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Reporter Search & Matching

How reporter search works

Understanding our AI-powered journalist matching system

HeyJared's reporter search uses advanced AI technology to analyze thousands of journalists and match them with your story. You can search using natural language in the Chat interface, or use traditional search methods. Here's how our intelligent matching system works.

New: Natural Language Search

Use the Chat interface to search for reporters in natural language. Just describe what you're looking for, and our AI will find the best matches. Learn more about Chat.

The Search Process

Step 1: Database Analysis

Our system continuously analyzes thousands of journalists across major publications, tracking their recent articles, beat coverage, and writing interests. This creates a comprehensive profile for each reporter using AI-powered analysis.

Step 2: AI-Powered Matching

When you search (via Chat or traditional search), our AI uses semantic understanding to match your story with journalist profiles. It considers topic relevance, recent coverage patterns, semantic similarity, and the likelihood of interest in your specific story. The AI understands context and intent, not just keywords.

Step 3: Intelligent Ranking

Each potential match receives a relevance score based on multiple AI-analyzed factors including topic alignment, semantic similarity, publication tier, recent activity, and historical coverage patterns. Higher scores indicate better matches for your story.

What We Analyze

Journalist Factors

  • Recent article topics and themes
  • Beat coverage and specializations
  • Publication frequency and activity
  • Publication tier and reach
  • Response patterns and engagement
  • Geographic focus areas

Your Story Factors

  • Industry and sector relevance
  • News angle and timing
  • Company stage and traction
  • Geographic location
  • Unique story elements
  • Target audience alignment

Search Filters and Options

You can refine your search results using several filters to find the most relevant journalists:

Publication Type

Filter by publication categories like tech blogs, major newspapers, trade publications, or industry-specific outlets to match your target audience.

Beat Coverage

Search by specific beats like startups, enterprise software, consumer tech, fintech, or other industry verticals.

Geographic Focus

Find journalists who cover specific regions, from Silicon Valley tech to global business or local market reporters.

Activity Level

Filter by how frequently journalists publish, ensuring you target active reporters who are likely to respond.

Understanding Search Results

Your search results are ranked by relevance, with the most promising matches at the top. Here's how to interpret the information provided:

Match Score

A percentage indicating how well the journalist's interests align with your story. Scores above 80% are excellent matches, while 60-80% are good potential matches.

Recent Articles

Shows the journalist's most recent articles to help you understand their current interests and coverage areas. Use this to personalize your pitch.

Contact Information

Verified email addresses and social media handles for direct outreach. We prioritize accurate, up-to-date contact information.

How to Search

Option 1: Chat Interface (Recommended)

Use natural language to describe what you're looking for. The AI understands context and intent.

  • "Find reporters who cover AI startups"
  • "Who writes about fintech at TechCrunch?"
  • "Show me journalists covering climate tech"
Learn more about Chat

Search Tips for Better Results

Use natural language in Chat: Describe what you need in plain English. The AI understands context, so you don't need perfect keywords.
Be specific with your story: The more details you provide, the better our AI can match you with relevant journalists.
Consider timing: Look for journalists who have recently covered similar topics, as they may be more interested in follow-up stories.
Review recent work: Always check a journalist's recent articles before reaching out to ensure your story aligns with their current interests.

Why might some reporters not appear?

Our database focuses on active journalists with verified contact information. Some reporters may not appear due to privacy settings, inactivity, or database coverage limitations.Learn more about reporter visibility

Ready to reach out?

Learn how to craft compelling pitches and maximize your outreach success: