Media List Examples (2026), Six Lists You Can Copy

Six media list examples show who to include for a tech launch, a local event, a nonprofit, a health product, a podcast tour and a finance client.

Each one shows who goes on the list, what to leave off, and how many people to expect in the Media List database.

Facts and counts checked October 19, 2026. See something wrong? Tell us.

Key takeaways

• Six example lists cover a tech launch, a local event, a nonprofit, a health product, a podcast tour and a finance client.
• A good list is small, matches one story and gives every person a reason to be there.
• Suggested sizes run from 30 to 150 people depending on the goal.

What every good example has in common

All six lists share three traits. They are small, they match one story, and every person has a reason to be there. That last one matters. In a 2025 survey of more than 3,000 journalists, 86 percent said they would reject a pitch that did not fit their beat or audience right away.¹

A list is not a count of how many people you can reach. It is a short answer to the question, "Who would care about this story?"

The six examples at a glance

These sizes are our suggestions, not industry statistics, and the six examples are illustrations, not client case studies. Your own reply rates will tell you whether to go bigger or smaller.

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Example 1, a tech startup launch

A startup with a new app wants its first round of coverage.

• Who goes on it. Reporters who write about technology and apps, editors at business and trade sites, and hosts of shows about startups.
• What to leave off. General news reporters and anyone who writes only about big public companies.
• How to find them. In Media List, filter by the technology beat and the online media type. About 500 US journalists in the database are tagged with technology, so narrow further by outlet or state.

Example 2, a local business event

A bakery is opening a second store and wants a crowd on opening day.

• Who goes on it. Producers at local TV stations, the community editor at the city paper, local radio hosts and neighborhood newsletter writers.
• What to leave off. National outlets. They will not send a person to a bakery opening.
• How to find them. Filter by state, then by city or outlet. More than 11,900 US journalists in the database work in TV and radio, and more than 5,900 work at newspapers, so a single metro area usually has dozens of matches.

Example 3, a nonprofit fundraiser

A charity runs a gala and wants donations and volunteers.

• Who goes on it. Community and features editors, reporters who cover the cause, local morning show producers and radio hosts.
• What to leave off. Business reporters who only cover profits.
• Tip. Lead with a person the charity helped, not the event. Our guide to media lists for nonprofits has more detail.

Example 4, a health or wellness product

A skin care brand wants reviews and feature mentions.

• Who goes on it. Health reporters, lifestyle and beauty editors, and wellness creators on YouTube.
• What to leave off. Outlets that never review products.
• How to find them. About 1,270 US journalists in the database carry the health tag. Add YouTube channels, since 189,000+ are in the same search.

Example 5, an author or expert on podcasts

A new author wants to be a guest on shows that fit the book.

• Who goes on it. Hosts and producers of shows with the same audience as the book.
• What to leave off. Shows that never have guests.
• Why it works. A podcast guest spot is a conversation, not a mention. The database holds 1.2 million podcasts, so you can pick shows by topic and country.

Example 6, an agency client in finance

A small bank wants its economist quoted in money stories.

• Who goes on it. Business and money reporters, personal finance editors and finance newsletter writers.
• What to leave off. Sports and entertainment desks.
• How to find them. About 2,000 US journalists carry the business tag. Add the state of the bank for local business papers.

The same sheet works for all six

Each example uses the same columns. Name, title, outlet, beat, email, a recent story, a tier and a pitch status. You can copy the layout from our media list template.

Build your own example in a trial

Pick one of the six that fits your goal, then build it for real. A 3-day trial starts at $0 today with a card or PayPal. You can export up to 25 contacts during the trial, and plans start at $99 a month.

Questions, answered

What is an example of a media list?

It is a sheet of journalists, hosts or creators who might cover one story. Each row has a name, a title, an outlet, a beat, an email and a status that shows where you are with that person.

How long should a media list be?

For one story, 30 to 100 people is common. Shorter, well-matched lists usually beat long, loose ones.

What is the difference between a media list and a press list?

Most people use the two terms for the same thing. Some use press list for newspapers and wire reporters, and media list for everything including TV, radio, podcasts and creators.

Can I use one media list for every story?

Not well. Keep one master sheet, then pull a fresh list from it for each story based on beat and location.

Where do I find contacts for a media list?

You can read bylines by hand or search a database that lets you filter by beat, outlet, state and media type.

Should creators be on my media list?

Yes, if your audience watches or listens to them. Creators are worth including when your audience watches or listens to them.

Related guides

• Media List Template (2026), the Columns Every PR List Needs
• How to Create a Media List (2026), Seven Steps in Two Hours
• Media List PR (2026), What It Is and How Pros Use One
• Media lists for nonprofits

Sources

1. State of the Media 2025 report announcement, May 7, 2025, checked 2026-10-19