Thursday: Is your client trying to raw dog their media outreach? This is why that's bad news all around.
PS: The 2025 State of Journalism Report is out - and the results are very interesting!
Good afternoon!
Muck Rack has released their 2025 State of Journalism Report, and there’s some really great takeaways:
More than 1/3 of journalists consider mis- and disinformation the greatest threats to the future of our industry.
Journalists are going to blow right past your pitch if it misses their beat - to the tune of 86% of us will disregard that email if it’s irrelevant to our coverage area.
A lot less journalists are using X than a few years ago. (Gee…wonder why!)
(You can see more by downloading the full report at the link above!)
Take this as a reminder that you cannot fit a square peg into a round hole. If someone covers food, they can’t just decide to cover lawn mowers as a personal favor to you. It’s just not how this works. Your best bet of getting placements…target your pitches better. Send them to journalists who are actually a fit for what you are pitching.
Two new fun stories today for Forbes! 25 Creative Lobster Dishes To Enjoy In Honor Of National Lobster Day and a more local to me one: New York City Celebrity Hotspot Café Maud To Open Upper East Side Location.
Have to head out for the day shortly as I have a fun event to attend this afternoon and then dinner with a dear friend in town for the evening from Vegas!
(Obviously, I’m introducing her to my very fave restaurant…)
But first, a little anecdote I wished to share from my very own Instagram inbox.
This just happened a few minutes ago and …please take this as a cautionary tale to NOT ever be this person…
There’s a local-to-me neighborhood restaurant that I’ve supported over the years. I order takeout from them occasionally. I like and comment on their social media. I try, whenever possible, to be a supportive neighbor - and, their food is, legit tasty.
Recently, this restaurant posted to social media about a fun new menu addition. I hearted the post. The owner then DMs me on Instagram, saying that that menu item has been getting a lot of attention and has been really taking off and asked when I could come in to taste it.
I…assumed…for a media tasting?
Isn’t that clearly what was implied there?
So, I respond that while I couldn’t get over there this week, I’d be open if they wanted to send over the new item for lunch one day. The restaurant is just two blocks away from me, after all. The owner responds with a terse. “We don’t give free food for publicity, if you want to try it you can order it online.”
Let it be noted, I’ve ordered from them before. Many times. And would have happily ordered this as well and never so much as asked for a comped side of salsa.
But if you send a message to a journalist asking them to try out something…it’s implied…it’s a media tasting. And if they respond based on that, to lash out at them like that?
It’s rude and inappropriate and …ruins a relationship…over a $20 burrito. Not to mention souring that journalist’s interest in trying or writing about that item.
(And what would have happened if I HAD come in person after being invited? Clearly really mixed expectations there!)
Publicists, your job is not easy. And you are so valued. Please caution your clients to not raw dog their outreach…it can have really detrimental impacts if they don’t know what they are doing…
Limited-time deal on ad placement!
I’m also offering a seasonal special on advertising in this newsletter. I’d love to place your sponsored posts and advertising in this substack, which goes out to nearly 10,000 media professionals every single day; Note: I do limit advertising to only what would be of interest to my readers, but am open to both short paragraph blurbs and dedicated posts - if you are interested in chatting details and scheduling something, please email me at alywalansky@gmail.com today!
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!)
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.
Travel & Leisure: 6 Best Business Travel Airplane Outfits, From $12
Yahoo Life: Best sleep tracker for 2025, tested and reviewed
Forbes.com: 6 Ways To Honor Culinary Wanderlust This Father's Day
Forbes.com: How To Plan The Perfect Father’s Day For The Carnivore In Your Life
YourTango: Frequent Travelers Are More Likely To Succeed At Work Because They Share These 7 Traits, Experts Say
YourTango: 14 Budget-Friendly Home Upgrades That Instantly Transform Your Space, According To Experts
Yahoo Life: The best cooling fans of 2025, tested and reviewed
Forbes.com: 10 Pride-Inspired Cocktails To Make At Home This June
Southern Living: Popeyes' Latest Menu Addition Comes In 3 Bold Flavors
Forbes.com: New York City's Best Salads To Enjoy This Summer
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Travel Writer, and This Seat Cushion Is My Secret to Arriving at Destinations Pain-free
Travel & Leisure: Travelers Swear by This Personal Safety Device
Travel & Leisure: 13 Best Solo Travel Safety Devices on Amazon From $10
Forbes.com: The Dirty Martini Has Entered The Breakfast Game
Food Network: 11 Restaurant Deals for the Grad in Your Life
HerMoney: How To Get Cheap Hotels When You Travel
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Travel Writer, and I Swear by These Packable Ballet Flats for Comfort, Support, and Long Days on My Feet
Travel & Leisure: This Flight Attendant-approved Jumpsuit Is My Go-to Comfy Airplane Outfit — and It’s Only $25 Right Now$150 and Under
Apartment Therapy: I Tried the “Weight Rule” for Decluttering, and It Keeps My Small Apartment Clutter-Free
Travel & Leisure: This Flight Attendant-approved Jumpsuit Is My Go-to Comfy Airplane Outfit — and It’s Only $25 Right Now.
Travel & Leisure: I Found the Perfect Walking Shoes to Prevent Sore Feet During Travel — Score Styles on Sale Up to 62% Off
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.
Forbes
WRAPPING ALL THESE UP THIS WEEK — National Martini Day is fast approaching. I’m also rounding up some creative sushi rolls/presentations/dishes around the US in honor of National Sushi Day. Creative spins on omakase are great too. Have anything fun for me for any of these? Email me with a description, location, chef quote, and an image…please don’t miss ANY of these components to be considered.
<3
aly
OMG! Let me pick my jaw up off the floor. What in the actual F#ck!!! So rude! Wow! Have fun with your Vegas friend!