trust and what journalism looks like next, all of which directly impact how PRs pitch and place stories. read more
🔎 JOURNO REQUESTS
Here’s what journalists are currently looking for on Synapse:
Reach plc:
- Looking for expert opinion on the state pension and wider future trends
- Looking for expert comments on what could replace the triple lock
- Looking for expert comments on foods you should only buy frozen
- Looking for expert comments on WASPI – do they still have a chance?
- Looking for experts to speak to what preparation for war would look like in the UK – Different Titles
Newsquest:
- Looking for an expert opinion on whether hay fever sufferers should start to worry now that there are rising temperatures. Is the pollen count rising too?
- Gardening expert needed for article on what to do if you’ve over-pruned a hydrangea
- Gardening expert needed for article on the best shrubs and perennials for people who hate pruning
- European countries at risk at the moment due to war – Which European countries are at risk at the moment due to war
LBC:
Mail on Sunday:
- Looking to speak to someone with a creative side hustle, something unusual they do outside their main job to earn extra money.
- Interview opp for daily mail socials – Fun side hustles – CREATIVE SIDE HUSTLE
- Looking to talk to someone who lives in a micro flat (a really really small flat) for a video with the Daily Mail
- Looking to speak to a young person who lives with an older person in London in exchange for reduced or free rent
Or head to the marketplace now to look at requests yourself.
📆 NEXT MONTH’S HOOKS
…because we don’t want you missing out on stuff in April.
🔍 1 Apr: Searches for ‘ISAs’ peak in the first week of the month.
🎬 1 Apr: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) – Animation / Adventure / Comedy, starring Chris Pratt
📊 2 Apr: Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators release date – Early experimental data and analysis on economic activity and social change in the UK, using rapid response surveys, novel data sources and experimental methods.
🎬 3 Apr: The Drama (2026) – Comedy / Drama / Romance, starring Zendaya, Robert Pattinson
🏦 5 April: Tax Year ends – Make the most of your ISA and pension allowances
💼 6 Apr: Tax Year Begins – Completing tax returns is the #4 financial concern for 18–34s (41%), according to MailMetroMedia.
🏇 9 Apr: Grand National – The 2026 Randox Grand National Festival is one of the UK’s most iconic sporting occasions, with three days of world-class racing from 9 – 11 April 2026, including official hospitality.
🐴 10 Apr: Aintree Ladies Day
🎡 10 Apr: Coachella begins, taking place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, with weekends on April 10-12 and April 17-19
🐾 11 Apr: National Pet Day – 7 in 10 agree that their pet helps with their mental health, according to DailyMail.
📈 16 Apr: GDP monthly estimate released
🍿 17 Apr: Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (Warner Bros), The Exit 8, Glenrothan (Lionsgate), Diamanti (Vue Lumiere) movie rele
📊 22 Apr: Consumer price inflation report released
🏴 23 Apr: St George’s Day
👑 24 Apr: Prince Louis’ 8th Birthday
🏃♂️ 26 Apr: London Marathon – starting in Greenwich Park and finishing on The Mall at Buckingham Palace
🏃 26 Apr: London Marathon Events reported that an astonishing and world record-breaking 1,133,813 people from the UK and across the globe applied in the public ballot for an entry to the 2026 TCS London Marathon, which is a 36% increase from 2025.
🏆 30 Apr: Campaign Media Awards Ceremony
We know you’re still at your desk, squeezing in pitches before the holidays hit properly. And guess what? Journalists are too. They are still planning and still looking for stories to run while the festive season is in full swing!
If you’ve got something thoughtful, timely, or just really useful, this is your festive reminder to post it in the Synapse marketplace or send it over to pitches@synapse.media, and we’ll post it for you.
Now scroll on for live journo requests, media moves, and the PR wins we think are worth your time this week.
🔥 MUST READ
…as the festive season approaches, it’s a good time to sharpen your pitching game
Steph Spyro, Deputy Political and Environment Editor at the Daily Express spoke to Vicky Spratt to breakdown how PRs can land stronger stories in the housing and property space (but the advice works well beyond that too).
The key takeaway?
“Quotes from experts must read as if they’re coming from a human, not a bot. This matters more than ever in a sector where trust and clarity are everything.”
From how to use data properly to what not to say in a quote, Steph and Vicky’s tips are a helpful reminder that quality, human-led pitching is what wins, especially during quieter news periods.
👉 Read the full LinkedIn post here
🗞️ PR-Y STUFF
Here’s what we think you should see this week:
- How to build authority as a Freelance PR – In this episode of The PR Hotline, freelance PR consultant Saskia Fryer gets candid about the realities of going solo in the industry, especially as a younger woman in PR. From setting boundaries and pricing with confidence to using platforms like LinkedIn, Saskia shares honest, practical advice for freelancers trying to earn respect without changing who they are. Listen to the episode
- London news website publishes misleading ‘AI-generated fiction’ – A new apparently AI-generated local news website has appeared in North London, raising fears of the public being misled. The North London News website is publishing articles about areas including Barnet, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Havering, Islington and Brent. read more
- Daily Mail owner secures funding for £500m takeover of Telegraph – The owner of the Daily Mail has secured funding for a £500m takeover of the Telegraph, in a crucial development that paves the way for the group to announce the terms of its acquisition on Monday. read more
- What does the budget mean for the media sector? – In this webinar, Moore Kingston Smith experts unpack the key takeaways from the 2025 budget and what they mean for media companies. In this webinar recording, media tax experts Leigh Collins and Chris Buckden discussed the implications of the Budget announcements from the perspective of both media businesses and individuals. watch the webinar
- Scotland leads UK on gender equity in PR – New analysis from the CIPR, using UK-wide census data for the first time, reveals that Scotland has the highest proportion of senior women working in PR. The findings shine a light on regional differences in gender balance and call for further progress to ensure equal representation across all parts of the UK. read the report
- 4.4 million people in the UK now live in ‘news deserts’ – A new report warns that millions are without access to reliable local journalism, as newsroom closures and cuts leave large areas of the UK with little to no news coverage. It’s a growing issue for democracy, and a wake-up call for PRs relying on regional reach. read more
🔎 JOURNO REQUESTS
Here’s what journalists are currently looking for on Synapse:
Reach plc:
- Looking for expert comments on Paul Doyle sentencing and road security at major events
- Looking for comments/expert opinions on changes to ISA allowances / how should ISAs be reformed
- Looking for expert comments on flu symptoms to look out for
- Seeking unusual/quirky homes for holiday lets across the UK where locals welcome tourists
- Looking for comments, opinions, interviews on how the modelling industry changed since the 1990s
- Looking to connect with psychics who can offer predictions for 2026
- Looking for expert comments on inheritance tax on pensions
- Looking for expert commentary on what policies were not in the Budget but should have been?
- Looking to publish health-related or health-service-related stories featuring expert opinions
- Looking for expert comments on how to make the fluffiest Yorkshire puddings as easily as possible.
- Looking for expert tips on how to make the best roast potatoes
Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Irish Star, Birmingham Live, Manchester Evening News:
Newsquest:
- Looking for UK-based experts to share the Christmas dinner ingredients that you can buy now that will stay fresh and be eaten on Christmas Day this year
- Looking for health expert opinions on ‘The secret to living to 100-years-old revealed’
- Looking for expert comments and opinions on whether supermarket potatoes and butter increase in price due to demand?
- Looking for expert comments on how often should you change your bedding
- Looking for expert comments on whether changing the flow temperature on a boiler save energ
Or head to the marketplace now to look at requests yourself.
📆 NEXT MONTH’S HOOKS
…because we don’t want you missing out on stuff in January.
📅 1 Jan: According to MailMetroMedia, 9 in 10 people set goals for the year ahead. Top goals: improve wellbeing (43%), exercise more (40%), spend more time with family and friends (33%).
🎦 1 Jan: ‘SOULM8TE’ movie release date – an AI horror picture, for the genre enthusiasts, starring Lily Sullivan
🔍 2 Jan: United Kingdom economic announcements: Consumer credit, M4 Money supply and mortgage approvals announced.
📈 4 Jan: According to Google Trends’ 5-year time range, ‘New Year Resolution’ searches peak
🌟 4 Jan: Golden Globe Awards – Last year, MailMetro‘s Golden Globes targetable segment reached 1.3M unique browsers the day before the event.
🎒 5 Jan: Back to school
🎬 6 Jan: ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ movie release date
🎂 9 Jan: Catherine Princess of Wales’s birthday
🎾 12 Jan: The Australian Open 2026 will unfold at Melbourne Park, and it will continue until February 1
🎓 14 Jan: UCAS deadline – Key exceptions include an October 15, 2025 deadline for Oxford, Cambridge, and medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine courses.
🔍15 Jan: GDP monthly estimate: Gross domestic product (GDP) measures the value of goods and services produced in the UK. It estimates the size of and growth in the economy.
📹 16 Jan: ‘Rental Family’ – UK movie release date
😔 19 Jan: Blue Monday – Created as a PR stunt, Blue Monday was originally set up to sell holiday packages, but over the years, the name and its negative connotations have stuck around.
🏢 21 Jan: Bett UK, ExCeL London – The world’s biggest celebration of education, 35,000+ trailblazers from across the globe, from visionary educators and EdTech pioneers to policy powerhouses, charities and over 3,000 bright young minds.
📈 22 Jan: Searches for “self-assessment tax” begin to rise
🎥 23 Jan: ‘Mercy’ movie release date
🎞️ 23 Jan: London Short Film Festival 2026 – ending on Feb 1st, with screenings and events held at iconic cinemas and arts spaces across London, including BFI Southbank, ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts), Curzon Soho, Rio Cinema, and Rich Mix
🕯️ 24 Jan: Burns Night
💽 28 Jan: Data Privacy Day – encourages you to become aware of the importance of safeguarding your privacy and learn how to protect your data.
💼 29 Jan: Lloyds Banking Group plc financial results announced
🎭 30 Jan: ‘Is This Thing On?’ starring Bradley Cooper is being released
📅 31 Jan: Self-assessment tax deadline – plus the first payment on account for 2025/2026
*(in case you still want to see December key dates, check out our past newsletters on our website.)
We hope you had a brilliant festive break and managed some proper time offline (and away from your inbox). We’re thrilled to pick up where we left off – helping you get your best stories in front of the right journalists.
To kick things off, we’ve pulled together a 2025 report on what worked best last year – what landed, what journalists loved, and what PRs nailed. It’s short, sharp, and downloadable.
📥 Grab the Synapse Yearly Report here
We’ve got plenty coming your way very soon, but for now if you’ve got something thoughtful, relevant, or worth shouting about, don’t wait.
👉 Post it in the Synapse marketplace or send it to pitches@synapse.media, and we’ll help get it seen.
Now, welcome back to The Loop: scroll on for fresh journo requests, media updates, and the PR trends we’re watching this month.
🔥 MUST READ
…new year, new reminders from the experts themselves
Steph Spyro, Deputy Political and Environment Editor at the Daily Express, asked five journalists what they want more of in 2026 as part of her newsletter Off The Record, and what they’re hoping PRs leave behind in 2025.
Her key takeaway?
“The same rules still apply: be helpful, clear, relevant – and don’t overpromise.”
From cutting down waffle to dropping generic comment offers, the message is clear: journalists want sharper, more useful PR. This post is full of simple truths to start the year right.
🗞️ PR-Y STUFF
Here’s what we think you should see this week:
- News leaders sum up 2025 (and predict 2026)… in emojis – Editors from The Telegraph, The Independent, MailMetro and more reflect on a turbulent year in media and share what’s coming next, using just emojis. Fun format, serious insight. For PRs, it’s a quick read on where newsroom heads are at heading into 2026. read more
- Get Featured: Press deadlines, the 2026 guide – In her Get Featured newsletter, journalist Rosie Taylor breaks down how long different types of stories need to land ahead of time. For you lovely PRs, it’s a great cheat sheet to avoid missing your moment, or sending it way too late. read more
- What did PR care about most in 2025? – From AI and measurement to mental health and media consolidation, PRmoment rounds up the themes that dominated PR conversations last year. A useful pulse check before you dive into 2026. read more
- Why critical thinking is your top professional skill? – Stephen Waddington makes the case that in a noisy, AI-saturated world, the ability to think clearly, challenge assumptions, and ask better questions is what sets great PRs apart. read more
- Media journalists’ top stories of the year and what it means for you in 2026 – Journalism.co.uk asked fellow top brains and experts on what’s stood out in their coverage in 2025 and what lessons news professionals can take into 2026. read more
- 2025 Review: The best thought leadership of the past year – Original research remains the most prominent form of marketing for most professional service firms, and particularly the PR industry, which continues to produces a wealth of surveys and studies covering a wide array of topics related to reputation. read more
🔎 JOURNO REQUESTS
Here’s what journalists are currently looking for on Synapse:
Reach plc:
- Looking for interior design experts to speak about what home trends are going to do well this year. Anything from furniture to paint colours, plants etc.
- Looking for expert comments, opinions, tips on Premium Bonds holders going into the new yea
- Looking for expert comments on whether BMI is a good health metric
- Looking for expert comments on £100 contactless card limit lifted
- Looking for comments on energy bills saving tips / winter solstice
- Looking for expert comments on Paul Doyle sentencing and road security at major events
- Looking for comments on changes to ISA allowances / how should ISAs be reformed
- Looking for expert comments on what you should do if you constantly have bad WiFi connection
- Seeking an expert comment on flu symptoms to look out for
- Seeking unusual/quirky homes for holiday lets across the UK where locals welcome tourists
- Looking for comments, opinions, interviews on how the modelling industry changed since the 1990s
Newsquest:
Or head to the marketplace now to look at requests yourself.
📆 NEXT MONTH’S HOOKS
…because we don’t want you missing out on stuff in February.
🗓️ 1 Feb: GRAMMYs – Taking place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with two new categories added: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover
🏉 5 Feb: Six Nations Begins: France and Ireland will kick off the 2026 Six Nations Championship under the lights in Paris on Thursday 5th February. The opening round continues on Saturday 7th February, with Italy hosting Scotland in Rome, followed by England facing Wales at Twickenham.
🎬 6 Feb: The Strangers: Chapter 3 movie release – Starring Madelaine Petsch
🏔️ 6 Feb: Olympic Winter Games: takes place in Milano Cortina, ending on February 22nd.
🏏 7 Feb: Men’s Cricket World Cup – The 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
🏈 8 Feb: Super Bowl LX – Held in the San Francisco Bay Area with Bad Bunny headlining the halftime show
🔍 10 Feb: Searches for Valentine’s Day gifts peak, according to Google Trends
📊 12 Feb: UK GDP Report Announcement: Monthly GDP estimate for December 2025 and First quarterly estimate for Q4 2025
📦 13 Feb: Searches for ‘next day delivery’ peak
🎬 13 Feb: Wuthering Heights (2026) – starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi
❤️ 14 Feb: Valentine’s Day – According to MailMetro, 47% of people said Valentine’s Day should celebrate all kinds of love
🔍 15 Feb: Searches for ‘late Valentine’s Day gifts’ begin to rise
📚 16 Feb: Half Term Begins
📈 18 Feb: Lloyds Banking Group plc Annual Report published
✝️ 18 Feb: Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins)
🎬 20 Feb: Splitsville (2025) movie release – Comedy starring Dakota Johnson, Michael Angelo Covino, Adria Arjona, and Kyle Marvin
🎞️ 22 Feb: BAFTAs – 10% of MetroMedia’s audience say a BAFTA win makes them more likely to watch a film
🐲 24 Feb: Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse – People born in a Year of the Horse are said to be energetic, independent and charismatic
🍿 26 Feb: Scream 7, UK movie release date – Horror/Mystery starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown
