On Top of PR with Jason Mudd

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In this episode, Vannyda Thach joins host Jason Mudd to discuss expert strategies for media pitching and journalist relationships

Tune in to learn more!

Our Guest:

Vannyda Thach is the Head of Media Success at Qwoted. With a background in media relations and digital communications, Vannyda helps journalists find trusted sources and build meaningful relationships through the Qwoted platform. Her experience spans PR campaign management, social media strategy, and work with major entertainment events, including Disney’s “Big Hero 6” premiere.

Five things you’ll learn from this episode:

1. Why building relationships (and not just landing placements) is the foundation of good media pitching

2. The difference between cold pitches and media query responses — and how to craft both effectively

3. Best practices for using Qwoted to match sources with journalists quickly and accurately

4. How personalization, clarity, and relevance impact whether journalists notice or ignore a pitch

5. The role of urgency and profile optimization in earning top-tier media coverage

Quotables

“You want to be unique. You want to have your own take on the topic.” — @VannydaThach

“Remember to call the journalist by their name. If your pitch isn’t personalized, they’ll see right through it.” — @VannydaThach

“Pitching media is about being helpful, not selling. Focus on building the relationship.” — @JasonMudd9

“Don’t ghost reporters. Communicate early if something changes. It’s all about respect.” — @JasonMudd9

“Journalists are busy and under pressure. The more complete your profile, the more credibility you have.” — @VannydaThach

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About Vannyda Thach

Vannyda Thach is the Head of Media Success at Qwoted, a platform dedicated to connecting journalists with expert sources. Based in Los Angeles, she leads a team committed to supporting media professionals — including journalists, freelancers, podcasters, and producers by facilitating connections with the right experts for their stories, even under tight deadlines.

With a journalism and public relations background, Vannyda earned her bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from California State University, Long Beach. Her career began with roles such as a communications intern at AARP and public relations manager for DisneyExaminer. She later joined Citizen Relations, progressing from a junior account executive to senior account executive, managing PR campaigns and fostering media relationships.

At Qwoted, Vannyda leverages her PR experience to assist journalists in finding trusted sources and building meaningful relationships through the platform. She emphasizes the importance of being helpful over selling in media pitching and building genuine connections with reporters.

Guest’s c

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• On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.
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