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November 26, 2025 69 mins

Most PR professionals think they understand journalists—but Meredith Klein, the veteran communications strategist behind the rapidly-growing Meredith & the Media newsletter, is here to take us to school. In this no-holds-barred conversation with host Katie Boysen, Meredith pulls back the curtain on the massive disconnect (AND OPPORTUNITY) between what PR professionals think journalists want versus what actually lands coverage.

With 20 years of communications experience and a Substack that's exploded to thousands of subscribers in record time, Meredith has become the translator between two industries that should understand each other but often don't. Her insights reveal why the old playbook for comms is dead, and shares real and practical tips on how to break through the noise and appeal to media in this new landscape.

🎯 The pitch problem nobody's solving - Why your carefully crafted three-paragraph pitch is getting deleted and what journalists actually want to see instead

🔥 Personal branding as career insurance - How building your own platform isn't vanity—it's survival strategy in today's fractured job market

💡 The journalist relationship reality - What "building relationships" actually means (hint: it's not just following them on Twitter and liking their posts)

📱 Substack strategy secrets - How Meredith grew her newsletter rapidly and what PR professionals can learn from independent media's growth playbook

🤖 The AI draft trap - Why using AI to write your pitches is obvious to journalists and undermining your credibility

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