Global PR agency idhl Group started using Synapse in October 2023, an initiative that was spearheaded by Cherly Crossley, Head of PR.
What started as a brief trial to see what journalists were using Synapse, quickly turned into a time-saving tool that helped Cherly build relationships with journalists and ultimately achieve national and regional coverage, without the need for multiple follow ups.
Her honest feedback is below.
Q: Cheryl, please tell us about your first impressions of Synapse, having used it for a few weeks now.
Synapse has a clear, logical layout that seems to have been ultimately designed to make it quick for releases to be shared and easy for press to find what they want. I love that it’s currently free too and it’s not just a short trial.
There seems to be a decent number of journalists on there, but I would be keen to see this increase for some titles (outside of Reach and National World) for us to move the majority of our pitching to this in future.
Q: How did you find the process of uploading a pitch?
It’s very quick and easy. Takes less than five minutes 😊
Q: Have you had any pitch feedback from journalists on Synapse?
I’ve had a couple of pitches accepted and that’s helped kick-start conversations about what else they’d like in future which is really useful.
Q: Has Synapse helped you communicate with journalists more easily and avoid unnecessary back and forth?
For a few releases it has meant we’ve not felt the need to do big rounds of follow ups as if we can see someone plans to use it then there really is no need to send it over again!
Q: Have you had coverage via Synapse and what were the results?
We had coverage from Reach regionals and the Mirror with a piece we uploaded about how much it costs to use an air fryer, oven, microwave, etc.
We had coverage for a few different pet stories on all the Newsquest sites too. We’re expecting a piece to go live on Newsquest sites soon too about how to care for knitwear.
Q: How did using Synapse feel compared to using email to correspond? Do you feel it has helped build the beginnings of relationships or strengthen existing relationships with journalists?
For existing relationships we’ve got, we’ve asked if they’d prefer to receive pitches this way and a couple have said yes. The fact we’re able to provide them stories in a format they welcome is helpful.
Q: Do you feel Synapse is something you’ll use in the future and what does it add to the PR/journalist dynamic, having used it and got some results? Would you recommended using Synapse to colleagues in PR and journalism?
Yes, I’d like to think so. As I said, for us to invest in it as a tool long-term we’d need it to essentially replace our current media database and it’s not there yet.
I’ve chatted to a few PRs at other agencies about it and suggested they give it a go.
“Synapse will help us hugely by making it easier for the right people to connect on the right topics.”
Ben Rankin
National Audience Director, Reach Plc
“Synapse creates better connections between journalists and PR professionals, helping our trusted brands to deliver quality and highly relevant news to our readers.”
John Rowe
Executive Director, National World
“The idea of only receiving targeted pitches and avoiding those with no relevance to me is appealing and would save me a lot of time on a daily basis.”
Alice Grahns
Deputy Consumer Editor, The Sun
“We see how a marketplace of PR pitches helps deliver relevant ideas to journalists in a more manageable way, compared with email, which regularly overloads our writing staff.”
Toby Granville
Editorial Development Director, Newsquest
“Synapse helps to put everything in one place. I often will put call outs on social media for experts or look around in 1000s of emails so this is more efficient. I would definitely recommend.”
Rebecca Carey
Deputy Head of Editoral SEO, Newsquest
“Synapse has been really helpful the last few days. I’ve had a few PRs come forward with comments and extra info which has meant I’ve managed to publish stories that I wouldn’t have been able to do without the expert insight.”
Katie Collier
SEO Reporter, Newsquest
“The idea of being able to visit one site to get a look at all the stories relevant to me and avoid distracting and unwanted contact with PR offices really appeals to me. Synapse will put me in charge of the process.”
Anil Dawar
Ex-news editor The Express, AQA
“It’s not easy to maintain those vital media relationships. Synapse is a great way of connecting and building mutually beneficial partnerships between PRs and journalists.”
Victoria Morton
Head of PR, Journey Further
“So far I haven’t yet quite found what I am looking for in a database and outreach platform, but Synapse looks set to do everything I need.”
Holly Pither
MD and Founder, Tribe PR
“The answer to all of my prayers!”
Sophie Godfrey-Phaure
Account Director, Ketchum
“Synapse strives to strengthen the relationship between PR professionals and journalists by providing a seamless platform to share stories and pitches.”
Hayley Bromfield
Director of Sales and Marketing, PHA Group
“Synapse will help us to communicate high-quality, relevant content whilst enabling journalists to easily engage with us in order to ensure they have the correct information they need for their stories.”
Charlotte Cavanagh
Charlotte Cavanagh
“We’re really excited to see what Synapse can do for us and our clients. A platform that can help us create more meaningful connections with journalists and help create efficiencies in how we work together holds real potential.”
Imogen Sackey
Associate Director, Fleishman Hillard
“Media excellence means meeting journalists where they are, and tools which help that happen are a good thing. If Synapse can help mitigate ‘death by email’, it’ll be a value-add to hacks and flacks alike.”
Sandy Downs
Senior Account Director, Teamspirit
“We’re interested to see how the Synapse platform develops. We invest significant time tailoring our pitches and content, so it reaches the right journalists. But we can see the potential for this platform to make that process easier, deliver faster feedback and increase our impact.”
Nicola Long, Director (Brand)
Ketchum
“Synapse offers a new and effective way for PRs and journalists to connect; spelling the end to outdated mass pitching. It’ll mean both groups can find the content and contacts they need, at the time they need it – building focused connections, which are still so important, whilst saving time.”
Bethan Williams
Senior Account Manager, Folk
“We are really looking forward to the launch of Synapse. Seeing what journalists are writing about in real time will be invaluable and will help us tailor our pitches to the relevant media at the right time.”
Amanda Moorhouse
Founder and Owner of MPR Communications
“At the heart of Synapse lies an unprecedented innovation – the world’s inaugural ‘Stories Marketplace’. Journalists will discover a cornucopia of relevant stories, sources, captivating content, and stimulating discussions within its digital realm.”
Mark Borkowski
Founder, Borkowski
“It’s exciting to see a professional marketplace being established which allows PRs to pitch stories and establish new relationships with media. Journalists often refer to their out-of-control inboxes so it’s good to see someone addressing this issue, as well as potentially opening up lots of opportunities.”
Kate McWilliams
MD, Lotus
"Synapse will help us hugely by making it easier for the right people to connect on the right topics."
Ben Rankin
National Audience Director, Reach Plc
"Synapse creates better connections between journalists and PR professionals, helping our trusted brands to deliver quality and highly relevant news to our readers."
John Rowe
Executive Director, National World
"The idea of only receiving targeted pitches and avoiding those with no relevance to me is appealing and would save me a lot of time on a daily basis."
Alice Grahns
Deputy Consumer Editor, The Sun
"We see how a marketplace of PR pitches helps deliver relevant ideas to journalists in a more manageable way, compared with email, which regularly overloads our writing staff."
Toby Granville
Editorial Development Director, Newsquest
"Synapse helps to put everything in one place. I often will put call outs on social media for experts or look around in 1000s of emails so this is more efficient. I would definitely recommend."
Rebecca Carey
Deputy Head of Editoral SEO, Newsquest
"Synapse has been really helpful the last few days. I've had a few PRs come forward with comments and extra info which has meant I've managed to publish stories that I wouldn't have been able to do without the expert insight."
Katie Collier
SEO Reporter, Newsquest
"The idea of being able to visit one site to get a look at all the stories relevant to me and avoid distracting and unwanted contact with PR offices really appeals to me. Synapse will put me in charge of the process."
Anil Dawar
Ex-news editor The Express, AQA
"It's not easy to maintain those vital media relationships. Synapse is a great way of connecting and building mutually beneficial partnerships between PRs and journalists."
Victoria Morton
Head of PR, Journey Further
“So far I haven’t yet quite found what I am looking for in a database and outreach platform, but Synapse looks set to do everything I need.”
Holly Pither
MD and Founder, Tribe PR
"The answer to all of my prayers!"
Sophie Godfrey-Phaure
Account Director, Ketchum
“Synapse strives to strengthen the relationship between PR professionals and journalists by providing a seamless platform to share stories and pitches.”
Hayley Bromfield
Director of Sales and Marketing, PHA Group
“Synapse will help us to communicate high-quality, relevant content whilst enabling journalists to easily engage with us in order to ensure they have the correct information they need for their stories.”
Charlotte Cavanagh
Senior Account Manager, Fleet Street Comms
“We’re really excited to see what Synapse can do for us and our clients. A platform that can help us create more meaningful connections with journalists and help create efficiencies in how we work together holds real potential.”
Imogen Sackey
Associate Director, Fleishman Hillard
“Media excellence means meeting journalists where they are, and tools which help that happen are a good thing. If Synapse can help mitigate ‘death by email’, it’ll be a value-add to hacks and flacks alike.”
Sandy Downs
Senior Account Director, Teamspirit
“We’re interested to see how the Synapse platform develops. We invest significant time tailoring our pitches and content, so it reaches the right journalists. But we can see the potential for this platform to make that process easier, deliver faster feedback and increase our impact.”
Nicola Long, Director (Brand)
Ketchum
“Synapse offers a new and effective way for PRs and journalists to connect; spelling the end to outdated mass pitching. It’ll mean both groups can find the content and contacts they need, at the time they need it – building focused connections, which are still so important, whilst saving time.”
Bethan Williams
Senior Account Manager, Folk
"We are really looking forward to the launch of Synapse. Seeing what journalists are writing about in real time will be invaluable and will help us tailor our pitches to the relevant media at the right time."
Amanda Moorhouse
Founder and Owner of MPR Communications
"At the heart of Synapse lies an unprecedented innovation - the world’s inaugural ‘Stories Marketplace’. Journalists will discover a cornucopia of relevant stories, sources, captivating content, and stimulating discussions within its digital realm."
Mark Borkowski
Founder, Borkowski
“It’s exciting to see a professional marketplace being established which allows PRs to pitch stories and establish new relationships with media. Journalists often refer to their out-of-control inboxes so it’s good to see someone addressing this issue, as well as potentially opening up lots of opportunities.”
Kate McWilliams
MD, Lotus
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We’d love to. But we’re not quite there yet.
Synapse believes that journalists have the right to their own data, and that by giving journalists control over their data, PRs will receive more accurate and timely information that isn’t currently available on any other database.
This means that we need to work with journalists to register them on the platform, rather than adding every UK journalist without permission. This is something our team is working on every single day.
Have a journalist or publication you’d like to see on Synapse? Get in touch and let us know at [email protected].
Our users are so important to us. You literally keep us going each and every day so we’re always here to help. From solving tech issues, demoing the platform to posting pitches and requests on your behalf when you’re just having one of those weeks, we put our users at the heart of everything we do.
If you want to read more about our users’ experiences, you can check out their stories here or get in touch with [email protected].
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