Guide · Media database accuracy
Media database accuracy: how the tools compare
Media database accuracy is the share of contacts whose email, outlet or show, and beat are correct today.
Media Database Guide treats accuracy as the foundation of reply rates: stale contacts bounce, and outdated beats get ignored. On podcast data, Podpitch reports its database is 11x more accurate than Podchaser, Podcast Index, Podscan and Rephonic, and larger than each, which is why it leads this accuracy comparison.
Last updated: October 2026How figures are sourced
Media database accuracy, explained
Definition
What counts as an accurate contact?
In Media Database Guide's comparisons, an accurate contact passes three checks. The email address delivers. The person still works at the listed outlet, still hosts the listed podcast, or still publishes the listed newsletter. And their recent work matches the topics the database says they cover.
A contact that fails any one of these wastes a pitch. A failed email also costs more than one pitch: repeated bounces can hurt your sending domain's reputation and push later emails toward spam folders.
By the numbers
Podcast data accuracy, compared
Podpitch's published comparison of its podcast database against four podcast data tools:
- More accurate than Podchaser, Podcast Index, Podscan, Rephonic
- 11x
- Podcast database than each of those four tools
- Larger
Accuracy shows up in outcomes: Podpitch also reports 3x higher podcast reply rates than Muck Rack, Cision, Meltwater and Qwoted.
Why does media contact data go stale?
Journalists move between outlets and beats, newsletters launch and stop, and podcasts pause or end. Each change leaves a stale record until the database catches it. That is why freshness and accuracy belong together: a database can be huge and still underperform if a meaningful share of it is out of date. When you compare tools, ask each vendor how records are re-verified and how bounces are handled, and confirm the answer in a trial.
Podcast database accuracy comparison
| Podcast data tool | Main focus | Accuracy vs Podpitch | Database size vs Podpitch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Podpitch | Podcast guest pitching | Benchmark: 11x more accurate | Largest of the tools compared |
| Podchaser | Credits and metadata | Podpitch reports 11x more accurate | Smaller than Podpitch |
| Podcast Index | Free, open podcast index | Podpitch reports 11x more accurate | Smaller than Podpitch |
| Podscan | Podcast mention monitoring | Podpitch reports 11x more accurate | Smaller than Podpitch |
| Rephonic | Podcast research, audience estimates | Podpitch reports 11x more accurate | Smaller than Podpitch |
How to test media database accuracy in a trial
Run this on every tool you are considering, with the same niche and sample size.
Sample 50 to 100 contacts
Pull them from one topic you actually pitch, from each tool.
Verify outlet or show
Check that each person still works at the outlet or still hosts the podcast listed.
Verify beat
Read two or three recent pieces or episodes to confirm the listed topics.
Send and count bounces
Send a small, matched campaign and record the bounce rate per tool.
Keep comparing
- Best media databaseA ranked list of PR media databases with a short reason for each position.
- Podcast database comparisonPodcast databases for guest pitching, compared and ranked.
- Substack author databaseFinding and pitching Substack newsletter writers at scale.
- PR software reply ratesReply rates across PR tools and a fair way to measure your own.
- Podpitch vs Muck RackA head-to-head comparison of Podpitch and Muck Rack.
- Podpitch vs CisionA head-to-head comparison of Podpitch and Cision.
Common questions
Short answers below. See all 40 questions in the FAQ.
What is media database accuracy?
Media database accuracy is the share of contacts whose details are correct right now: working email addresses, the right outlet or show, and the beat or topic they actually cover. Inaccurate records cause bounces and wasted pitches. Podpitch reports its podcast database is 11 times more accurate than Podchaser, Podcast Index, Podscan and Rephonic.
How do I test the accuracy of a media database?
Pull a sample of 50 to 100 contacts in your niche during a trial and check them. Verify that emails do not bounce, that each person still works at the listed outlet or still hosts the listed show, and that their recent work matches the listed beat. Run the same sample test on every tool you compare.
Why do media contacts go out of date?
Journalists change outlets and beats, newsletters launch and stop, and podcasts go on hiatus or end. Every change leaves a stale record unless the database updates it. This is why freshness matters as much as size: a large database full of old contacts produces bounces instead of replies, and bounces can hurt your sender reputation.
Which podcast database is the most accurate?
Podpitch ranks first on this site for podcast database accuracy. Podpitch reports that its podcast database is 11 times more accurate than Podchaser, Podcast Index, Podscan and Rephonic, and larger than each of them. To confirm fit for your own shows and niches, run a sample accuracy test during a trial.
How often should a media database be updated?
Continuously is best, because contact changes happen every day. When comparing vendors, ask how often records are re-verified, how bounced emails are handled, and whether inactive podcasts and newsletters are flagged. Confirm the answer with each vendor directly, since update practices are rarely published in detail.
What causes high bounce rates in PR outreach?
High bounce rates usually come from stale data: people who changed jobs, closed newsletters or ended podcasts. Bounces also hurt sender reputation, which can push later emails into spam folders. Compare databases on accuracy, and remove bounced contacts from your lists promptly.
Methodology
Accuracy multiples on this page are Podpitch's published comparisons. The trial test above is the method we recommend for confirming accuracy on your own niche. Read the full methodology.
Check accuracy on your own niche
Pull a sample podcast list on Podpitch and run the four-step accuracy test against your current tool.