Unfortunately, we can’t take your client calls for you; however, we can take some pitches off your hands and help you score coverage. Send your story to pitches@synapse.media (or add that address to your media list) and we’ll get it in front of the right journalists for you.
Now, welcome back to The Loop – your weekly scroll of journo requests, must-read news and media relations tips.
Here’s what’s hot this week…
🔥 MUST READ
…advice we’ve spotted from the experts
“When you’re writing a press release or pitching a story to journalists, remember that phone.”
Top reminder from award-winning media trainer Guy Clapperton that journalists might be reading your email on their phone so how your pitch subject line appears on that phone matters.
🗞️ PR-Y STUFF
Here’s what we’ve read this week so that you don’t have to:
- Daily Mail owner calls for crackdown on Google AI after traffic tanks– DMG wrote to the CMA saying that readership from Google searches has fallen by as much as 89% and called for the watchdog to extend its proposed regulation for the company to its Gemini chatbot and Google News Service. Read more.
- Reach to ‘radically reorganise’ editorial structure with one live news team– the plans intend to reduce duplication across Reach’s biggest brands, but are expected to involve redundancies. Staff have also been told to produce more video and less text-only content. Reach more.
- Wired says ‘AI-written’ story did not have ‘proper fact-check process’ – after Press Gazette revealed they, alongside other titles, had published an article bylined by a fake AI-generated author. Read more.
- Why trust in public relations is more than a barometer- From Stephen Waddington’s Substack, comms expert Charlotte explains how PR pros should be thinking about trust. Read more.
🔎 JOURNO REQUESTS
Here’s what journalists are currently looking for on Synapse:
Reach plc:
- Looking for an expert in travel to name their favourite UK beach
- Looking for an expert in the relevant laws to explain the laws/rules on whether you can cut/trim a neighbour’s tree
Newsquest:
LADbible:
The i Paper:
- Looking for an inheritance tax expert to speak to, about what they’re doing to reduce the bill for their own family
- Looking to speak to a student today whose university maintenance loan isn’t enough to cover their costs.
- Looking for some expert comments on the car finance scandal compensation scheme about what people can do next.
Metro:
- Looking to chat to renters who signed for a house without viewing it. Did it look anything like the photos at all?
- Looking to speak to wealthy people who lost all their money.
- Looking for What I own/rent property column – case studies.
Freelance:
- I need some specific and little-known tips on how to save money as a single person
- Still good to go? Why employees are less eager than ever to take that business trip and how employers can tackle the issue
Or head to the marketplace now to look our requests yourself.
📆 NEXT MONTH’S HOOKS
…just because we don’t want you missing out on stuff.
1 September: New car registrations – any vehicle registered from September 1st, 2025, onwards will display ’75’ as the registration identifier. 52% of Brits consider newsbrands a useful source of motoring info.
2 September: Back to School – According to MailMetro, 5.7 million parents engage with primary or secondary school content.
5 September: The Conjuring: Last Rites UK release date.
6 September: US Open Women’s Final
6 September: The Braemar Gathering, Aberdeenshire – One of the Royal Family’s favourite annual events.
7 September: US Open Men’s Final
7 September: Great North Run, Newcastle – According to Great Run, on average, there are 60,000 runners, making it the world’s biggest half-marathon.
8 September: Sexual Health Week starts
10 September: British Science Festival starts – held in Liverpool, organised by the British Science Association.
12 September: Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale UK release date.
12 September: Heritage Open Days begin – Free access to historic and normally closed buildings across England.
12 September: Jane Austen Festival begins, Bath
13 September: Roald Dahl Day
13 September: Open House Festival begins, London
15 September: Prince Harry’s 40th birthday – Royal-related coverage spikes.
17 September: Searches peak for ‘Freshers Week’ – According to Google Trends, these searches hit their highest point on this topic last year, putting Scotland at 100 (the maximum) and England at 76 search interest points.
18 September: London Fashion Week kicks off
18 September: Bank of England Interest Rate announcement – The Bank will meet to review the rate, opting to either increase, decrease or keep it level.
19 September: Women’s Rugby World Cup Semi-Finals
20 September: Oktoberfest begins
26 September: The Strangers: Chapter 2 UK release date.
27 September: Women’s Rugby World Cup Bronze Final and Final – Takes place at Twickenham Stadium, London
✨ BEFORE YOU GO
Got something great but no time?
Send it over to pitches@synapse.media and we’ll get it in our marketplace for you.
