Summer is one of the best times to get ahead. While diaries are quieter and colleagues are taking annual leave, journalists are still looking for expert comments, case studies and stories they can line up for the weeks ahead.
If you’ve got something worth sharing, send it to pitches@synapse.media. We’ll get it into our marketplace and in front of journalists who are actively looking for stories.
Now, welcome back to The Loop – your weekly scroll of live journo requests, media relations tips and industry news worth knowing.
🔥 MUST READ
…because we want you to hear it from the experts themselves
Jill Kent, founder of PR Superstar, shared a reminder that every PR should keep in mind:
“AI isn’t replacing PR. It’s consuming it.”
As more people turn to AI for answers instead of clicking through to websites, your media coverage, thought leadership and expert commentary all become part of how AI describes your brand. The takeaway? PR is no longer just about earning today’s coverage. It’s about building the trusted, authoritative reputation that AI will surface tomorrow.
👉 Read Jill’s full LinkedIn post here
🗞️ PR-Y STUFF
Here’s what we think you should see this week:
- How long should you give a journalist to respond to an exclusive? – Steph Spyro has launched a new Off the Record Q&A series, tackling the everyday PR dilemmas that don’t always have a clear answer. And what’s the first question? Whether it’s acceptable to give a journalist a deadline to respond before you take an exclusive elsewhere. read more
- Another government department has left X – The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has stopped using X after Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the platform now “favours abuse and misinformation over meaningful debate.” The move follows a similar decision by the Attorney General’s Office and adds to the ongoing debate over whether brands, organisations and public bodies should continue investing time and resources in the platform. read more
- Google’s AI Overviews face fresh scrutiny – Google has been criticised after its AI Overviews reportedly gave prominent details about a suicide method in response to searches about Caroline Flack’s brother, despite media guidelines advising against this kind of reporting. The incident has prompted calls for AI-generated summaries to follow the same safeguarding standards as traditional news organisations when covering sensitive topics. read more
- Sky and ITV are joining forces in a £1.6bn deal – Sky has agreed to buy ITV’s broadcast and streaming business, combining ITVX and ITV’s free-to-air channels to create the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster and a stronger competitor to streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The takeover still needs regulatory approval, but ITV’s Studios business is staying separate, while ITV News and Sky News will continue as independent editorial operations. read more
- GB News plans major job cuts despite audience growth – GB News is reportedly planning to cut up to a third of its workforce as part of a cost-cutting drive, with roles expected to be affected across editorial, technology and HR. Programming and on-air talent are expected to remain unchanged. read more
🔎 JOURNO REQUESTS
Here’s what journalists are currently looking for on Synapse:
Metro:
- Looking for airline comment on luggage hack feature – Metro
- Looking to speak with a scientist for a Metro travel piece about whether a luggage hack would work. – Metro
- Looking to speak to a flight expert or someone in travel insurance/compensation for a Metro feature. – Metro
Newsweek:
- Looking for a doctor to discuss Lyme Disease – Newsweek
- Looking for doctor comment on GLP-1 medications and weight loss treatments – Newsweek
- Looking for careers expert comment for Newsweek feature – Newsweek
- Looking for comments from a dermatologist – Newsweek
Freelance:
- Looking for cleaning experts to provide commentary for a quick turnaround piece for The English Home! – The English Home
- Looking for crease release sprays and dehumidifier samples for product testing – The Independent
- Looking for parents or businesses using kids rental services for toys, clothes and bikes
- Looking for royal expert reactions on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle UK return for Invictus Games – Daily Express
- Looking to speak to someone who regrets letting their parents/in-laws pay for their wedding because of expectations! – The Telegraph
- Looking to speak to people who have paid their mortgage off early/overpaid a huge chunk of it & details of how they did – The i Paper
- Looking for a UK based sex/relationship expert who is available today for a fun article on how to keep your sex life going in – The i Newspaper
- Looking for a person or people that can comment on changes in the music industry over the last 33 years! – Freelance
- Looking for a UK employer c/study, any sector for a piece exploring the role of employee share schemes! – Freelance
- Looking for an expert to comment on relationships between teen girls and men in their 30s! – Freelance
- Looking for parents having to financially help out their graduate children! – The i Paper
- Looking for doctors to explain the signs of diabetes that people often mistake for old age. – Freelance
- Looking for expert quotes for a dishwasher article for IndyBest, on how to clean a dishwasher. – The Independent
- Looking for someone hesitant to gift their children any money while they are alive for the i paper. – The i Paper
- Looking for someone struggling to sell their flat who want to upgrade to a bigger family home! – The i Paper
- Seeking startups with experience hiring talent overseas – Freelance
- Case study needed: people who earn well but can’t afford the lifestyle they should be able to because of sky high taxes. – The Times
- Looking for UK people changing their relationship with technology for BBC Radio 4 feature – BBC Radio 4
- Looking for parents who turned down promotions or pay rises to keep childcare benefits – The i Paper
The iPaper:
Or head to the marketplace now to look at the full list of requests yourself.
📆 NEXT MONTH’S HOOKS
…because we don’t want you missing out on stuff in August.
🖤 1 Aug: Black Business Month begins – A month dedicated to celebrating and supporting Black-owned businesses across the US.
🍁 3 Aug: British Columbia Day – Public holiday celebrated across British Columbia, Canada.
🏈 6 Aug: NFL Preseason begins – The countdown to the new NFL season starts with preseason fixtures across the US.
💻 6 Aug: DEF CON 34 begins – One of the world’s largest cybersecurity conferences, bringing together hackers, researchers and security professionals.
🌍 9 Aug: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples – A UN observance recognising Indigenous communities, cultures and rights.
🔍 10 Aug: Searches for ‘last-minute holiday’ peak – According to Google Trends, last-minute travel interest reaches its highest point.
👥 12 Aug: International Youth Day – A UN observance highlighting the role of young people in shaping the future.
📈 13 Aug: GDP first quarterly estimate, UK (April to June 2026) – The first estimate of UK economic growth for Q2 2026.
📊 13 Aug: GDP monthly estimate, UK (June 2026) – Measures the value of goods and services produced in the UK.
🎬 14 Aug: Flowervale Street (2026) – UK cinema release from Warner Bros.
📊 18 Aug: UK Labour Market: August 2026 – Covers employment, unemployment, earnings, vacancies and wider labour market trends.
📉 19 Aug: Consumer price inflation, UK (July 2026) – The latest UK inflation figures, including CPI and related measures.
🎾 23 Aug: US Open Tennis begins – The final Grand Slam tournament of the tennis calendar gets underway.
🎮 26 Aug: gamescom 2026 begins – One of the world’s biggest gaming events, held in Cologne, Germany.
🎬 28 Aug: One Night Only (2026) – UK cinema release.
🎬 28 Aug: Cliffhanger (2026) – UK cinema release.
🏦 31 Aug: Summer Bank Holiday – Public holiday across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Working on something great or out of office?
Head to the marketplace now or simply send it to pitches@synapse.media (or add us to your media list) and we’ll make sure it reaches the right journalists.
