20 places to find press opportunities (quickly and easily)

Journalists ask for help every day. They need case studies, expert comments, products to feature and people with a story to tell. And they post those requests in more places than most people realise.

Here's my list of where to look, with the hashtags and phrases to search for, and how to reply so you get noticed.

The quick answer: the best places to find press opportunities are social media (search #journorequest on X and Bluesky, and "journorequest" or "expert comment" on LinkedIn), journalist request services like ResponseSource, Qwoted and HARO, podcast guest platforms like PodMatch, and Facebook groups where journalists post call-outs. Paid media databases are useful later, but there are plenty of free opportunities to start with.

Where do journalists post requests on social media?

Social media is best for urgent, same-day requests.

1. X and Bluesky. Search the hashtags #journorequest and #prrequest, and sort by latest. On X, follow @JournoRequest for call-outs, and build lists of the reporters you'd love to be featured by.

2. LinkedIn. Search phrases like "journorequest", "looking for case studies" and "expert comment". Filter to posts, sort by recent and save your searches so you can check them again in seconds.

3. Instagram. Follow the outlets, editors and reporters on your wishlist, and watch their Stories. Plenty of journalists post call-outs there that never appear anywhere else.

Requests on social media move fast. A journalist might post at 9am and have what they need by lunchtime, so it's worth checking at the same time every day.

Which journalist request services should you sign up to?

These send requests straight to your inbox.

They're a goldmine, because journalists are actively asking for input, and the requests aren't public, so there's less competition. Some are free and some charge a membership. There are plenty of free opportunities, so I wouldn't pay for one at the start.

4. ResponseSource. The UK mainstay, with its Journalist Enquiry Service sending requests to your inbox.

5. Qwoted. A platform that connects journalists with experts.

6. HARO (Help a Reporter Out). One of the best-known request services, now run by Featured.com.

7. DotStar Media. A UK service sharing journalist requests.

8. Press Plugs. Another UK option for media requests.

9. Journolink. A UK platform for journalist requests and press releases.

Pick two or three to start with. Too many, and your inbox fills up with requests that don't fit you.

Are paid media databases worth it?

Only once you're doing a lot of PR.

Media databases let you search journalists by topic and outlet, and many send alerts for requests and news. They're powerful, but they cost money, and most founders don't need one to get started.

10. Roxhill Media. A UK media database with journalist contacts and insight.

11. PR Dispatch. A media database and pitching tool popular with smaller brands.

12. Vuelio. A media database and monitoring platform.

13. Muck Rack. A journalist database and PR platform, widely used by agencies.

There are plenty more in this space. If you're thinking about one, book a demo with two or three and ask what they cover in your industry before you buy.

How do you get booked as a podcast or radio guest?

Use a guest platform, and don't forget local radio.

Podcast guest platforms work a bit like dating apps. You create a profile, hosts find you, and you can find them too.

14. Matchmaker.fm. Connects podcast hosts with guests.

15. PodcastGuests.com. Lists podcasts looking for guests, and guests looking for shows.

16. PodMatch. Matches guests with podcasts based on topics.

Podcasts are a good way to share your expertise at length, and a clear introduction from the host helps AI tools understand who you are.

For radio, go straight to your local BBC station. Find the show that fits your story and contact its producer. Local radio is often where bigger stories start.

Which Facebook groups share press opportunities?

A few groups are set up for exactly this.

Follow each group's rules, engage when you've got something useful to add, and check the group fits your PR goals. Some ask for a paid membership.

17. Lightbulb. A community for PR and press opportunities.

18. FeatureMe! A group where journalists post call-outs for case studies and experts.

19. Press Trip Club. For travel, food and hospitality businesses looking for press trips and travel coverage.

20. Media Matchmaker. A group connecting journalists with businesses and experts.

Less is more here. One thoughtful reply to the right call-out beats commenting on everything.

How do you spot press opportunities first?

Set things up so they come to you.

• Turn on notifications for posts and Stories from your target outlets and journalists on X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

  
  

• Create an inbox rule for phrases like "media request", "case study" and "expert comment", so alerts don't get buried.

  
  

• Use saved searches and lists so checking takes seconds.

  
  

• Check at different times of day, and at weekends too. There's often much less competition then.

  
  

Being first matters. Journalists on deadline tend to go with the first good reply, then stop reading.

My post on how to find press opportunities goes into which requests are worth your time and which to skip.

How should you reply to a journalist request?

Quickly, briefly and helpfully.

• Reply as soon as you can. The first good reply often wins.

  
  

• Keep it short. Three to five bullet points is plenty.

  
  

• Be helpful, not salesy. Share your expertise, not your sales pitch.

  
  

• Back it up. Include a stat, insight or example, with the source and date.

  
  

• Make photos easy. Link to a folder of high-resolution images, using a link that won't expire.

  
  

• Include your details. Your website, social profiles, email and phone number.

  
  

Above all, be useful, credible and relevant. That's what gets you picked, and it's what gets you asked back.

Questions people ask

Where do journalists post requests for experts?

Journalists post requests on X and Bluesky using #journorequest, on LinkedIn and Instagram, and through request services like ResponseSource, Qwoted and HARO. Some also post in Facebook groups and on podcast guest platforms.

What is #journorequest?

#journorequest is a hashtag journalists use on X and Bluesky when they're looking for experts, case studies or products for a story. Search it and sort by latest to see current requests.

Are journalist request services free?

Some are free and some charge a membership. There are plenty of free opportunities on social media and free request services, so most people don't need to pay when they're starting out.

Does HARO still exist?

Yes. HARO (Help a Reporter Out) was bought by Featured.com in 2025 and still sends journalist requests to subscribers.

How quickly should I reply to a journalist request?

As quickly as you can, ideally the same day. Journalists often post requests because they're on deadline, and they tend to go with the first good reply they get.

Want the good requests brought to you?

Scrolling hashtags at midnight isn't anyone's idea of fun. In The Pitch Sessions, my monthly pitching group, I bring you the journalist requests worth answering, and we shape the replies together.

Join the waitlist.

Or book a free 20-minute call and tell me where you'd love to be featured.

Book a call.

Becky here, running on flat whites and a non-negotiable 3pm Diet Coke. I'm Becky Newmarch, a PR consultant for founders and brands in the UK. I find the stories hiding in your business and get them to the journalists who'll run them.