The Platform Behind My Media Lists (And Why Your Prompt Is Everything)
How to Build a Smarter Media List Using AI Prompts
Hello, Chatterbugs! 🐝
🔥 Hot Topic: The Platform Behind My MediaLyst.ai
A few weeks ago, I wrote about saving 20 hours a week using AI, and I mentioned that one of the biggest shifts was in how I build media lists. Several of you wrote back asking about the specific platform I was referencing. So I wanted to share it with you because it has genuinely made my life easier, and I think it will do the same for you.
The platform is called Medialyst AI, and you can find it at medialyst.ai.
Here is what it does: you write a prompt, the platform builds you a targeted journalist list. Not a static database pull. Not the same recycled names that have been sitting in a spreadsheet for two years. A researched, current list built around exactly what you tell it to look for, with journalist names, their publication, their most recent articles, and their contact information all in one place.
That last piece is the one I keep coming back to. The recent articles. Because before you pitch anyone, you should know what they have actually been writing about in the last 60 to 90 days. Not what their bio says they cover. What they have published. Medialyst surfaces that for you automatically, which means you can see immediately whether someone is the right fit and personalize your outreach around something real. That is what separates a pitch that lands from one that gets deleted without being opened.
👧 Here is a real example: Bright Girl
I was building an outreach list for Bright Girl, a dermatologist-founded skincare line for girls ages 12 to 24. It is June, sunscreen content is having a moment, and my target is journalists who are actively writing about tween and teen skincare right now.
The most important thing I can tell you about this platform is that your prompt is everything. The more specific you are, the better the list. Here is what that looks like:
Vague prompt: “skincare for tweens’ beauty.” That is a topic. It is not a prompt, and it will get you a list that is too broad to be useful.
What I actually wrote: I am looking for journalists covering tween and teen skincare, specifically summer routines and sunscreen. I want writers at parenting, beauty, and lifestyle outlets. I need to know if any of those outlets require affiliate links for product consideration. The brand is Bright Girl, a dermatologist-founded skincare line for girls ages 12 to 24. Here is the website URL. Please generate 20 journalists with contact information and recent article examples.
What came back was a working list with real journalists, current coverage, and contact information I could use the same day. No cross-referencing. No digging through three different tabs. One prompt and I was pitching.
🏆 Here is the feature that makes the list immediately actionable: the score
Every journalist on your list gets a score. That score tells you exactly how closely that journalist matches the criteria you put into your prompt. The higher the score, the stronger the fit for your specific beat, your specific client, and what you told the platform you were looking for. You are not left trying to figure out which names to prioritize. The platform ranks them for you based on your own criteria, so you know where to start and where to spend your time.
For the Bright Girl search, that meant the journalists at the top of my list were the ones most actively writing about tween skincare and summer routines right now, not the ones who covered it once two years ago and might pick it up again. That distinction is the difference between a pitch that is timely and one that misses the moment entirely.
🌍 The search that really showed me what this platform can do
I also ran a search for a client campaign that needed journalists specifically based in London covering children’s and family online safety. Geographic. Niche. The kind of search that would take most of a morning to do manually and would still probably miss people.
Medialyst came back with a focused list of London-based journalists on that exact beat, with contact information and recent work attached. That result was only possible because the prompt was specific enough to give the platform something real to work with. Vague in, vague out. Specific in, usable list out.
💰 What you need to know before you sign up
Medialyst is a paid platform. There is a subscription cost, so it is an investment. For PR pros who are building lists on a regular basis, the time savings make it worth it. Your first 1000 credit are free with this link, which means you can test it before you commit to anything. Go to medialyst.ai and start there.
I will keep sharing how I use this in practice, including how I structure prompts for different client categories and how the affiliate search feeds into campaign strategy. If there is a specific use case you want me to break down, hit reply and let me know.
💡 Two New Ways to Work With Me
I’m excited to share two new ways to work with me if you are ready to build brand awareness, get more visible, and strengthen your credibility in the marketplace.
These offers were created for entrepreneurs, founders, and experts who know they have something valuable to say, but need a clearer strategy for getting seen, getting heard, and getting in front of the right people.
PR Workshop
My new PR Workshop is a live training built around The PR Formula: to build brand awareness, you have to gain visibility, earn credibility, and achieve profitability.
This workshop is designed to help you stop guessing at PR and start approaching it with more clarity and strategy. We cover the foundational pieces that matter most, including your messaging, bio, niche statement, media angles, pitching strategy, and the tools that help you stay organized and consistent. You will leave with a stronger understanding of how to position yourself, how to begin pitching yourself, and how to create momentum for your brand in a way that feels practical and doable.
If you are ready to stop feeling unclear about PR and start showing up more strategically, email me at amy@chatterboxbrands.com with WORKSHOP in the subject line for details.
VIP Day
My new VIP Day is a private strategy experience for the entrepreneur or expert who wants personalized support and a customized visibility plan.
This is for the person who wants more than general advice. During our time together, we take a deep dive into your brand positioning, messaging, visibility strategy, pitch angles, opportunities for media or thought leadership, and the next steps that will help you move forward with more confidence and direction. You will walk away with clarity, customized strategy, and a roadmap built specifically for your business and goals.
If you are ready for expert eyes on your brand and want a focused, personalized strategy session, email me at amy@chatterboxbrands.com with VIP in the subject line to learn more.
Whether you are looking for a practical place to start or a more personalized strategy experience, these new offers are designed to help you build visibility with intention.
☀️ Summer Celebrity and Influencer Gifting Is Open
Summer gifting spots are available now. This is your window to get your product into the hands of celebrities and influencers who are in full summer mode: travel content, outdoor moments, family time, and all of the lifestyle coverage that comes with the season.
If your brand fits summer, back to school, or family lifestyle content, this campaign was built for you. Email amy@chatterboxbrands.com with SUMMER GIFTING in the subject line to learn about availability and next steps.
📅 Long Lead Pitch Ideas: Start These Pitches Now
June is not the time to think about what is happening in June. June is the time to think about October, November, and January. Here are five long lead pitch opportunities worth starting this week.
1. 🍂 Fall Family Wellness Roundups (publishing October and November)
Parenting and lifestyle editors at major print and digital outlets are assigning fall content right now. Roundups covering back-to-school immune support, seasonal skincare transitions, family routines, and kids’ wellness products are already being built. If your brand lives in any of those categories, your pitch needs to be in inboxes before August. The angle: what does a family need in September that they did not need in June.
2. 🎁 Holiday Gift Guides (print closes as early as August; online from October)
This one cannot wait. Major print publications close their holiday gift guide issues in August. If you have not started pitching gift guide editors, start today. Your pitch needs a clear retail price, one sharp sentence on why this product gifts well, and an affiliate link if you have one. That last piece is increasingly what moves a product from the maybe pile to the final cut.
3. 🏫 Back to School: The Follow-Up Story
Back to school coverage peaks in July and August. But there is a second wave in September and October that most brands completely miss. Editors covering education, parenting, and family life are looking now for products and experts who can speak to the fall transition. Pitch the before and the after. Position your brand for the follow-up story, not just the launch window.
4. 💡 January Wellness and Lifestyle Features (assigned starting in October)
January wellness, productivity, and lifestyle features are being conceptualized right now. Editors building their January editorial calendars are looking for fresh angles and credible brands. If your product fits the reset and restart narrative that dominates the new year, get your pitch in before the summer editorial slowdown. The window closes faster than it looks.
5. 🌊 Late Summer Travel and Wrap-Up Coverage (September features assigned now)
Editors at travel and lifestyle publications are already commissioning their September content. Late summer travel guides, best of summer roundups, and seasonal transition stories are being planned right now. If your brand had a strong summer story or a travel-friendly product, pitch it this month. The wins and data you collect this summer become your fall press angles.
✨ Media Win: What 128K Likes Actually Means for a Brand
Through the Chatterbox celebrity gifting program, a client product was placed with Mandy Moore. She shared it with her audience and the post received over 128K likes.
✨ Why this matters: Mandy Moore’s audience trusts her. When she shares something, the people watching are not thinking about a brand deal. They are thinking about what she actually chooses to use and keep. That organic trust is the credibility that no ad buy can manufacture, and it is exactly what strategic gifting, done right, is built to create.
Visibility plus credibility equals profitability. That equation shows up in moments like this one.
Until next time, keep crafting stories that matter with heart and responsibility.
Cheers, Amy
Work with Me: Elevate Your Brand with Tailored PR Solutions 🌟
At Chatterbox, we understand that every brand has unique PR needs. That’s why we offer a range of services designed to fit different goals and capacities. Whether you’re looking for comprehensive support, strategic guidance, or self-paced learning, we’ve got you covered.
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📈 PR Consulting: Custom Roadmap Creation
Empowering Your In-House PR Journey: Our consulting service provides a custom roadmap tailored to your brand, ideal for brands looking to build their PR capabilities internally. We equip you with the strategies, tools, and knowledge needed to execute a successful PR campaign in-house, guiding you every step of the way.
📘 The PR Formula Course: Cracking the Media Code
Learn at Your Own Pace, Make Your Own Impact: Launching soon is our self-paced course, ‘Cracking the Media Code: From Pitch to Placement.’ This comprehensive program is designed for brands eager to learn the intricacies of PR at their own pace. Covering everything from crafting the perfect pitch to securing media placements, this course is your step-by-step guide to PR mastery.
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Choose the service that aligns with your brand’s vision or combine them for a comprehensive approach to brand elevation. At Chatterbox, we’re here to tailor our expertise to your unique story, guiding you through every step of the PR journey.
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Until we meet again, keep buzzing with joy and creativity!