In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, the podcast that helps founders and change-makers tell their story, build credibility without needing a big PR budget, we're chatting with Brett Farmiloe, the Founder and CEO of Featured, and the owner of the iconic Help a Reporter Out — HARO. Brett is literally in the thick of the AI world right now.

What I love about Brett is that he sits at this fascinating intersection between expert sourcing, media opportunities, and the evolving world of AI visibility. He's seen every mistake people make when pitching themselves. He knows what actually helps a journalist say yes. And he's got a front-row seat to how brands are trying to show up inside large language models and what actually moves the needle.

In our conversation, we explore:

• How to use HARO and Featured to land expert commentary pieces
• The anatomy of a pitch that cuts through (including Brett's very cheesy but genuinely helpful HARO acronym)
• Why journalists can immediately spot AI-generated pitches
• What citations really mean for visibility inside LLMs
• The emerging tension between the media industry and AI — and how founders can navigate it

If you're a founder trying to build thought leadership, a not-for-profit leader trying to get your message out, or a publicist wanting to stay ahead of the curve, you will absolutely take away something practical from this chat.

So grab a cuppa, or pop your headphones in while you take the dog for a lap around the block, and let's dive into this conversation with Brett Farmiloe.

Find Odette Barry online:

https://www.odetteandco.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/odetteandco/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/odette-barry/

Find Brett Farmiloe online

https://www.helpareporter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/helpareporter/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettfarmiloe/

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR! with Odette Barry, we take you inside one of the most dynamic, fast-paced environments in Australian media — breakfast television.

Odette is joined by Laura Francis, the Managing Editor of Sunrise, where she oversees the editorial direction, content strategy, and daily rhythm of the country's highest-rating morning show.

She's the one shaping the stories you sip your coffee to every morning — from breaking news and political hot topics, to consumer segments and yes, the occasional tap-dancing dachshund.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to fill three hours of live TV every day — and keep millions of Australians tuned in before 9am — Laura's here to break it down.

We talk about:

• How stories are chosen, shaped, and prioritised overnight and in real-time
• The kinds of pitches that actually make it to air — and what gets instantly binned
• How Sunrise balances hard news, entertainment, and real human stories
• What publicists and media talent often misunderstand about live TV
• And why the most effective guests are never just 'available' — they're relevant

Tips for pitching

1. Tailor pitches with an understanding of Sunrise's structure. Avoid generic press releases — they won't land if they aren't visual, short (approx. 3 minutes), or morning-TV friendly.
2. Sunrise is built around visuals. If you're pitching a segment, ensure you've got strong, clear footage or imagery that brings the story to life. Even a preview or pre-event demonstration is better than nothing.
3. Craft a concise one-liner that reads like a Sunrise segment tease. Producers are time-poor — if they can't instantly see how it fits into the show, it's a miss.

Laura shares incredibly practical advice for anyone hoping to land a breakfast segment — and gives us a peek into the editorial engine room of a program that sets the national conversation every day.

This episode is packed with newsroom gold — for PRs, founders, and anyone curious about how big media moves behind the scenes.

Find Odette Barry online:

https://www.odetteandco.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/odetteandco/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/odette-barry/

Find Laura Francis online

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-francis-58101677/

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, the podcast where we pull back the curtain on what actually works in modern PR and media, host Odette Barry, publicist, and the founder of Odette & Co chats with someone who sits at the coalface of mainstream television journalism, Meredith Marks, Features & Investigations Producer at Nine News in Sydney.

Meredith has spent over 20 years in news from the trenches of 4am radio starts and election campaign media rooms, to the high-pressure deadlines of 6pm news bulletins. These days, she's the powerhouse behind many of the feature stories you see promoted across Nine's platforms, the ones that hook you in and have the whole group chat buzzing the next morning.

In this episode, Meredith generously shares:

• What actually makes a pitch stand out in her inbox
• The kind of data, case studies and visuals that cut through (and what makes her hit delete)
• Why exclusives matter and how to offer them properly
• Her biggest bugbears with product PR and last-minute case study dropouts
• Plus, the behind-the-scenes realities of what it takes to get a story from inbox to screen

We also talked about ethical storytelling, especially for those of you working in social impact, and Meredith gave incredibly grounded advice on how to work with sensitivity while still telling powerful, visual stories.

Honestly, this chat is a goldmine for anyone pitching television and Meredith is a dream. Straight-talking, smart, and so generous with her wisdom.

Big Ideas Masterclass

This FREE 60 minute masterclass will help you - a leader or changemaker - turn your stories into powerful tools for visibility and impact. Stories that open doors.

Through PR strategies, pitching techniques, and influence-building tactics, you'll learn how to secure media coverage, land speaking engagements, and amplify your mission…before you burnout!

Find Odette Barry online:

https://www.odetteandco.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/odetteandco/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/odette-barry/

Find Meredith Marks online:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-marks-458138277/