Monday: So much newly published content to share today -- including my roundup of my favorite NYC bagels!

Good morning!

I have so much new content to share since Friday’s email.

First of all, thanks so much for all the great feedback on the most recent podcast appearance I did (you can still catch the link in the section below!). It means so much to me that so many of you took the time to listen, especially during such a busy and action-packed summer.

I know I mentioned I was working on a big Parade feature of the Best Bagel Shops In NYC for Lox and a Schmear — and that’s now live. It’s fair to say the best bagels in the world are in NYC, and the best bagels in NYC are in Brooklyn, so I have a fair degree of experience with good bagels, I’d say!

I feel like I’ve been spending my entire life researching for this story (for the record, my favorite way to enjoy a bagel is hot and fresh (not toasted) poppy, scooped out, with lox, red onion, and a light schmear of scallion cream cheese). I’m also a big fan of a classic poppy with egg whites and tomato (no cheese!), or for lunch, tuna and pickles or a chicken cutlet on a bagel with lettuce and tomato. In short, bagels are my jam (I mean, I’m a Jewish gal from Brooklyn!), and I’m so glad to see it live and I’m so excited to hear if some of your favorites made it!

Also for Parade, I wrote a complete 101 Guide to how to use an air fryer. I use mine NONSTOP and it’s my favorite appliance - but if you are feeling a little overwhelmed or intimidated, this story is for you.

In my latest piece for Forbes, I rounded up some really fun Spud-Centric Dishes To Enjoy On National Potato Day (including a WILD potato-centric dish I experienced during a recent Kansas City trip. This dish really took me by surprise!).

Today is a busy day where I’m working on a recipe development project and also have to transcribe a pretty exciting interview I just completed…but it’s a busy week where I have events or plans almost every night (egads)…so we really should get started with our Monday agenda!

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 a few days ago on Jamie Stone’s A Little Too Much podcast. We had SO much fun discussing everything from the changing landscape of events and trips to our thoughts on some emerging food and cocktail trends.

Other recent appears include Media Circus Podcast with Taiisha Bradley, as well as the Italian Wine Podcast, where we discussed all things Substack, and the Coffee N° 5 podcast, where we chatted about effective strategies for promoting emerging brands to journalists and securing media coverage. Other recent podcast appearances include the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast with the incredible (and super fun!) Lexie Smith, where we covered 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.

• Parade: The 17 Best Bagel Shops In NYC for Lox and a Schmear or Perfect Bacon, Egg and Cheese

• Parade: Clueless About How To Use an Air Fryer? Consider This Your 101 Guide

• Forbes.com: 11 Spud-Centric Dishes To Enjoy On National Potato Day

• Reader’s Digest: What 11 Mysterious Flight Codes Really Mean

• The Kitchn: 10 Deals to Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

• Her Money: The Foods. You Need To Buy In Bulk To Save Money

• Southern Living: Can You Safely Eat Sprouted Potatoes?

• Food Network: Mustard Skittles Will Take You on a Confusing-Yet-Somehow-Makes-Perfect-Sense Flavor Journey

• Forbes.com: 40 Delicious Ways To Celebrate National Oyster Day

• Forbes.com: Fine Dining At Sea Gets An Upgrade With The Return Of Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma

• The Kitchn: More than 10,000 Cases of This Popular Trader Joe’s Soup Are Being Recalled — Here’s What You Need to Know

• The Kitchn: Joanna Gaines’ New Line of Internet-Famous Stanley Tumblers Just Hit Target, and It’s Already Flying Off the Shelves

• The Kitchn: Costco’s Giant Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie Is Back and Flying Off Shelves

• Taste of Home: Costco Sells Chicken Nuggets That Taste Exactly Like Chick-fil-A’s

• Popsugar: What to Know About Bananas' Carb Content

• Travel & Leisure: Mosquitoes Love Me, and This Is the Surprising Gadget I Swear by to Get Instant Bug Bite Relief

• RetailMeNot: 65+ College Student Discounts

• Forbes.com: 30 Cocktails To Enjoy When Celebrating National Tequila Day

• Clean Plates: Is Cottage Cheese Healthy? We Asked The Experts

• Clean Plates: The Best Trader Joe’s Items for Easy, Healthy Summer Entertaining

  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

I’m getting started working to update my Labor Day Store Hours roundup piece from last year. Please check the link and if you were a chain mentioned, please email me and tell me if your hours for that day are the same or need to be modified from last year’s info. (And if you are another chain with Labor Day store hours info, please do send! Thanks!)

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!

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