Newsjacking Radar

What Is Newsjacking Radar?

Newsjacking Radar monitors trending stories in your industry daily and generates expert commentary drafts you can pitch to journalists or publish as rapid response content. The window for newsjacking is short (24-48 hours), so speed matters. ILLIXIS surfaces relevant stories and drafts your expert take automatically.

URL: /pr/newsjacking/

Available on: Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plans.

How It Works

Daily Monitoring

ILLIXIS scans for trending industry stories daily:

1. Monitors news and trending topics in your industry
2. Scores each story for relevance to your brand and expertise
3. Generates expert commentary drafts for high-relevance stories
4. Surfaces stories with urgency indicators showing time remaining in the newsjacking window

News Alert Details

Each trending story shows:

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| Headline | The trending story title |
| Source | Publication where the story appeared |
| Summary | Brief overview of the story |
| Relevance Score | How relevant this story is to your brand (0-100) |
| Commentary Draft | Pre-written expert response you can use |
| Time Remaining | Hours left in the newsjacking window |
| Suggested Angle | How to position your expertise |

Taking Action

For each trending story:

1. Review the story and relevance score
2. Read the commentary draft generated for you
3. Edit to add your personal expertise and perspective
4. Pitch to journalists covering the story, or publish on your own channels
5. Track results if the commentary gets picked up

Triggering Manual Scans

Click "Scan Now" on the Newsjacking Radar page to trigger an immediate scan for trending stories. Results typically appear within 1-2 minutes.

Understanding Relevance Scores

Stories are scored 0-100 based on:

| Factor | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| Industry match | How closely the story relates to your industry |
| Brand keyword alignment | Whether the story touches your expertise areas |
| Commentary potential | Whether your brand can offer a unique perspective |
| Timeliness | How fresh the story is (newer = higher score) |

Focus on stories scoring 60+ for the best return on your time.

The Newsjacking Window

Newsjacking works because journalists actively seek expert commentary on trending topics. The window is typically:

• First 24 hours: Highest value. Journalists still building their coverage.
• 24-48 hours: Still viable. Follow-up pieces and analysis.
• After 48 hours: Window closes. Story becomes "old news."

ILLIXIS marks stories with time remaining so you can prioritize accordingly.

Best Practices

Do:

• Check Newsjacking Radar daily (or enable notifications)
• Act within the first 24 hours for maximum impact
• Add genuine expertise to the commentary (don't just restate the news)
• Pitch commentary to journalists who are covering the story
• Reference your published content when relevant

Don't:

• Comment on stories outside your expertise (credibility matters)
• Wait too long (the window closes fast)
• Use newsjacking for controversial or sensitive topics without careful consideration
• Copy the draft verbatim without adding personal insight

Troubleshooting

No Trending Stories Found

• Your industry may have a slower news cycle
• Check that industry keywords are configured in Settings > Brand Voice
• Broaden your keywords if results are too narrow
• Some days simply have less news activity

Commentary Drafts Feel Generic

• The drafts are starting points, not finished products
• Add specific data points, personal anecdotes, or proprietary insights
• Reference your published research or case studies
• The more specific your brand keywords, the more targeted the drafts

Related Features

• PR Intelligence Hub - Overview of all PR features
• Authority Builder - Respond to journalist queries
• Media Contacts - Track journalist relationships

Need help? Contact support or check the ILLIXIS Help Center.