Eric Newcomer on How to Pitch Reporters and Scaling to 80,000 Newsletter Subscribers

TL;DR

Media industry, especially legacy publications, is struggling while niche newsletters like newcomer have found success in covering startups and venture capital.

Transcript

core to the strategy is that you have this piece of news usually a funding round that's exclusive and you bring it to one person you say if you're willing to cover this we'll give you the story exclusively I feel like there are a lot of people who are early stage that still want to like blast it out to a lot of people and then you get nothing and s... Read More

Key Insights

• 📜 Exclusive scoops and leaked documents drive significant engagement and readership.
• 😀 The media industry is facing challenges with layoffs and declining revenues, except for niche newsletters that cater to specific audiences.
• ℹ️ Building relationships and trust with sources is crucial in obtaining exclusive information and breaking news stories.
• 📰 Eric Newcomer's reporting strategy involves offering exclusivity to reporters, differentiating between exclusive scoops and traditional startup news, and utilizing his expertise and relationships in the industry.
• 👨‍💼 Events have become a profitable and growth-driving aspect of newcomer's business, providing a sense of community and connection to readers and sponsors.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Eric Newcomer use exclusivity as part of his reporting strategy?

Eric believes that offering exclusivity to reporters for their coverage is key in the early stages of a news story. This strategy helps ensure that the reporter gets the story and also provides a marketing moment for the company involved.

Q: What are the different types of stories that Eric covers and what are his standards for each?

Eric covers various types of stories, including exclusive scoops and traditional startup news. His standards for exclusive scoops are high, requiring complete exclusivity and usually specific treatment in his newsletter. Traditional startup news stories are given more central treatment but still require some level of exclusivity.

Q: How did Eric get started in journalism and covering the startup industry?

Eric's interest in journalism began in fourth grade when he became an anchor on the elementary school newscast. He later worked for several newspapers before joining The Information and eventually starting his own newsletter, newcomer.

Q: How does Eric decide what stories are worthy of coverage and what factors does he consider?

Eric looks for stories that have exclusive tidbits, surprise elements, and a theme that can tie together smaller stories. He also considers the cultural relevance of a story and its impact on the future of the world. His main focus is on providing valuable information and an information edge to his readers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Newcomer, a newsletter by Eric Newcomer, has become successful with over 80,000 subscribers and generating over a million dollars in annual revenue.

• Eric focuses on reporting startup and venture capital news and has broken several exclusive stories.

• The media industry, apart from a few exceptions like the New York Times, has faced significant challenges and layoffs in recent years.

• Building relationships and trust with sources is crucial in producing exclusive scoops as a reporter.