Great news to share today: My podcast appearance is now live + Muck Rack's list of top 10 journalists of 2022 is here!
Also: What I'm working on this chilly holiday break. (There's actually a lot!)
Good morning!
I hope everyone is having a restful and festive time celebrating whatever they are celebrating.
And can I just say…I’ve missed you all so much in the past week! I’ve kept up with many of you via social media (Obviously!!!), but having this morning coffee chat each and every day has become something I truly cherish, and it was so weird to take a mini hiatus. But I know that achieving life/work balance is important, and I didn’t want to contribute to taking away from a much-needed holiday break for all of you. God knows you’ve earned it.
What an arctic stint this week has been…I came home from a few days visiting my family to discover my entire window herb garden had died. It felt like a rather Brooklyn version of one of those post-apocalyptic movies where people climb out of the caves to discover the bleak aftermath of civilization…
Anyway…
As promised when I sent my last newsletter just before the holiday, we knew there’d be a few more coming before New Years, and today I had some news (actually, TWO pieces of news!!) I just couldn’t wait to share.
Remember a few weeks ago when I had that REALLY scary phone scam (prank? still not sure) drama, and then I was booked to record a podcast appearance immediately after?
Well, that podcast is now out in the world!
A few weeks ago, I recorded a guest appearance on the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast hosted by Lexie Smith of THEPRBAR. (Fun fact: I was actually recommended to Lexie by one of my work wives, Jill, who had recently appeared herself!) The podcast was SO MUCH fun to record (and Lexie and I instantly felt like besties even though we’ve never met). I had the greatest time, even under the backdrop of all the craziness that had been going on that day. In fact, it’s totally 100% a testament to Lexie that I had such a great time even though my day was such a mess. She was THAT great at putting me at ease.
Here’s some links to listen: Episode web page (with transcript) is here.
Apple:
Spotify:
We chatted about so many industry topics — from the type of stories I love pitching and writing the most, to my tips on PR pitching and followups, to the subject of media events and trips, to just how wild my inbox really does get over the holiday season and how some of my wilder story ideas and angles have been born. And, of course, my favorite cocktail. (But most of us already know the answer to that one!)
One important takeaway from this chat and so many others I have had recently: While the topics I list in my pending stories section in my newsletter are what I’m working on right now, today, as I type, that is always just part of the story. New assignments come every day, and I’m sending pitches for future stories to new and current editors on a daily basis. (Being a journalist is sort of like being an actor in the sense that even after decades working, you still have to audition! Er, pitch.) So, always feel free to pitch me even if it’s not related to a current story. It may lead to a future story angle!
I share some of the information in this 30-minute recording that we cover in industry insights newsletters, consulting sessions and AMA Zooms, and it’s all free and right here for the taking — so please take some time to listen this morning as you go about your day and consider it my Happy New Year gift to every single one of you here, who is appreciated and cherished more than I can even begin to say. And I’d super appreciate any feedback. I haven’t done this sort of thing before and I’d love to know if I’m any good at it and should do more of them!
AND IN OTHER AMAZING NEWS…
Muck Rack’s list of the 10 most viewed journalists of 2022 is out. I’m super humbled to be on the list for the third year in a row, and I’m so grateful everyone out there keeps reading what I’m writing.
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!
Yahoo Life: How long do leftovers last? Experts share tips for safely storing food
Yahoo Life: Air fryer 101: Everything you need to know about cooking with (and maintaining) an air fryer
RetailMeNot: Stores Open On New Year’s Day 2023 + New Year’s Eve 2022 Store Hours
Forbes: Boozy Desserts Are The Perfect Sweet Finale To Holiday Dinners
Forbes: Impress Your Guests This Season With Tableside Cocktails
Eat This, Not That: 10 New Cookbooks We Can't Wait to Get Our (Oven) Mitts on in 2023
Clean Plates: 9 Products That Will Actually Make You Excited to Workout
Forbes: Viva Magenta: Pantone’s Color Of The Year 2023 Has Inspired Gorgeous Cocktails Nationwide
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.
RetailMeNot
The Best Galentine's Day Gifts for your Besties: I’ll be updating this story I did last year (so if you represent a product that is in last year’s guide, please let me know if there’s any changes to it as far as price, availability, etc). But I’ll also be adding a dozen or so new products that are also great gift ideas for your bestie this year (in the same format as last year’s, if you want to use that as a guide when pitching.)
The Best Affordable Valentine's Day Gifts: I’m also working on this guide to affordable Valentine’s Day gifts. Trying to stick with under $100 for these items.
Clean Plates
Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods Perfect for Valentine’s Day at Home: I’m looking to round up people’s Trader Joe's frozen items that would work well for a Valentine's Day celebration at home. This could be either for a date night or for a girl's night in. (Note: A lot of people are pitching me items that are NOT frozen for this one and I can’t consider it - so no salads or chocolate bars or popcorn in the shape of a heart, please.)
Costco Foods Nutritionists Love for Valentine’s Day: I’m looking to ask nutritionists to share some of their favorite Costco finds that work well for a healthy Valentine's Day celebration.
HelloGiggles
Products to help you sleep better in 2023 - everything from bedding to supplements and more. (I need to wrap this one up before the new year, so send your pitches along by tomorrow to be considered!)
Sexy underthings to gift yourself this Valentine's Day - we all deserve to feel confident and sexy, whether you have a partner or not.
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!)
Have a great day!
<3
aly
Well done for making the Muck Rack list
Congratulations Aly on the podcast feature and making Muck Rack's list! Great way to end the year.