Key Takeaways
- CNN prioritizes timely, newsworthy stories with broad appeal that align with their editorial standards and audience interests
- Understanding the distinction between press releases and news tips is crucial for choosing the right submission approach
- Successful CNN submissions require specific formatting, original data, targeted departmental outreach, and strategic timing
- Multi-platform distribution strategies can significantly amplify your press release’s reach beyond traditional submission methods
CNN Seeks Timely Stories With Broad Appeal
CNN receives thousands of submissions daily, making editorial selectivity a necessity rather than choice. The network’s editorial team prioritizes stories that resonate with their diverse, global audience. Recent data shows CNN Digital reached 119 million U.S. unique visitors in October 2024, with monthly visits fluctuating significantly throughout the year. Understanding CNN’s content preferences forms the foundation of successful press release submission.
CNN’s audience consists primarily of well-informed adults seeking coverage of politics, business, health, entertainment, and breaking news. Stories that connect to broader societal trends, offer unique perspectives on current events, or present original research data consistently perform better in their editorial review process.
The network’s editorial calendar reflects real-time news cycles, meaning time-sensitive content often takes precedence over evergreen stories. As Press Release Zen explains, the key to getting noticed and approved for publication is to keep a close eye on the platform’s editorial standards, and the timing of the submission.
Press Releases vs. News Tips: Know The Difference
Many organizations mistakenly treat press releases and news tips as interchangeable submission types. Press releases are formal announcements designed for publication, complete with quotes, data, and structured formatting. News tips, conversely, are brief suggestions alerting CNN’s editorial team to potential story opportunities.
Press releases target CNN’s publishing platform directly, aiming for featured placement on their website or potential broadcast coverage. News tips serve as story alerts sent to specific journalists or departments, suggesting coverage angles without expecting direct publication of the submitted content.
CNN accepts news tips through [email protected], where viewers can suggest noteworthy events or developments. However, press release submissions require adherence to specific editorial guidelines and formatting standards that differ significantly from casual news tip submissions.
Master CNN’s Editorial Standards
1. Format Requirements: Headlines, Datelines, and Structure
CNN expects press releases to follow standard journalistic formatting conventions. Headlines should remain concise, ideally between 6 to 12 words, while clearly summarizing the main announcement. Datelines must include the origination city and current date, following Associated Press style guidelines.
The opening paragraph should answer fundamental journalistic questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Subsequent paragraphs should present information in descending order of importance, allowing editors to trim content from the bottom without losing essential details.
2. Newsworthiness Criteria: What CNN Actually Covers
CNN’s editorial team evaluates submissions based on several newsworthiness factors. Stories demonstrating significant impact on large populations, involving prominent figures, or presenting unexpected developments receive priority consideration. Content addressing current social issues, economic trends, or technological innovations aligns well with CNN’s coverage patterns.
Original research, exclusive interviews, or first-hand accounts of significant events carry substantial editorial weight. CNN frequently links to studies presenting novel data or unique insights, making research-backed press releases particularly valuable for both coverage and potential backlink opportunities.
3. Contact Information and Multimedia Assets
Complete contact information is mandatory for all submissions. Include primary spokesperson names, phone numbers, email addresses, and organizational affiliations. CNN’s editorial team often requires additional clarification or follow-up interviews before publication approval.
High-resolution images, video content, or supporting documents significantly improve submission appeal. Multimedia assets should be professionally produced and directly relevant to the announced story. File formats should be standard and easily accessible without specialized software requirements.
Crafting Content That Resonates With CNN’s Audience
Target Specific Departments Over Mass Emails
Generic mass email submissions typically receive minimal attention from CNN’s editorial staff. Research specific journalists covering your industry or topic area, then tailor submissions to their particular beat and recent coverage patterns. Personalized pitches demonstrate professionalism and increase response likelihood.
CNN’s organizational structure includes specialized departments for politics, business, health, entertainment, and international news. Directing submissions to appropriate departmental contacts ensures your content reaches editors with relevant expertise and interest in your subject matter.
Include Original Data and Unique Angles
CNN editors prioritize content offering fresh perspectives on familiar topics. Original survey data, exclusive research findings, or novel analytical frameworks significantly improve submission chances. Statistical information should be current, properly sourced, and presented with clear contextual significance.
Avoid rehashing widely reported information without adding substantial new insights. Instead, focus on unique aspects of your story that differentiate it from similar announcements or provide previously unreported details about developing situations.
Keep It Brief: Editorial Teams Process Numerous Pitches
CNN’s editorial staff processes hundreds of daily submissions, making conciseness vital for capturing attention. Effective press releases typically range from 300-400 words, presenting key information efficiently without unnecessary elaboration or marketing language.
Lead paragraphs should immediately establish story relevance and significance. Subsequent sections can provide supporting details, but opening content must quickly demonstrate why CNN’s audience would find the information valuable or interesting.
Timing Your Submission For Maximum Impact
Peak News Cycle Considerations
CNN’s editorial priorities shift throughout daily news cycles, with breaking news taking precedence during high-activity periods. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday typically offer better opportunities for feature story placement, as Monday coverage often focuses on weekend developments and Friday content may compete with weekend programming preparation.
Submit time-sensitive announcements at least 24-48 hours before desired coverage dates. This lead time allows editorial teams to review, fact-check, and potentially schedule follow-up interviews or additional research before publication.
Time-Sensitive vs. Evergreen Content Strategy
Breaking news announcements require immediate submission and often benefit from direct journalist contact through phone or urgent email communication. Evergreen content, however, allows for strategic timing around complementary news cycles or seasonal relevance.
Consider broader industry events, congressional schedules, earnings seasons, or holiday periods when planning evergreen submission timing. Content that connects to anticipated news developments or seasonal trends often receives more favorable editorial consideration.
Amplify Your Reach With Multi-Platform Distribution
Beyond direct CNN submission, multi-platform distribution strategies can significantly expand your press release’s reach and impact. Professional distribution services often maintain relationships with various media outlets, increasing placement opportunities across multiple news platforms simultaneously.
Social media amplification, industry publication targeting, and blogger outreach complement traditional press release distribution methods. These strategies create multiple touchpoints for your content, increasing the likelihood of editorial pickup by CNN or other major news organizations.
Cross-platform consistency remains vital when employing multi-channel distribution approaches. Ensure messaging, formatting, and contact information remain standardized across all submission channels to maintain professional credibility and avoid confusion among editorial teams.
Submit Your Expert-Level Press Release To CNN Today
Successful CNN press release submission requires strategic planning, professional execution, and thorough understanding of editorial expectations. The combination of newsworthy content, proper formatting, targeted outreach, and optimal timing creates the foundation for media coverage success.
CNN’s editorial standards reflect their commitment to journalistic integrity and audience value. Submissions that respect these standards while presenting genuinely newsworthy information consistently achieve better results than generic promotional content.
Remember that press release submission is just one component of a broader media relations strategy. Building long-term relationships with journalists, consistently providing valuable information, and maintaining professional communication standards contribute to sustained media coverage success beyond individual submission outcomes.
For expert guidance on maximizing your press release distribution strategy and achieving media coverage goals, visit the resources available at or check the for press releases, contacts, and media kits.
