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.)
