For any writer or author who has limited publicity or marketing experience, pitching a newspaper or media outlet with an AI-written press release might seem like it's the perfect solution, but in fact, it's considered "AI slop," a derogatory term meaning low-quality, mass-produced digital content.

Why Journalists Dislike AI

In a nutshell: it signals low effort, reads like a bot, and kills editorial trust.

In 2026, a study shows 53% of polled journalists object to receiving AI-generated media materials, citing marketing hype ("spiel"), irrelevant details, and unsourced facts.

Why AI Press Releases Fail

• The "Robotic" Tone: AI naturally defaults to corporate, cliché buzzwords like "delve," "testament," or "game-changer" that immediately signal spam to a busy book reviewer or journalist.

• The Emoji Pattern: The overuse of emojis is a dead giveaway that someone used AI instead of writing the press release. 

Instead, a Maine journalist and author with more than 30 years of experience, has created custom human-written templates for you to promote your next book launch or event.

Do's and Don'ts when Pitching Maine Newspapers & Sample Email

$10.00- Buy here

This checklist gives you the insider best practices, common mistakes to avoid, and the key elements every reporter and editor wants to see. Use this checklist to build a strong, personalized pitch that shines through the dozens of press releases newspapers get each day.

Learn more at DIY Book Marketing for Maine Authors