Summer always means more automatic replies, but don’t forget that journalists still have to find those stories and hit the deadlines.
While you are battling the slow time, send your strongest stories to pitches@synapse.media. We are always down for more expert comments, case studies, fresh data, or a new angle, and we’ll get them onto the Synapse marketplace and in front of journalists looking for stories just like yours.
Now, onto The Loop -live journo requests, and the news worth knowing this week.
🔥 MUST READ
…because we want you to hear it from the experts themselves
What are you pitching for the rest of 2026?
What if we tell you that we’ve done the planning for you? Our July-December PR Calendar is packed with key dates and moments you can turn into timely pitches, maybe campaign ideas and definitely more reactive stories.
It’s a downloadable PDF, so we would recommend either saving it to your desktop where you keep it within reach, or sharing it with your team and making your next PR opportunity happen before everyone else…
🗞️ PR-Y STUFF
Here’s what we think you should see this week:
- The UK is getting its fifth prime minister in four years – Andy Burnham is set to enter Downing Street, becoming the UK’s fifth prime minister since Boris Johnson’s departure and taking over from Sir Keir Starmer after two years in office. Recent government material confirms Starmer is in his final week as PM, with Burnham expected to succeed him. read more
- Google search traffic to UK publishers could halve by 2027 – A new study from the Association of Online Publishers (AOP), analysing 10.8 billion pageviews across eight major UK publishing groups, found organic Google Search referrals fell 7.1% between Q1 and Q2 2025. If that trajectory continues, Google-driven pageviews could halve by Q3 2027. read more
- How will the ‘King of the North’ communicate? – The latest PRmoment News Review turns its attention to Andy Burnham and the communications challenge that comes with moving from regional leadership to the top job. Ben Smith, Angie Moxham and Mark Borkowski discuss whether Burnham’s value-led, tightly controlled approach to media can survive greater scrutiny, particularly once the initial honeymoon period ends and tougher policy decisions need selling to the public. listen to the episode
- PR parents on surviving the summer holiday juggle – Summer might mean a quieter news cycle for some, but for working parents in PR, it can mean childcare and a serious planning. PRWeek spoke to parents across the industry about balancing client calls, deadlines and agency life with weeks of school holidays. read more
- Is ‘job hugging’ holding PR back? – A growing number of PR professionals are reportedly staying in roles they may have outgrown, as economic uncertainty and concerns around job security make moving feel like too much of a risk. PRWeek reports that LinkedIn research found 71% of UK recruiters have seen a rise in ‘job hugging’ over the past year. read more
- OpenAI warns over AI agents taking destructive actions – OpenAI is facing fresh scrutiny after reports that Codex users experienced files or databases being deleted while using AI agents with broad computer access. 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 for an Italian travel expert! – Metro
Newsweek:
- Looking for a doctor to discuss Lyme Disease – Newsweek
- Looking for comments from an oncologist #journorequest T.I.A
Freelance:
- Looking for commentary from UK-based tech employers! – Freelance
- Looking to hear from UK customers and businesses who still prefer and rely on physical money and why. – BBC Radio 4
- Looking for expert tips on keeping homes hygienic during hot weather – The Telegraph
- Looking for nutritionists and kitchen tech trend experts for a story on ‘supplement fridges’ ! – Livingetc
- Looking to hear from UK customers and businesses who still prefer and rely on physical money and why. – BBC Radio 4
- Looking for home experts to explain what’s making houses hotter and how to keep them cool – iNews
- Looking for SME case studies using social media to grow their business – National Business Magazine
- Looking for expert comments on mistakes affecting your home’s curb appeal are likely to upset or annoy your neighbours, and why? – Livingetc
- 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
- 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
- On the hunt for family-friendly hotels and holiday parks in the north of England – Freelance
- Looking for language experts to discuss multilingualism and brain age for a piece in the i newspaper! – The i Paper
- Looking for finance experts to offer advice for grandparents who want to set their grandchildren up financially! – Apple News Site
- On the hunt for kids travel products (suncream, mosquito spray and toiletries) ideally plastic free or eco-friendly. Thanks! – Freelance
- Seeking British expat in Paris to discuss France’s current heatwave – The i Paper
- Looking for homeowners struggling to sell a one bed or studio flat – The i Paper
NationalWorld:
- Looking for garden furniture for review for NationalWorld. All types welcome.
- Looking for bean to coffee drinks machines for review for NationalWorld! – NationalWorld
- Looking for mattresses for review for NationalWorld please. DM if you can help. Thanks! – NationalWorld
Reach plc:
- Anything people going on holiday in the 6 weeks need to be aware of – Daily Mirror/Daily Express
- Looking for expert opinion on what foods footballers eat / World Cup diet – Daily Mirror
- Experts or practicing solicitors specializing in payment services regulation, financial exclusion and card network compliance – DailyMirror
- Looking for reaction to the VAT cut on electricity bills:Is this a good move?
Mail on Sunday:
- Do you have a cool job and don’t mind being filmed for a few hours? – Daily Mail Social Video
- ‘Boots on the Ground’, quirky news stories, which need a rumour to be dispelled – Daily Mail Social Video
- A-LEVEL RESULTS DAY – FILM AT A SCHOOL – Daily Mail Social
Futurenet:
- Looking for an environmental solicitor to comment on fines for destroying a bee nest – Homebuilding & Renovating
- Looking to speak with an EV charging expert today. For a Homebuilding & Renovating feature. – Homebuilding & Renovating
Or head to the marketplace now to look at the full list of requests yourself.
…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.
🎬 5 Aug: Ted Lasso Season 4 premieres – The 10-episode season will kick off with a single episode, followed by new episodes dropping every Wednesday until October 7.
🏈 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.
🎈 7 Aug: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta begins – The official event runs until 9 August 2026 at Ashton Court Estate.
🎬 7 Aug: One Night Only (2026) – Distributed by Universal Pictures, the movie’s ensemble cast also features Maya Hawke, Julia Fox, Molly Ringwald and LeVar Burton.
🌍 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.
🌘 12 Aug: Total Solar Eclipse – It will sweep across Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, with partial phases visible across much of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Canada and parts of the United States.
📈 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. This 1980s-set film follows a family whose suburban neighbourhood is mysteriously transported to an unknown, prehistoric world.
📊 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 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.
🎮 26 Aug: gamescom 2026 begins – The main exhibition kicks off in Cologne, Germany. It’s the world’s largest gaming festival, featuring hands-on previews of upcoming titles, indie showcases, hardware reveals, and the Tencent Worlds of Play art.
🎬 28 Aug: One Night Only (2026) – UK cinema release.
🎬 28 Aug: Cliffhanger (2026) – UK cinema release, starring Lily James and Pierce Brosnan.
🏦 31 Aug: Summer Bank Holiday – Public holiday across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Have something great to share?
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.
