Covid-19 has changed priorities in newsrooms everywhere. Here, editor Adam Leyland explains what you need to know to secure coverage in The Grocer in this new environment
What kind of coronavirus stories is the team looking for? We want to report on what’s happening in businesses. Operational detail is key. We want to know exactly what you’re doing to cope with the crisis, and why.
What should brands avoid?Anything opportunistic or that overstates the scale and importance of what you’re doing for staff and the community. The most credible brands let their actions do the talking and avoid overselling.
Are you still interested in NPD and other non-coronavirus news? Yes, but those stories can’t ignore what’s happening with Covid. If someone is still launching NPD right now, we want to know why and how as much as what the product is.
Should brands still send samples? The office is closed, so please don’t attempt to send samples to the usual address. You can send samples to journalists at home, but given the strain on delivery infrastructure we’d ask that you only do so if absolutely necessary.
Have journalists’ pitches and deadlines changed? No, but reporters are being asked to muck in a lot and may cover stories that aren’t on their usual patch. Deadlines remain the same, but everyone’s under pressure so brands should give the team as much time as possible.
What’s happening with features and focus ons? We’re recommissioning lots of our features to reflect the new reality. Category reports in particular will be more forward-focused than ever. We’ll want to know: what is going on in that category right now, how are brands adapting, how are they communicating and what is happening with space, range and availability in light of coronavirus?
At the same time, there are important developments outside the realms of coronavirus, and readers also want an escape from the relentless bad news cycle, so we’re committed to offering a good mix of content. We’ll also look to write more upbeat articles and to find some positives that come out of this tragedy, including human interest stories.
How do brands get involved in these features? It’s best to pitch suitable ideas to our features team: Emma Weinbren and Lois Vallely. For ad hoc features that are being planned and written at pace, follow our reporters and editors on Twitter and LinkedIn, where they regularly post requests for information and comment.
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