In plain English
What does press inquiry mean?
A press inquiry is any inbound contact from a reporter, producer, or editor asking for comment, data, an interview, or confirmation of a fact. It usually arrives with a deadline attached, and the deadline is the part most organizations underestimate.
Handling inquiries well is one of the cheapest ways to build press coverage. Log every request, route it to a named owner, and reply even when the answer is no comment. Reporters remember who responded in time, and they come back to those contacts on the next story.
Example
Subject: Reuters inquiry, deadline 4pm ET Hi, I am writing about warehouse automation layoffs and saw your Series B announcement. Can your CEO confirm hiring plans for 2025, and is she available for 15 minutes today?
Use it well
Three practical tips
- 01
Acknowledge within the hour, even if the full answer comes later.
- 02
Ask the outlet, angle, deadline, and format before you answer anything.
- 03
Keep a short approved statement ready so routine questions do not need a meeting.
Knowledge check
Did it stick?
What should you do first with a press inquiry you cannot answer yet?
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