Friday: Here's why I couldn't include you in my story + tons of pending assignments, including a few wrapping up TODAY.
Plus: A job lead!
Good morning!
Hoping everyone is doing OK after that massive global technology outage overnight. It feels a little bit like Y2K finally arrived, albeit 24 years later. (Just kidding, it’s not that dire, but millions were and are impacted in some pretty serious ways!).
I’m back in NYC and have a load to get done today - including wrapping up a few big stories (more on that in the pending assignment section below).
I wanted to take a bit of time today to share, based on my inbox and pitches this week, some misfires I’ve been seeing in emails that ended up being the reason those items or experts were not included in stories.
(Note, these are not unique to this week, but due to the continued prevalence, bears repeating.)
Quote attribution: I had a few instances this week where quotes were attributed in a way that made them not usable. This included trying to attribute a single quote to multiple people. (i.e. something along the lines of: The team at Joe’s Doughnuts said…) - multiple people can’t be quoted for a single thought. I need a single name. Also, someone who wanted to be quoted by just their first name. They were not Beyonce or Madonna. (And we’re not talking about controversial here.)
Imagery: If I’m collecting sources for a big roundup - an example would be that caviar story earlier this week, that I included 50 dishes but got hundreds of pitches - it’s not in your best interests to pitch me but not send the imagery. Send all the deliverables I ask for as early as possible in the process and you have a way better chance of being included. If I have to chase after you, even if I LOVE your pitch - the chances of it being included decrease dramatically.
Speaking of imagery, label your images and add appropriate photo credits. If you send me a big gallery of images with file names like “image001,” chances are the correct image will not end up being used.
If you want someone’s website or specific title used, great! Happy to. Please tell me that before it’s published. Makes both our lives WAY easier.
Meet my deadlines. They aren’t a suggestion.
Some fun new pieces this week!
For Apartment Therapy: We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On and Here’s What They Said and for Southern Living: This Free Packing Spreadsheet Is Going Viral — Here's Why - and my story for Plate: Vinyl Record Bars Are Taking Over and We’re Not Mad About It.
Job lead! My good friend Ally has shared that BMF is hiring an Agency PR Strategist. If you or someone you know has experience across B2B, MICE, Lifestyle, etc. and is interested in making a move please feel free to reach out to AllyR@WeAreBMF.com and tell her Aly sent you! (There’s a whole lot of Aly/Ally in that sentence!)
The steepest discount I’ve ever offered on consulting sessions
In exciting news, I’m doing something I’ve never done before: I’m currently offering 20% discounts on my virtual consulting/lunch & learn sessions. Times are really tough and I am hoping to make these insights as accessible as possible to any of you who are interested. If you want to schedule a session for yourself or your team, to discuss anything from planning an event, media dinner, or press trip to mailers, pitching best practices, followups to…well… anything else…drop me an email at alywalansky@gmail.com and lets chat!
Newly published or freshly updated
Since people are often asking about the status of stories from a while ago, and I only share stories in this newsletter that were published or updated in the current week, I have created a list of my author pages at various publications to which I contribute. Bookmark it and make your life a bit easier.
This list will live on my Substack URL and be updated as necessary. That way, you can see what I’m doing at any publication, at any time, from types of stories to general structure of stories to even volume and frequency of my content at that outlet.
This can also help you to target pitching a bit better. That makes your job easier, and mine too!
Apartment Therapy: We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On and Here’s What They Said
Plate: Vinyl Record Bars Are Taking Over and We’re Not Mad About It.
Southern Living: This Free Packing Spreadsheet Is Going Viral — Here's Why
Southern Living: Can You Freeze Sour Cream?
RetailMeNot: 55+ College Student Discounts
RetailMeNot: How Bulk Buying Helps Me Maintain My Household Grocery Budget – and Stay Well-Stocked
Travel & Leisure: This Genius Gadget Is the Travel Accessory Everyone's Wearing to Stay Cool in the Heat — and It's 20% Off
Clean Plates: 7 Cookout Faves from Trader Joe’s That Dietitians Love
Clean Plates: 11 Best Seafood Picks at Trader Joe’s, According to RDs
Apartment Therapy: We Asked 6 Travel Writers for Their Best Packing Hacks, and Their Tips Are Ingenious.
Travel & Leisure: I Always Wear These Comfy, Wide-leg Amazon Pants on Flights — Plus, 13 More Pairs I'm Eyeing From $12
Travel & Leisure: Frequent Fliers Say This Genius Hack Makes It Feel Like They've Upgraded Their Seat — and It's Only $35
Apartment Therapy, I’m a Travel Writer and This Is My Time-Saving Packing Hack
RetailMeNot: Don’t Spend a Fortune at Those Salad Places: How I Build My Own Salads At Home
Travel + Leisure: The One Safety Item You're Likely Forgetting to Pack, According to a Longtime Solo Female Traveler
Saatva’s Sleep Enlightened: 6 Surprising Sleep Mask Benefits
RetailMeNot: How Using My Air Fryer Makes Cooking on a Small Budget (and In a Small Space) Possible
If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social media shares! Please remember to tag @alywalansky and the outlet.
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.
Please remember when pitching me: Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com - do NOT just hit reply on this newsletter, or there’s a good shot your email will be lost in the heap. Give your email a subject line that makes it clear which story you are pitching me for — it’ll help you in the long run.
Please consult my industry insights guides on submitting expert commentary, sending emails that will catch a journalist’s attention, how to craft pitches journalists will say ‘yes’ to, and the right and wrong way to submit photos, if you need any extra guidance before sending your pitches.
Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards
I’m participating once again in the panel of experts for the Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards (you may recall I recently participated in nominations in the best gourmet subscription box category and best outdoor grill. As part of this program, I’m part of panel of travel/food experts who helped to create nominee lists for the Readers Choice Awards in a variety of categories, and my next categories will be best mattresses and best apres ski spots. If you have any you think should be on my radar, drop me a line!
Yahoo! Health
I’m working on two roundups and I have very specific sourcing needs for each one.
Best cooling fans of 2024: For this, I’m looking to find the best cooling fans for sleeping —I’m looking for a variety of different types and styles of fans that could accommodate different needs. I’d love to speak to a few sleep experts (coaches, researchers/scientists, MDs specializing in sleep) to discuss why/how a cooling fan might be able to help with sleep. Also: I’m sourcing cooling fans to test. I’m looking ultimately for about 10 categories of cooling fans, such as bladeless, bedside, portable, budget, tower, floor fan, pedestal, oscillating, best for large spaces, best smart fan, most versatile, 2-in-1 (for instance, fan/air conditioner, fan/alarm clock or fan/air purifier, etc.)
Best sleep trackers: I’m rounding of the best sleep trackers of 2024. First, I’m looking to interview sleep experts (scientists/researchers, MDs specializing in sleep, etc.) to discuss the use of sleep trackers, how they do/don't help, how to know if your tracker is accurate, etc., and then test in various categories such as sleep tracking ring, wristband, 2-in-1 fitness and sleep tracker, mattress sensor, contactless, app - i’m looking for most accurate, most comfortable, best value, best for tracking sleep stages, best for sleep coaching, and best for babies (this is a slightly different category, so for this one, when pitching, keep in mind that sleep tracking devices for babies have a different reason/purpose, and the insights are important for parents' use/information/may be helpful to provide to pediatricians.)
RetailMeNot
This month, I’m working on a story regarding how to stock up on spices and save at Costco, as well as some general tips on how to stock up on spices and streamline your spice cabinet and spend less but have more, make your own blends, and so fort. I’ll have updated details as far as what exactly I need very soon, but will be open to both expert sources and products to link to for this one.
Saatva
How to Prevent Bug Bites at Night (and How to Sleep With Itchy Bug Bites) - For Saatva, I’m doing a story on everyone’s least favorite season - bug bite season. Whether you're camping and sleeping in the great outdoors or a mosquito makes its way indoors through an open bedroom window, getting bitten while you sleep is a seriously annoying issue, and the itch can keep you awake at night. In this story, I’m looking to explore how to prevent bug bites at night and how to sleep with itchy bug bites. I’m looking for expert commentary as far as how to prevent being bitten at night by mosquitos and other pests. Is there anything you can do to keep them out of your bedroom? Anything you should wear to cover up if you're camping? Also, a few strategies for easing the itch while you sleep if you do end up being bitten (would LOVE a derm to weigh in on this!). — FYI: I realize that generally stories about getting bit at night tend to be about bed bugs, but this is not a bed bug story, as we’ve already done that - but specifically mosquitos and such that come through window screens and AC vents or are out and about while out at night. Open to product pitches as well!
Forbes.com
I’m looking for fun cocktails and dishes inspired by or in honor of the upcoming Paris Olympic games. These must exist on a menu at a bar or restaurant, even if only for a limited-time special. Please email me if you have anything that may fit!
I’m also working on roundups for National Oyster Day and National Tequila Day. Let me know if you have a dish/cocktail that may be a fit. These must exist on a menu at a bar or restaurant, even if only for a limited-time special.
Note: I’m wrapping up the Olympics and tequila stories by EOD today - so get those final pitches in now, or forever hold your peace! (Or, I mean, not forever. Until next time.)
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<3
aly