AI prompts for journalists — better pitches, sharper headlines, faster research prep
Journalism moves fast and the writing bar is high. AI can help with the structural and research-heavy parts of the job — interview question prep, article outlines, headline options, and pitch drafts — so journalists spend more time on reporting and less time on setup. These prompts are built to produce journalist-grade output, not content-farm copy.
Last updated · By the Prompt Orange team
Top prompts for journalists & reporters
1. Write a pitch
“Write a pitch for my article idea”
Too vague—AI has to guess what you want
“Write a journalist pitch for a feature article about the rise of AI-generated product reviews and their impact on consumer trust. Target publication: Wired UK. Length: 250 words. Include: the lead (what's the story and why now), 3 interview sources I've identified, the angle that makes this different from existing coverage, and a proposed word count and format.”
Specific, clear, ready to use
2. Prepare interview questions
“Give me interview questions”
Too vague—AI has to guess what you want
“Write an interview question set for a 30-minute recorded interview with the CEO of a UK fintech startup that just raised a £15M Series A. Context: the round was in a difficult funding climate, they pivoted 18 months ago, and there are industry rumours about a potential acquisition. Mix: background questions (3), process questions (4), challenge questions (3), and one question they'll find unexpected.”
Specific, clear, ready to use
3. Write headline options
“Write a headline for my article”
Too vague—AI has to guess what you want
“Write 8 headline options for an investigative article about how UK local councils are using facial recognition technology in public spaces without public consultation. Mix styles: news headline, feature headline, question headline, and provocation headline. Each under 12 words. Avoid clickbait. Flag the 2 most likely to get clicks without being misleading.”
Specific, clear, ready to use
4. Outline an investigation
“Help me structure my article”
Too vague—AI has to guess what you want
“Create a structure outline for a 2000-word investigative feature about food waste in the UK supermarket supply chain. Include: lede, nutgraph, 4–5 main sections with subheadings and what each section should establish, data/source suggestions for each section, and a closing section that moves from problem to implication. Note where the strongest quotes should sit.”
Specific, clear, ready to use
5. Summarise research
“Summarise this report for me”
Too vague—AI has to guess what you want
“Summarise this 40-page government report on housing affordability for a general news audience. Output: (1) 3-sentence news summary (who, what, why it matters), (2) top 5 key findings with specific figures, (3) the most quotable statistic, (4) the most surprising or counterintuitive finding, (5) one critical perspective or limitation of the report's methodology. Max 400 words.”
Specific, clear, ready to use