How to Handle Media Rejection

There’s a mythology created around superstars that talent makes success easy. It perpetuates the idea that if you’re good enough, the world will open its arms and throw you opportunities. But it’s a myth—pure and simple. Everybody gets rejected over and over again. Steve Jobs. Oprah. Beyonce. Everybody.

You’ve heard that fortune favors the brave, but the media favors the persistent. The people who continually put themselves out there, who aim for the one “yes” in a sea of 100 nos. And if you want to make it in the media, you not only have to learn to stay hungry—you have to be able to stomach rejection.

Here are 4 ways to make rejection go down a little more smoothly:

1. Follow up…

Producers and editors are constantly inundated with emails. Before you bust out the pint of Ben & Jerry’s, it’s imperative that you give your pitch a follow up bump to ensure it was, in fact, rejected.

But, whatever you do, do not send a blanket email that just says, “So…what did you think of my pitch?” They’re not going to go digging for your pitch—and this is a surefire way to get a Liz Lemon level eyeroll in response. Acknowledge that they are busy people, give them a brief summary, and link them back to your full original pitch.  So, for example:

“I’m very aware that you get tons of emails every single day and might have missed this one. I wanted to pop it back up to the top of the pile and hopefully catch your eye.  As a quick reminder — I’m a GI doc and I’m using a new diagnostic tool in my office that is helping patients knockout acid reflux sooner than ever before. Here’s a clip of me on ABC talking about it.  Full details below.  Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!”

Now, that’s a great follow up!

2…but know when they’re just not that into you.

Let’s be real: If you followed up, and heard nothing, she’s just not that into you. And look, as you learned in our Valentine’s Day post, you’re building relationships in the media—and not everyone is going to be a perfect match at first. Better to cut your losses and move on in pursuit of the right fit.

And sure, you never know—culture may shift, the news cycle make quake, and suddenly, the producer that got away may remember your now perfectly relevant pitch and pick up the phone. But we can guarantee that if you’ve harangued them with email after email—with no reply—they will be hesitant to pick up the phone, even if you’re an ideal fit.

3. Tweak your pitch.

If you try the same pickup line every night for a week in a row—and nobody bites—it’s time to rethink your approach. The same goes for your pitch. Look it over with a fresh pair of eyes and try to see it from a producer/editor’s perspective. Is it clear and concise? Are the stakes high or are you doing the old “letting you know about this” pitch (which never really works)? Is it specific? Does it solve a problem? Also, ask a trusted friend for honest feedback (keyword: honest). If she didn’t know you, would she keep reading?

4. Keep it in perspective.

There is a cacophony of factors producers and editors have to consider (timing, topic, have they just covered this recently, does their boss not like this topic as a rule, etc). It may have nothing to do with your talent level, the validity of your idea, or the power of your message.

Rejection is, in so many ways, completely the wrong term for what’s happening when someone passes on your pitch. It’s not always a flat-out rejection, but more like a swing and a miss—and there are lots of those.

Remember they’re trying to solve a very specific puzzle, and both you and the producer are hoping your pitch is the right piece. It may not complete this picture, but it might be the exact right fit for the next one. Keep getting better at what you do, stay persistent, learn from every no—and eventually, the pieces will fall into place.