Wellness, AI and gardening: How to get UK press coverage in August

Looking to get featured in the media during August? The final month of the summer still presents plenty of opportunities to get expert comments, case studies and more out into the press. Below we provide insight into what journalists could be looking for based on trending words and themes from the ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service in July, and what that means they will be looking for this month.

Wellness is well-in

August is National Wellness Month and journalists have been looking to get ahead as just under 2% of all requests last month contained the word ‘wellness’.

Enquiries have included looking to speak with business leaders about their top wellness tips, wellness retreats and spas to visit in the UK, and looking for high-profile health and wellness experts. These requests have come from outlets such as PA Media, SheerLuxe, MailOnline, City A.M. and Top Santé.

Going forward? Journalists will still be sending last-minute National Wellness Month requests – have experts and info ready and you could get yourself or your PR client featured in national press or a major consumer media title.

AI and new tech’s impact

Technology journalists have had a lot to cover in the last few years with the rise of artificial intelligence, and more recent news around cyber attacks and online safety. ‘AI’ continues to prove popular on the Journalist Enquiry Service, with just under 6% of requests in July. ‘Cyber’ has also been getting a lot of interest too with just under 2% of all enquiries last month.

Requests have been looking to cover how AI is impacting many different sectors including case studies on retailers trialling agentic AI and how it’s transforming the banking sector. Plus enquiries covering more general points such as how the UK’s AI action plan compares to Trump’s. While requests around cyber have been more focused on cyber security and also getting perspective on who handled the cyber attacks better – M&S or the Co-op.

Going forward? The amount of enquiries around AI were 35% higher in July this year compared to last, which is in line with what we have seen across the year. Journalists are constantly on the lookout for case studies and experts that can shed more light on the sector they cover. If you’ve got AI or cyber-related information then you could appear in IT Pro, the AI Journal, Retail Week, The Grocer, or Sifted – as they all sent requests last month.

Gardening continues to grow strong

The Spring and Summer season are the peak time for gardening requests and July saw another strong indicator of that as just under 5% of the total requests contained the keyword ‘garden’ or ‘gardening’.

Enquiries were sent from journalists at titles such as The Independent, GB News, Homes & Gardens, and Country Living. They ranged from covering topical issues such as how to keep your garden alive during a hosepipe ban, to looking for an expert to comment on building a patio on a sloping garden and the latest and best products and gadgets for the garden.

Going forward? August is probably the final month of the year where gardening is one of the more popular keywords on the service, with around 4% of the total requests in August 2024. Journalists will be looking for information on the on-going hosepipe ban in certain areas of the country, as well as looking for experts to share advice as we approach a change in season.

Other opportunities for PRs in August and beyond

In August 2024, ‘Autumn’ took over from ‘Summer’ as journalists sought to get ahead with content for the upcoming season. New fashion and beauty trends often tie in with these requests, as well as recommendations for Autumnal activities, Autumn decor, and places to visit during the fall as well.

This month sees the end of festival season with big music festivals like Reading & Leeds and Creamfields still to come over the Bank Holiday weekend. The Edinburgh Fringe festival is also currently taking place and the final few summer carnivals are also happening, with the most famous one being Notting Hill, still on the horizon. If you have information surrounding these events or tips on what festival goers should be taking with them, then you could get featured in a national press title.

Want to get the most out of the ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service? Check out this explainer.