Thursday: Why it's so important to read calls for sources carefully, and newly published stories!

PS: Nashville -- headed your way tomorrow!!

Good morning!

I wanted to start today with some brief housekeeping that will hopefully help all of us work together a little bit more productively.

In my most recent newsletter, I shared information on two pending food/bev stories I was working on. These were the types that were going to be a roundup of dishes/drinks for various food holidays.

As usual, I was super specific about the format I needed these submissions sent in (and trust me, there’s a reason I do that - it’s just super helpful organizationally and lets me know if any parameters are missing or don’t work).

However, I got dozens of responses that were in a completely different format, gave me things very much different than I asked for, or left out half of the required deliverables.

I get it: You are SO busy and reading quickly to get to the next thing. We’ve all been there. But please take the time to slow down and read the source requests carefully and completely. It gives me a way better opportunity to be able to use what you send — and I’d love to be able to include your clients in my pieces!

Phew…thanks for attending my TED talk!

Lots of newly published stories since my most recent newsletter, including (for Clean Plates) a deep dive into that whole alkaline water obsession trending on TikTok, and my latest for Travel & Leisure (yes, second story for them this week!), on a must-have travel gadget for solo travelers.

Also, for anyone who grew up loving those boxes of Entenmann’s, now there’s a way to make them at home! My latest story for Food Network!

Leaving for Nashville tomorrow and I’m so excited! My schedule is pretty packed, but in the best possible of ways — and I can’t wait to share photos and stories next week (or sooner, if you follow me on Instagram.)

Does anyone need an intern?

One of my best friends texted me yesterday to say that her daughter’s close friend is about to enter a college journalism program and looking for internship possibilities. This is a very smart and talented young woman and I’d love to connect her with a great opportunity - if you have a need or know someone who does, please email me and I’ll make the connection!

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!

Last week, I was a guest on the Eat.Drink.Social podcast, and we chatted about my upcoming travel, recent press trip experiences, and so much more. Check out my guest appearance last week 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.

Some of my latest podcast appearances 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.

• Travel & Leisure: I Travel Solo Frequently, and This $18 Gadget Makes Me Feel Safer in Hotel Rooms

• Travel & Leisure: This Carry-on Luggage Is Lightweight Enough to Lift Up 4 Flights of Stairs — and Fits 5 Days' Worth of Clothes

• Clean Plates: Should You Really Worry About Acid In Your Water? Experts Weigh In

• Food Network: Entenmann’s Fans Can Have Their Favorite Treats On Demand With New Cookie Dough Line

• TODAY.com: The best drugstore eye creams to tackle wrinkles, dark circles and dryness, according to experts

• Forbes.com: Remember Tony Bennett By Recreating His Go-To Pasta Order From His Favorite Astoria Italian Restaurant

• The Kitchn: Sam’s Club Just Brought Back This Bakery Favorite and It’s the Best $4 You’ll Spend All Week

• Clean Plates: Ordering in? Dietitians Share Their Go-to Healthy Takeout Orders

• Yahoo!: 5 Reasons You Need to Try Dry Brushing Right Now—& Our Top Affordable Choices to Shop

• Forbes.com: Sam Heughan’s New Sassenach Gin Promises ‘A Trip To Scotland In A Glass'

• Food Network: Magnolia Bakery and Ess-a-Bagel Pair Up to Make A Banana Pudding Bagel

• Food Network: The Weeknd Launches His Own Instant Coffee with Blue Bottle

• 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

• 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

  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 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!)

(PS: This story is wrapping up in the next few days so please send those Labor Day hours NOW if you have not already done so!)

Forbes

National Negroni Week is soon, and I’m rounding up creative and unique spins on negronis available at bars and restaurants around the country - do you have one at one of your clients? Send me the info, please! (Use the parameters from the cheeseburger story below for how to submit!)

National Cheeseburger Day is in a few weeks, and I’m looking for creative and unique spins on the cheeseburger around the country, found on menus at bars and restaurants. Have one? Please send me:

1 - name of dish, as well as name of place it is served, as well as city, state and restaurant URL

2 - description of dish (NOT a recipe - there seems to be some confusion regarding this in the emails I’ve received)

3 - Quote about dish (please remember to include name and title of person being quoted)

4 - image (link please) and any appropriate photo credits

A reminder: If ALL these parameters are not met, I may not be able to consider your submission.

For both these stories, I’d love input by August 25, please! (Please try to avoid being that person who emails after the story is published asking to be squeezed in…you know what the answer will be…)

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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