...Is it just me or has this been the longest week or what?

The world is feeling pretty terrible and dystopian right now, but we all have work to get done, and it can sometimes feel pretty overwhelming to balance it all when honestly, none of what we have on our to-do list feels all that important compared to everything else around us.

I guess we just have to do the best we can, and do what we can. And in the case of getting our work done and meeting our deadlines, that's something we can do. And something we still need to do.

I see calls on social media not to make this a political thing. The reality is, it IS a political thing. The only thing to do after a mass shooting is absolutely everything we can to prevent them from happening again. And there is no denying the relationship between the NRA and the Republican Party is a big part of how this keeps happening. Republican-controlled states are trying to have looser gun laws, not stricter ones. And the former administration appointed loads of conservative judges in an attempt to have the laws go their way. Vote for the change you want. Demand that those in power fight for stricter gun control and mental health screenings for those who can purchase guns. And NO ONE needs to be buying assault rifles.

Now, let's try to get to work.

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Substack update

Today, this newsletter hit 4,000 total subscribers! We also have around 200 paid ones. I honestly never imagined when I started this newsletter last fall that it would turn into this, and I am so humbled and grateful for all the support. I like to think this is a sort of community (that's clear in the interaction I see in all our subscriber zooms) and I'm so happy to see it.

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Job Leads

Quinn PR is currently looking for an Assistant Account Executive to join their Miami team! This individual will be working on travel, hospitality and real estate accounts and will need to have the ability to commute to the Miami area for in-person meetings/events. To apply please find a LinkedIn job post here.

Quinn PR is currently looking for an Account Executive to join their LA team! This individual will be working on travel accounts and will need to have the ability to commute to the LA area for in-person meetings/events. To apply please find a LinkedIn job post here.

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Newly published

Remember I said a few weeks ago I was working on recreating a recipe that had a royal connection? This was it! For The Kitchn: I Tried Meghan Markle’s 3-Ingredient Zucchini Pasta Sauce and It’s the Perfect Dish for Summer Nights

Clean Plates: The Best Plant-Based Meats for the Grill, According to Vegans

The Kitchn: Tahini Magic Shells Are an Elevated Take on a Fun Childhood Treat

Food Network: Ritz and Oreo Join Forces to Satisfy Your Sweet-Salty Snack Cravings

If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social media shares tagging @alywalansky and the outlet.

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Here's what I'm working on:

Be sure to read the below list carefully. Many are stories I posted about yesterday, but some of yesterday's stories are no longer listed and a few new ones have been added since yesterday. This (below) is everything that is still a currently open opportunity as of today.

Southern Living

For this story, I'm covering how to extend the life of your nonstick cookware. Would love chefs and cookware experts to weigh in! Not looking for products for this story, this is more of a tips/advice story.

RetailMeNot

1. The Best Father's Day Sales to Shop Now: I'm looking for the biggies for this one, places like Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Ancestry, 23andMe, Fitbit IF they are throwing a sale. I'm looking for retail sales only for this one (NOT restaurants - I have a different story at a different outlet for that). TO pitch for this one, please include what's on sale, how to shop it, the promo code.

2. Fourth of July Store Hours + Stores Open Fourth of July (similar to the Easter and Memorial Day store hours roundup I did for this same outlet). This is for major retailers, look at my versions for other holidays for an idea of what I'm looking for.

Today.com

For Today.com, I'm rounding up Father's Day and graduation related deals/freebies at chain restaurants (so if you happen to have those now feel free to send ahead!)

If pitching me restaurant deals/discounts for any of these holidays, please be sure to include what the deal is, how to claim the deal, and any disclaimers, as well as exactly how long it lasts and where it’s good. (I run into A LOT of last minute changes on these deals, so please be sure what you are pitching me is actually the deal being offered before proceeding…it helps us BOTH down the line.)

To pitch me for ANY of these stories, please email me at alywalansky@gmail.com (and start a new thread, please!).

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Virtual consulting sessions...

I've been popping into a lot of PR team virtual meetings and making myself available to answer all sorts of questions about pitching, events, and trips from a media perspective. If you are interested in setting anything up for your own team in the coming months, please email me and we'll get something on the books! This is available for entire agencies or smaller group lunch and learn type concepts. If you are a freelance publicist and want to join in with a few other freelance publicist friends and set something up, we can do that as well!

Are you confused about affiliate marketing?

If you are having trouble learning how to navigate issues of affiliate marketing (trust me, we've all been there!), you may want to try out my friend Sarah Karger, a publicist, and former editor Dana Baardsen (and all-around fab girl!)'s Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists. It's a brilliant course and it'll answer all your questions (including some you didn't know you had!)

Download the Substack App!

Good news! This newsletter is now available via app. That means you can keep up with everything you are reading from your phone. Download the app for iPhone and iPad here. For Android users, sign up for the waiting list here.

Now available for iOS

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Aly’s Newsletter

Aly's Thursday Newsletter: Story leads…