LET'S GET SOCIAL
How to leverage social media for PR wins. Plus HuffPost, Real Simple, & Forbes, and more need expert sources!
Justine D'Addio is a seasoned publicist with over a decade of experience executing PR campaigns for lifestyle and tech brands. In this newsletter, Justine shares real-time PR tips, industry updates, and national media opportunities for home lifestyle brands, experts, and creators to uplevel their communications strategies. Justine is an avid lifestyle YouTube consumer, amateur content creator, Substack author, and passionate homebody.
Weirdly posting on a Wednesday, but hey, it’s Fourth of July week, and I’m pretty sure everyone’s already OOO. If you’re not and somehow reading this, give me a like below =)
In honor of #NationalSocialMediaDay (well, it was on Monday), today’s Substack is all about understanding how social media drives the news.
And how you can leverage it for more media coverage.
PR and social media have never been more intertwined, with 96% of journalists using social media daily for their work, according to Cision’s 2025 State of the Media Report.
Most journalists reported using social media to publish and promote content.
However, their top five work-related reasons for utilizing social are:
To publish/promote content– 64%
To interact with my audience – 55%
To crowdsource information for stories – 51%
To network – 48%
To pick up on trending topics – 47%
Journalists find stories from quite literally everywhere: trusted sources, personal conversations, assignment editors, breaking news, industry reports, and, increasingly, social media.
Social media is also becoming a news source for younger users, with short-form content being the most consumed. It’s become a place where news breaks first… and journalists make it a priority to live there.
With that in mind, social media is no longer optional for brands looking for exposure and reach. It’s an (if not THE) essential communications channel for expanding your digital footprint and boosting credibility. AKA: How you attract business.
Let’s talk about a few ways brands, experts, and creators can start using social media to get noticed by journalists who may just quote or feature you in their next story.
Follow More Journalists
If you Google a given journalist, they’re likely active on several social platforms. According to Cision’s report, they are most commonly on LinkedIn (59%), Facebook (53%), and Instagram (51%).
Journalists frequently post callouts for sources across all of these platforms, and what we in the PR world call “reactive opportunities”. It’s what I share at the bottom of all my Substack posts. If you’re quick enough and have the right credentials, you just might get quoted in an article.
When you follow and engage with journalists appropriately (no DM pitching) on social media, you are building relationships and initiating conversations that can lead to media coverage.
Showcase your Expertise
If you’re not already building thought leadership and sharing expertise with your audience, let this be your sign. Regularly discussing niche and trending insights that directly relate to your expertise is a great way to become a journalist’s go-to source for stories they’re sourcing when relevant news breaks.
Better yet, keep daily tabs on your industry’s news items, and when something sparks an idea, post your point of view shortly thereafter. Similarly, if a celebrity with a massive following posts something that relates to your expertise, it may turn into a news story.
POST THE CONTENT.
In yesterday’s Digital PR Explained episode, host Britt Klontz stressed the importance of consistently posting thought leadership to help journalists discover you, which can organically lead to media opportunities.
Britt’s Tips:
Pick 2-3 topics you’re qualified to speak on and stay focused
Post your take on relevant news quickly and in plain English
Leave thoughtful comments on journalists’ posts
Tag journalists (but sparingly) when sharing their work
Repurpose insights across platforms to maximize your digital footprint
Be Searchable
You already knew this was coming. Optimize your bios for discoverability and be sure to include keywords in captions. And for the love that all is holy, put your email in there. Journalists’ primary form of communication is email. So, even if they want to use your content in a story, they may not DM you directly.
When Katie Lopus Ball posted on TikTok about her grandma being her flower girl, a Weddings writer at People reached out to her for a feature story via EMAIL.
And although the video wasn’t viral by TikTok’s standards (<10K views), this is a HUGE signal that unique content can sometimes outperform viral content in the newsroom.
Because journalists are looking for original stories, not stories that everyone has already covered.
Go Viral
That’d be nice, right? Well, it’s both the hardest and easiest way to get media coverage using social media. If you do happen to go viral, be prepared for articles to publish without a formal interview or even a heads-up. Journalists who cover viral trends are moving fast because there will always be a new viral video tomorrow.
People, The Cut, and The Daily Mail all covered influencer Jazmyn Smith’s wedding, which she recently discussed on her podcast. While one might initially think that’s great press for her, she would argue differently. Turns out she had been attempting to keep her last name out of the public eye her entire career as a creator. Oops.
Share the Love
According to the 2025 State of the Media Report, 28% of journalists describe “competing with social media influencers and digital content creators for audience attention” as one of their biggest challenges in the last year.
Regardless of your follower count, always be sure to give the outlet and journalist a shoutout.
Last week, Journalist and Substack author Bryce Gruber reiterated how valuable this simple act is, saying, “it brings more attention to the content and when a link is promoted several times across indexed social media sites, Google adds value to the story overall. In a crowded field, that helps magazines, content and editors stand out.”
Repurpose Press Wins
In a full circle moment, repurpose press wins for additional social content. Create a “Press” highlight on Instagram, talk candidly about the behind-the-scenes on TikTok, or break down what the coverage did for you or your business on LinkedIn.
Tell people about the cool thing that happened and what you learned from it. This is all one big conversation. Get social.
That’s it for now. Scroll down for this week’s media opportunities. Happy pitching!
Have a question about this Substack? Interested in collaborating? Email: justine@hydeparkpr.com
🏡📰HOUSEKEEPING
Trending Home Lifestyle and Marketing news you may have missed…
Siete Foods Sold to Pepsi for $1.2 Billion (Inc. Magazine)
Hunting for treasure (and a bargain): Why budget-conscious consumers are hitting up estate sales (Modern Retail)
Meghan Markle's 'Lack of Confidence' Shows in As Ever Lifestyle Brand (Newsweek)
6 Social Media Trends Defining Gen Z's Shopping Behavior (Forbes)
🤝WORK WITH ME
✨I’m available for freelance PR services and consulting✨
Seasonal PR - Building your “As Seen In” media portfolio, holiday gift guide campaigns, etc.
Mini Campaigns – Placing a newsworthy announcement in multiple media outlets. Examples: New product drops, mini gift guide campaigns (Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.), unique partner collaborations, business expansions, etc.
Media Matchmaking – Build social proof by supporting trade and national lifestyle articles with trending commentary. Only open to credentialed subject matter experts.
Mini VIP Day – Getting you PR-ready for media placements in less than a day. Includes a 1:1 consulting session, PR audit/press plan, 10 media contacts, 2 custom pitches, and a FREE subscription to The Hyde Out Substack (including archives).
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1:1 Consulting – Bi-weekly strategic PR guidance for lifestyle brands, experts, creators, or in-house teams.
For additional details, visit my services page and book a quick discovery call with me HERE!
Today’s Media Opps 📰✨
Submission deadlines are listed below. If you need pitching tips, refer to this post and/or email justine@hydeparkpr.com with the subject line “PITCHING HELP”
Follow us on Instagram for the most up-to-date media opportunities @hydeparkpr
If you’re a journalist with a media request to share with our community of home lifestyle brands and experts, please add justine@hydeparkpr.com to your sources list.
PLEASE NOTE:
These opportunities are time-sensitive, and sources may have already been filled. Enable Substack push notifications so you don’t miss a thing.
Do you want to learn how to pitch yourself to the below requests like a PR pro? I’m testing interest in a mini-course taught by yours truly. Comment “Course” below if interested!
EXPERTS
VeryWell Mind
Deadline: 7/02 @ 5pm ET
Wendy Wisner is writing a piece about the role protein plays in mental health and well-being and wants to connect with psychiatrists, neurologists, registered dietitians, and other relevant healthcare professionals to discuss the following questions:
What role do proteins and amino acids play in brain health and mental health and well being? Do they have impacts on things like anxiety or depression? Do you think there is too much emphasis on protein in our culture (mostly on social media) right now?
What is the relationship between neurotransmitters and key amino acids, such as Tyrosine and Tryptophan?
Does following an animal vs. plant-based diet for protein sources have varied impacts on mental health?
Does protein intake have an impact on the gut-brain connection and gut microbiota?
Please share practical recommendations for protein consuming. How much protein do people actually need? What happens if you get too much protein? Not enough protein? How can you get enough protein on a plant-based diet?
Requirements: I am only able to respond to experts/PR sources I am interested in using. I can only accept original quotes written by experts—NOT assistants or AI bots. When sending me emailed answers, please run your content through a plagiarism checker like Copyspace. I am unable to use any content that comes up as a red flag on a plagiarism checker.
Email wendywisnerwriter@gmail.com
Today’s Parent
Deadline: 7/02 @ 10pm ET
Courtney Leiva is seeking quotes from parenting experts, child safety specialists, baby gear experts, and pediatricians or child health professionals for an upcoming article: "The Best Stroller Accessories Every Parent Needs.
Email: reply+6d03abdd-e6f9-4c61-a261-94a584d280d5@helpareporter.com
Yahoo
Deadline: 7/03 @ 9am ET
Kelsey Weekman is looking for a creator economy expert to share tips on how to launch a career as a content creator in 2025.
There are so many ways to become one, but I'd love to hear from experts what they recommend. What would you tell them to do? What's your first advice? What comes after going viral? Don't overthink it, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, whether you are a creator yourself or someone who works with them or someone who coaches them.
Email: reply+e9f338f5-57ea-42f5-b0a2-b740237e6fed@helpareporter.com
HuffPost
Deadline: 7/03 @ 12pm ET
Vivian Chung is looking to connect with professional home organizers and frequent travelers for tips on smart things to do at home before leaving for vacation to ensure a stress-free return. She is especially interested in lesser-known but genius habits that help create a calm, welcoming space, making it easier to ease back into a routine and hold onto that post-vacation glow.
Requirements: Please get in touch with your initial thoughts and an example of one thing to do, and I’d love to follow up with additional questions.
Email chung.vivs@gmail.com
Real Simple
Deadline: 7/03 @ 3pm ET
Vivian Chung is looking to connect with physicians and medical directors to discuss a range of daily anti-inflammatory habits readers can adopt, whether related to diet, exercise, or stress management, and how these habits can help reduce chronic inflammation.
Requirements: Please get in touch with your initial thoughts and an example of one habit you'd recommend, and I’d love to follow up with additional questions.
Email chung.vivs@gmail.com
Forbes
Deadline: 7/04 @ 9am ET
Renae Gregoire is looking for a B2B consultant, coach, or service firm using Instagram and TikTok to grow their businesses without traditional marketing budgets.
I'm looking for a success story to complement my main story. The more specific examples and metrics you can provide, the stronger the piece will be for readers looking to implement similar strategies.
Content strategy that works: What content types consistently bring you new clients? Can you describe a specific post that led directly to business?
Measurable business impact: What concrete results have you achieved? (New clients per month, revenue percentage from social, follower growth, etc.)
Your first social media client: Tell me about the first time social media content led to actual business. How did it happen?
Common mistakes: What's the biggest error you see other service providers make when trying to grow organically on social media?
Practical advice: What's your top advice for someone in your industry who wants to start this approach but thinks their field is "too boring" for social media?
Requirements: Provide name, title and a CTA link
Email: reply+aa41bdc9-0abd-4237-a569-9388bb819146@helpareporter.com
Forbes
Deadline: 7/04 @ 9am ET
Renae Gregoire is looking for an influencer with a following between 100k-500k who can speak to the transition from micro-influencing and help readers understand what actually changes behind the scenes by sharing your experiences. (Readers are small business owners, entrepreneurs, founders, and members of the creator economy.)
Short answers are fine, but stories, examples, and surprises are even better.
What's your niche, and how long did it take you to grow from 10K to 100K+?
When you hit 100K, what changed immediately? (Brand interest, content pressure, monetization)
What's been the hardest part about growing to this level that other creators don't discuss?
Have you experienced growth plateaus? How did you handle them?
What would you tell a creator stuck at 50K who wants to grow to where you are?
Requirements: Provide name, title and a CTA link
Email: eply+74afa0f5-df3f-476b-b3ea-33a18b805517@helpareporter.com
Forbes
Deadline: 7/04 @ 9am ET
Renae Gregoire is looking for a B2B creator with 2k-15k followers who has achieved meaningful business results without needing a massive following. Your perspective will help readers understand that success doesn't require tens of thousands of followers to generate real revenue.
Short answers are fine, but stories, examples, and surprises are even better.
Scale and results: What's your current follower count, and what concrete business results have you achieved through social media? (Show us the numbers!)
Winning content: With a smaller following, what type of content has been most effective for converting followers into paying clients?
Quality over quantity: How do you compete for attention and business against accounts with much larger followings?
Efficient approach: How do you balance content creation with running your business? What's your streamlined content strategy?
Encouragement for small accounts: What would you tell someone who thinks they need thousands of followers to start seeing real business results?
Requirements: Provide name, title and a CTA link
Email: reply+6e14fba4-cbfe-48d2-b8db-e8a4ab7612da@helpareporter.com
BRANDS
Forbes
Deadline: 7/04 @ 9am ET
Renae Gregoire is looking for brands who have partnered with both micro (10k-100k) and mid-tier influencers (100k-500k) to discuss the differences.
Short answers are great, but stories and specifics, like examples and metrics, are even better.
From a brand perspective, what's the real difference between working with a 50K vs. 300K creator?
Do mid-tier creators get different types of partnerships or opportunities than micro-influencers?
What matters most when choosing creators in the 100K to 500K range beyond follower count?
What's the biggest mistake you see mid-tier creators making when pitching brands?
What advice would you give a creator who just hit 100K and wants bigger brand partnerships?
Requirements: Provide name, title and a CTA link
Email: reply+eee49d2b-69d8-4428-9ae2-ee78ebf9ccd5@helpareporter.com
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