News Peg
A timely angle or hook that connects your story to current events, trends, or news to make it more relevant to journalists.
Definition
A news peg is the timely angle that makes your pitch relevant right now. It connects your story to something already in the news cycle—a trending topic, seasonal event, new legislation, or industry development that journalists are already covering.
Effective news pegs answer the question "Why now?" They transform evergreen announcements into urgent stories by linking them to the current conversation reporters and audiences are already having.
Why It Matters
Journalists receive hundreds of pitches daily. A strong news peg cuts through the noise by demonstrating immediate relevance and giving reporters a reason to cover your story today rather than "maybe later."
News pegs also help with SEO and social sharing. Stories tied to trending topics get more search traffic and social engagement because people are actively looking for that content.
Examples in Practice
A cybersecurity company pegs their product announcement to a major data breach in the news, offering expert commentary on prevention.
A fitness brand times their wellness product launch to New Year's resolution season, securing coverage from health publications covering the annual fitness trend.