How to Pitch Gemma Morris

1) What’s the best way to pitch you?

I like email: Gemma.Morris@sky.uk. Try to keep your pitch as succinct as you can make it. I love hearing from startups and PRs with suggestions for the show. TV is all about visuals, so tell me in your email what I would be able to point a camera at. Send some pictures and video if you have any.

2) What’s the best time to pitch you?

Any day you like. I will always try my best to get back to you when I can.

Swipe is a consumer technology show, so any stories or products that you think viewers could relate to, use in their everyday lives, or would just simply be interested in will always be of interest to me. I also do a ‘demo’ segment within the programme each week where I try something out (e.g. a new gadget, app or prototype) and tell viewers about the experience while I’m doing it, so if you have a pitch that involves something I can have a go on – let me know!

4) What tips would you give someone pitching you?

Let me know what I can film, what the most interesting thing about your product or idea is, and what I could potentially have a go on as part of a demonstration. Also – it’s good to have a filming location for in mind too. An nice pitch would be something like: “I have this invention that does X, you can come and film it at this really cool venue I have access to, and you can talk to someone who already uses it or you can have a go on it yourself!”

5) What will you never write about?

I never say never.

6) What's the best pitch you ever got?

I love any pitches that are straight to the point but also sound fun!

7) Do you prefer to receive news in a press release or a different format?

Whatever suits you, but if it’s a long press release, make sure you put a summary sentence in your introduction clearly outlining what the pitch is.

8) How do you feel about embargoes?

They’re fine. We are a weekly show so it’s easy enough to work out when to run or hold off on a story.

9) What are some of the biggest mistakes that people make when pitching you?

I’ve had a few emails where the sender has got the name of the show wrong! We are called Swipe. Not Switch and not Skype.

10) What's the biggest misconception/s that you think people have about the media?

That we are out to scrutinise and criticise people, companies, anything…! For us on Swipe, we are all about keeping viewers up to date on the consumer tech world with an easily digestible weekly show. And we do it all with a big smile.