Good morning and happy Friday!
I have a few urgent quick-turnaround stories I’m sourcing for, but first…
I think the message for today needs to be we all need to get better at know our worth and stop giving people discounts.
Times are tough, and it’s been a weird few weeks. People will get mighty predatory when you let them.
Just yesterday, I got an email about contributing to a publication. After a brief back and forth, the emailer casually instructed me to write a “sample article” for free. I responded that I have a degree in my field, various awards and recognitions, 20+ years of industry experience, and write for a dozen outlets. That is my writing sample. Times are tough in our industry, but I won’t write for anyone who exploits writers — and that behavior is outright exploitation.
But predatory behavior exists on all ends of our industry. A few weeks ago, I received an email seeking to hire me to host a media luncheon for a brand. We agreed to set up a Zoom meeting to discuss. This Zoom discussion somehow instead ended up becoming a (spontaneous? I don’t think so…TBH) consulting session where I helped them to plan their entire event — which they then asked me to attend, not host.
Pair that with situations we chat about often - expense reimbursements that never comes (I’m waiting over 3 months for a travel reimbursement currently), payments we have to chase after, hidden costs and misrepresented trips and events, people to drop the ball on deadlines and commentary, having to pitch harder and more often for work on an increasingly treacherous landscape … it’s sometimes very, very hard to do our jobs. And even harder to feel good about ourselves as we do it.
But I maintain, even when things are hard — and they have been pretty hard for so many people lately — I feel so incredibly blessed to have a job I truly love. I never dreamed when I was a little girl, writing in my journal, that I’d grow up and get paid to be a writer. And, even better!!!, that I’d be paid to write about the things I love — food, travel, telling the story of the people and destinations that I visit, stories that maybe haven’t been told before. Experiencing the world through their flavors and ingredients and wines, and I am SO blessed. And I am so grateful.
But that doesn’t mean I will take it for granted. Or allow myself to be taken for granted. The first step to being respected in this industry, or anywhere, with anyone, really - which feels like the wild west at times — is to try to learn to respect yourself. Don’t let people treat you like you are disposable or interchangeable. Stand up for yourself and your work. Let it speak for itself. The right opportunities will find their way to you when you do.
OK…soap box OVER. Happy Friday!
I’m working on a RUSH assignment for a food outlet and I need RDs to weigh in ASAP - scroll down to pending stories for more.
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!
PS: I love doing podcasts! Check out my guest appearance on the Italian Wine Podcast this week, where we discussed all things Substack. Other recent podcast appearances include the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast with the incredible (and super fun!) Lexie Smith, where we chatted about everything from press dinners and events and trips to, well, sippin’! I’ve recorded a few others that should be live soon as well and I’m always open to doing more — email me at alywalansky@gmail.com.
Forbes.com: 20 Perfect Cocktails To Enjoy This Independence Day
Southern Living: What Is An English Cucumber?
RetailMeNot: Here Are the Best Fourth of July Sales of 2023
RetailMeNot: Stores Open Fourth of July + Fourth of July Store Hours
Pawp.com: Is Your Dog Afraid Of Fireworks? 8 Tips To Calm Your Anxious Dog
Parade.com: Caterers Say These Are the 8 Craziest Wedding Food Trends They’re Seeing This Summer—Are They on Your List?
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.
Clean Plates
Avoiding dairy? For a rush story (I need to wrap this up this weekend!) story for Clean Plates, I’m rounding up the best plant-based "dairy" options you can find at Trader Joe's (so like cheeses, yogurts, creamers, desserts, frozen dishes, etc etc that are dairy free but dairy-like - you know what I mean!). I’d love you to comment on what the item is (please make sure it’s currently available, items get discontinued or are seasonal pretty often there), why it’s a great choice, and some ways you recommend enjoying it.
Forbes.com
As mentioned earlier, The Bear is back! Is it even possible to think of this show and not picture a glorious Chicago-style Italian Beef Sandwich? Obviously not.
For Forbes, I want to roundup some great incarnations of the Italian Beef Sandwich found at bars/restaurants nationwide - they must stay true to the original while also adding some sort of special touch. If you have something, please send me: Name of dish, description, and a quote about it, as well as an image.
I’d also love chefs to comment on what makes a great Italian beef sandwich - procedure, tips, etc. Would love responses for this one by EOD Friday (yes, that’s tomorrow!).
Looking to up your affiliate marketing game?
Affiliate marketing is complicated, and it seems that the landscape keeps changing. If you are looking to be prepared for gift guide season and all other shopping-related content, you may want to try the 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!)
Virtual (and now in-person!) consulting sessions...
Looking for a consult as you plan your next event or trip? Or just want someone to take a look at the pitches you’ve been sending and give some feedback?
I've been popping into a lot of PR team virtual meetings and some other fun stuff and making myself available to answer all sorts of questions about pitching, events, and trips from a media perspective. I like to keep these things chill and comfortable and relaxed all by sharing perspective and learning from one another. Note: I’m also available to travel for consulting sessions as long as travel expenses are covered. We can chat!
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!
Have a great day!
Need to hear this today!
Good for you Aly. I get this too about writing samples when I speak to people about copywriting or PR jobs -- are you kidding me???? But I guess some people succumb and that is why they continue to get away with it. Stay strong! And that is awful about the Zoom session having you plan their event and then not having you host it. Yikes.