Media List USA (2026), Journalists by State and Beat
The Media List database holds 27,000+ US journalists, editors and producers, with contacts in every state and DC. New York has the most.
New York has 5,196 contacts at 402 outlets. California is second with 2,091 and Florida third with 1,690. Full state counts are below.
Facts and counts checked October 19, 2026. See something wrong? Tell us.
Key takeaways
- New York has the most US journalists in the database, followed by California and Florida.
- TV and radio hold the most US contacts, then newspapers and online news.
- Smaller states have fewer contacts, so widen your search there.
How we counted
These counts come from the Media List database on October 19, 2026. They cover US journalists, editors and producers with an email on file and a state recorded, not marked undeliverable and not opted out. Some emails are not yet verified, and the status shows on each contact before you export.1 Counts change as we add and remove contacts.
Top 20 states by contacts
| Rank | State | Contacts | Outlets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 5,196 | 402 |
| 2 | California | 2,091 | 341 |
| 3 | Florida | 1,690 | 237 |
| 4 | Texas | 1,231 | 166 |
| 5 | Virginia | 1,087 | 91 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 990 | 117 |
| 7 | Georgia | 971 | 84 |
| 8 | Arizona | 678 | 78 |
| 9 | Ohio | 666 | 94 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 633 | 94 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | 610 | 98 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 563 | 105 |
| 13 | Maryland | 527 | 66 |
| 14 | Michigan | 523 | 79 |
| 15 | Illinois | 501 | 107 |
| 16 | Washington | 483 | 74 |
| 17 | Missouri | 440 | 71 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 436 | 75 |
| 19 | New Jersey | 414 | 68 |
| 20 | Indiana | 402 | 62 |
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The other states and DC
The next group of states has between 200 and 360 contacts each.
| State | Contacts | State | Contacts | State | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 359 | Alabama | 324 | Colorado | 317 |
| North Carolina | 342 | Utah | 317 | Louisiana | 281 |
| Oregon | 264 | Mississippi | 239 | Iowa | 228 |
| Kentucky | 223 | Oklahoma | 204 | South Carolina | 203 |
The remaining states have fewer than 200 contacts each.
| State | Contacts | State | Contacts | State | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 182 | Connecticut | 174 | Kansas | 170 |
| Arkansas | 165 | West Virginia | 156 | Idaho | 146 |
| North Dakota | 139 | Nevada | 135 | New Hampshire | 132 |
| Hawaii | 101 | South Dakota | 89 | New Mexico | 81 |
| Montana | 81 | Maine | 78 | Vermont | 78 |
| Alaska | 67 | Wyoming | 51 | Delaware | 38 |
| Rhode Island | 25 |
US contacts by media type
| Media type | Contacts | Outlets |
|---|---|---|
| TV and radio | 11,938 | 756 |
| Newspapers | 5,997 | 990 |
| Online news | 4,531 | 720 |
| Trade publications | 1,786 | 432 |
| Magazines | 1,506 | 368 |
| Freelancers | 1,213 | 1,177 |
TV and radio hold the most contacts. Newspapers have the most outlets after freelancers.
Top beats among US contacts
| Beat tag | Contacts |
|---|---|
| News (general) | 14,387 |
| Film | 2,015 |
| Business | 2,009 |
| Health | 1,274 |
| Religion | 838 |
| Sports | 658 |
| Technology | 516 |
A contact can carry more than one tag, so do not add the counts together.
Why local lists need more than newspapers
Medill's 2025 report counted 213 news desert counties and 1,524 counties with only one news source. About 50 million Americans have limited or no access to local news.2 In those places, a local radio host, a TV producer or a local creator may be the best way to reach your town.
How to build a state list in five steps
- Choose the state, then the city if your story is local.
- Filter by media type. Start with TV and radio, newspapers and online news.
- Add your beat, such as business or health.
- Check each contact's email status and filter to verified emails when you can.
- Save the list and export it. Add local podcasts and YouTube channels too.
If you pitch in many states, build one master list and tag every row with a state. Our media list template has a Location column for this. For a wider view, see the journalist database guide and what is inside a media database.
Smaller states
For states with fewer contacts, widen your search. Drop the beat filter, add nearby states or include creators. A story that matters to a small state often also works for a regional outlet next door.
Build your own USA list
Start a 3-day trial at $0 today with a card or PayPal. You can filter by any state, build lists and export up to 25 contacts. Plans start at $99 a month with no annual contract.
Questions, answered
How many US journalists are in the Media List database?
27,000+ journalists, editors and producers in the United States, counted from contacts with an email on file.
Which state has the most journalists in the database?
New York, with 5,196 contacts at 402 outlets, followed by California with 2,091 and Florida with 1,690.
Does the database cover all 50 states?
Yes. Every state and Washington, DC has contacts. Smaller states such as Rhode Island, Delaware and Wyoming have fewer, so widen your search there.
What media types does the US list cover?
TV and radio, newspapers, online news, trade publications, magazines and freelancers.
Can I build a list for one city?
Yes. Filter by state and city or outlet, then add your beat and media type.
Are all the emails verified?
No. Each contact shows whether its email is verified before you export, and you can filter to verified emails. If an exported email bounces, we replace it at no cost.
Related guides
- Media Database (2026), What Is Inside and What It Is For
- Journalist database guide
- Media List Examples (2026), Six Lists You Can Copy
- How to Create a Media List (2026), Seven Steps in Two Hours
Sources
- Media List browse pages, counts checked October 19, 2026, checked 2026-10-19
- Medill Local News Initiative, State of Local News 2025 (October 20, 2025), checked 2026-10-19
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