This information helps scientists figure out the kind of work you and the publication do, says Bruce Macintosh, an astrophysicist at Stanford University. One sentence that describes the publication’s audience and focus (with a link to its website) and that provides some basic information about your experience (and again, including a link to your website if you have one) should suffice. The first element in the body of an interview-request email should introduce the journalist and, if for a specific assignment, the publication. is not appropriate, simply “Dear ,” may be a better option. ![]() or Mr.-or even Mx., as not all nonbinary people use that prefix. regardless might be a safer choice than not.įinally, Wu says, she avoids using gendered prefixes such as Ms. And when you’re unsure if someone has a doctorate, referring to them as Dr. are often fine with being called Dr., but “in many parts of Europe, people may be offended if you don’t address them as Prof. Which prefix to use may also vary with geography. In those cases, consider using “Hello,” “Greetings,” or “Dear” instead. but can come across as rude in other countries, she says. Cultural context is important: opening with “Hi” followed by the person’s name might be acceptable in the U.S. Salutationįiguring out the right salutation is more complicated than people think, says Katherine J. However, use this tactic sparingly, reserving it for when you need a response within a few hours. When the deadline looms close or when you’re writing a breaking news story, writing “TIME SENSITIVE” in all caps in the subject line can be helpful. Other information, such as the name and prestige of the publication, for example, doesn’t affect whether she opens the email or not. Emma Hodcroft, a molecular epidemiologist at the University of Bern in Switzerland, says that as a frequent recipient of media inquiries, she finds it’s most important that the subject line clearly indicates the email contains an interview request from a journalist for a relevant topic. Ariana Remmel, a freelance journalist based in Little Rock, Arkansas, recommends starting with something along the lines of “Media inquiry:” followed by the publication name and a short summary of the story topic. The subject line is the first thing a potential source will see, so make the intent clear. From the subject line to the sign-off, a strategic approach to what you say and how you say it can increase the chances that your source will read your message and agree to an interview.Ĭrafting a Clear, Effective Email Subject Line And especially because I had yet to secure an assignment, I wanted to be extra sure that my request wouldn’t get lost in the noise.Īn effective interview request should pique the source’s interest, explain who you are, and convey what you’re looking for and when you need it. So, to grab their attention, my email had to hit all the marks while also being courteous. But after spending years at the lab bench myself, I knew firsthand that scientists juggle many demands on their time. Degree Programs in Science, Health, or Environmental Writingįacing down my first story idea as a science journalist, I knew the first step was to email researchers and set up interviews.
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