Press & Media Inquiry Form Template

Every missed media request is a missed chance to shape your story. This press inquiry form gives journalists and producers a clear, professional channel to reach your communications team — capturing the outlet, story angle, request type, and deadline in one place so you can respond fast and prioritize what matters.

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Who uses this template

Public relations teamsCorporate communications departmentsPR agenciesStartups and scale-ups building media presenceNonprofits and advocacy organizationsAuthors and public figuresResearch institutionsGovernment agencies and public bodies

About this template

A dedicated press inquiry form does two things a general contact form can't: it signals professionalism and it filters signal from noise. When journalists land on your website and see a structured media contact form, they understand they're dealing with an organization that takes communications seriously. When your PR team opens their inbox, they see requests with context — not a mix of sales leads, customer questions, and the occasional media inquiry buried in the middle.

This template captures the minimum information a PR or comms team needs to respond effectively: who the journalist is, what outlet they represent, what kind of story they're working on, what type of help they need, and — critically — when their deadline is. The deadline field alone is worth its weight; a request due in four hours requires a completely different response than one with a two-week runway.

formformform keeps the form lightweight so journalists actually use it. It's not a gatekeeping mechanism — it's a routing mechanism. Every submission arrives in your team's inbox immediately, with enough context to act. Embed it on your press room page, link to it from your about page, or add it to your email auto-reply when journalists reach the wrong address.

8 form ideas you can build with this template +
Startup Press Inquiry Form

Captures story angle, outlet, and deadline from tech journalists covering product launches, funding rounds, and founder profiles.

Nonprofit Media Request Form

Routes journalist inquiries about programs, financials, and impact stories to the organization's communications director.

Government Agency Press Form

Collects outlet, accreditation, story topic, and FOIA-related context from reporters covering public affairs and policy stories.

Author Press & Interview Request Form

Lets journalists, podcast hosts, and event organizers request interviews, review copies, and appearance opportunities from a published author.

Healthcare Organization Media Form

Captures clinical topic, intended audience, and publication type from health journalists requesting expert quotes or data access.

University Communications Form

Routes media requests for faculty expert commentary, research data, and institutional statements to the appropriate department.

Publicly Traded Company IR/PR Form

Separates investor relations inquiries from editorial requests, routing financial press to IR and editorial press to communications.

Festival or Event Press Accreditation Form

Collects outlet, circulation, and coverage type from journalists applying for press credentials or complimentary media access to an event.

What's included

+ Outlet, role, story topic, and request type fields
+ Deadline date picker to prioritize time-sensitive requests
+ Request type radio: interview, quote, data, product review, press kit
+ Open field for specific questions and story context
+ Instant email notification to your PR team on every submission
+ Separates media inquiries from general contact traffic
+ Embed on your press room, about page, or newsroom
+ Unlimited submissions, no caps

How to create a press & media inquiry form

  1. 1

    Click 'Use this template' to open it in formformform with all fields configured.

  2. 2

    Update the notification email to route directly to your PR manager or communications team inbox.

  3. 3

    Customize the 'Type of Request' radio options if your team handles specific types — add 'Speaking engagement' or 'Expert commentary' if relevant.

  4. 4

    Add your media contact's phone number in the intro paragraph for urgent requests that bypass the form.

  5. 5

    Optionally add a 'Estimated audience or circulation' field if audience size affects your response priority.

  6. 6

    Publish and link to it from your website's press room, newsroom page, or about section.

Best practices for your press & media inquiry form

Always include the deadline field

it's the most important piece of context for triage. A request without a deadline is very different from one due tomorrow morning.

Make the outlet field required

knowing the publication immediately tells you audience size, reach, and editorial stance.

Keep a press kit ready

the 'Press kit' option in the request type dropdown is a signal to send your standard assets. Have them ready to attach.

Route directly to your PR person

don't let media requests queue in a general inbox. Set the notification email to whoever handles press.

Respond within one business day

journalists on tight deadlines will move on quickly. Fast response wins coverage; slow response loses it.

Separate this form from your general contact form

link to each one distinctly on your press page and contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is this press inquiry form free? +

Yes. Add it to your press room and collect unlimited media inquiries at no cost.

Where should I put this form on my website? +

The most common placement is a dedicated press or newsroom page, linked from your about page and your footer. Some organizations also link to it from their media kit PDF.

Can I get notified immediately when a journalist submits? +

Yes. Set your notification email to your PR team's inbox or your communications manager's address and they'll receive an instant email with the full submission.

Should I still list a press contact email? +

Many organizations list both — a press contact email for urgent or sensitive matters and the form for standard requests. Include a note in the form intro directing urgent inquiries to the email.

What if a journalist misuses the general contact form instead? +

Consider adding a note on your contact page: 'For press and media inquiries, please use our press inquiry form' with a direct link. This naturally routes media traffic to the right channel.

Can I add a file upload for media press kits or materials? +

formformform doesn't currently support file uploads. For press kit distribution, link to a downloadable file from your press page and include the link in your auto-response.

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