Happy Friday! Tons of new story leads!

So much for Friday being a slow day...

Hi, everyone! TGIF!

Remember how it used to be, that Friday was generally the sort of lazy day where so many of us would mentally check out by early afternoon?

That is the one day a week that I could sometimes rationalize closing down at 3 pm for the day, and making plans like a 4 pm blowout followed by 5 pm happy hour. Most other days, I’m tethered to my desk from 8 till at least 5!

Not so much today, I have about 10 new story assignments pending, going into the weekend. Scroll down to see if any apply to you or your client, and if they do, please pitch me!

Virtual Consulting

Subscribers have reached out recently about virtual consulting opportunities. I am happy to do this, and generally just pop onto a team Zoom call and answer any questions you may have about everything from press trips to events, from a media perspective. If this is something you want to explore, feel free to email me and get something on the books!

TV chat

We have not had a TV chat this week! Sure sign it’s been a really busy week, work-wise…Right now, I’m watching Outlander (OBVIOUSLY), and also Minx on HBO Max and Dropout on Hulu. I’m also eager to check out Bad Vegan on Netflix (I feel like it’ll feel the void left by finishing Inventing Anna).

What is everyone else watching? Anything else I should add to my list?

Passover

I've been getting a ton of pitches for the Kosher For Passover story I'm doing for Forbes, and I need to implore you to read directions carefully. MOST people are getting it wrong and fighting me on it when I try to explain the issue.

Kosher and Kosher for Passover are not the same thing. Something (most things) can be kosher 51 weeks out of the year, but is NOT kosher for Passover. It's two distinct certifications. And most people are missing out on that stipulation when they pitch me. Please make sure what you are pitching is kosher for passover and not just kosher before pitching - otherwise you are just wasting your time! If you have ANY questions at all, please email me.

Newly published today:

This pie slicing hack I wrote about for The Kitchn will blow your mind.

Food Network: Panda Express Brings Fried Chicken Sandwich Wars to A New Level with Orange Chicken Sandwich Bao

If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, please share on social and tag me (I'm @alywalansky basically everywhere, please follow me!), and also please remember to tag 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.

AllRecipes

I'm working on two stories related to food storage - how to store strawberries and how to store banana bread. I have a list of questions for both and if a chef, food safety expert, etc, can weigh in, I'll share my questions and exactly what I need.

RetailMeNot

1 - Mother's Day Jewelry Under $100.  I'm trying to include choices from Amazon, Walmart, Target, but absolutely open to a few from non-giant-retailers too for great finds.

2 - : Stores Closed on Easter Sunday (+ Easter Store Hours for 2022) -- I realize this reads like the flip side of the Today.com story I'm also working on, but there's a few subtle differences. I'm updating this story - so if you represent any of the stores in it, I would love it if you can contact me to let me know if your hours have changed or not for Easter, or when you will know. While the TODAY story is just restaurants, this is all sorts of stores, from grocery stores to department stores. Please assume that something needs to be a chain to be included, so your one-off location of a sushi shop doesn't really apply.

Clean Plates

I'm rounding up kosher for passover healthy recipes that can be found online. NOT looking for cookbooks but rather from food blogs that I can link to. We're trying to keep things healthy, so consider...say, a cauliflower kugel, brisket with no added sugar, etc. Please email me a link to the blog/recipe and a description to be considered - and remember, we're trying to keep this healthy, and also to ingredients that are kosher for passover.

I'm also looking for RDs to comment on different pending stories: 

The best bottled salad dressings you can get at Whole Foods, according to nutritionists

Vegan Items at Trader Joe's That Are Totally Nutritionist-Approved  - For this one, I'm simply looking for nutritionists to email me and tell me their favorite vegan item at Trader Joe's and why they love it.

Please email me and I'll give you a rundown of specific questions and what I'm looking for.

Today.com

I'm working on a  big roundup of restaurants open on Easter. We’re looking for a big list of big and small chains across the country –high and low. It's the Easter version of this story we did for Christmas, if you want an idea of the format I'm looking for.

I'm also looking for restaurant chains nationwide doing special deals/discounts for tax day (i have a few weeks to play with this one...a rare feat!)

Forbes.com 

 For Forbes.com I'm rounding up Kosher For Passover wines and spirits for an upcoming story. I'm also doing a story on fun finds in Kosher For Passover snacks/treats/new products. These items must exist online and they MUST be shippable. And please please make sure the item is kosher for passover certified (that's a different thing than kosher, so if something is kosher, it's not necessarily KFP) - I'll do a dedicated newsletter soon explaining the difference for anyone who doesn't quite understand. But meanwhile, you can always email me questions. And, please, pitch me!

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

Are you tired of faking it ‘til you make it?

The topic of self-doubt and imposter syndrome has been coming up a lot this week. For anyone who relates to the feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome that we all experience, there’s an in-person workshop happening in NYC from 24-26 June 2022 with Master Certified Coach Christine Sachs. If you’re interested in breaking it the eff down and building up your authentic, powerful self, I’ve got a link to it below.  You may want to try out this 3-day workshop to transform your imposter syndrome once and for all. Turning Point by Master Certified Coach Christine Sachs. It's an unflinching exploration into the good, bad, and ugly led by an expert in the coaching profession with more than 10 years experience coaching executives and leaders through their imposter syndrome. Please be sure to tell them Aly sent you!

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!)

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<3

aly