I don’t know about you, but there are few things in life (be it professional or personal) more frustrating than being left hanging.
And before anyone comes for me: journalists absolutely do this, too. We leave publicists waiting on RSVPs. We express interest in samples and don’t follow up. We say we’d love to attend a trip and then disappear while someone is trying to finalize a headcount. We request interviews and then an assignment changes or dies and we forget to tell the person who spent three days coordinating the interview. I know, you’ve told me the stories when we’ve traded war stories over martinis. I’d try my best never do any of this to you. But I know it happens.
But, no, nobody gets a free pass here.
But because I’m a journalist, and because most of you reading this work in PR, I’m going to talk about what this looks like from my side of the inbox.
And TBH, there are a lot of open loops.
When you leave someone hanging, you are perhaps doing nothing, but the person waiting for your answer may still be doing something. They’re potentially holding a deadline, saving a night on their calendar, keeping dates open for a press trip, waiting to determine whether they need to arrange transportation, expecting a package, leaving space in a story for a source who may or may not materialize. And that’s where something that feels like a minor communication lapse on one end can become an actual problem on the other.
Let’s say I’m working on a story and I send interview questions. You tell me you’ll have answers by Tuesday at noon. Tuesday at noon comes and goes. Tuesday afternoon comes and goes. Maybe I follow up. Nothing. Wednesday morning, I have to file. So I do. Then Wednesday afternoon — or Thursday! — the answers arrive.
“Here you go! Hope these are helpful!”
They would have been! Yesterday. The story is done.
This isn’t me being punitive. I didn’t dramatically slam my laptop shut at 12:01 p.m. and scream, “YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE!”
I had a deadline.
If you’d emailed me Monday and said, “We’re having trouble getting the expert’s answers. Is Wednesday morning still useful?”
I could have answered you. Maybe Wednesday morning was fine! Maybe I could have moved something around. Or maybe I would have said, “Unfortunately, no — I have to file Tuesday afternoon.”
Either way, we would both know what was happening. The delay wasn’t necessarily the problem. Not communicating the delay was.
This comes up constantly. Maybe I’m writing about a new product and, after the story publishes, I get an email:
“Oh! Just one quick thing — could you mention that it’s actually not available at the New York location?”
Or:
“Small correction! It doesn’t launch until September 15.”
I NEEDED THAT INFORMATION BEFORE.
There is information that is useful whenever you send it. And then there is information whose entire usefulness depends on when you send it.
“I can’t get you those interview answers” is useful before my deadline.
“We aren’t providing ride share credits” is useful while I’m deciding whether I can attend the event.
“That perishable package shipped yesterday” is useful before it is sitting somewhere getting warm.
Which brings us, naturally, to...
A while back, I was offered some salad kit samples. They were originally discussed months before. By early summer, I still hadn’t received them, so I followed up to ask when they were coming. No one responded.
At some point, the salads apparently shipped. I did not know this. And, as you may have heard, salad is perishable. These poor salads eventually arrived without the communication necessary for me to know when they were coming, properly plan for their arrival, or deal with them in a useful way.
And then, approximately a month later, I received a follow-up asking how the samples had worked out for me.
DOA, MY FRIEND. THEY WENT DOA.
And while I can laugh about this — and believe me, I am — it’s actually a perfect example of why closing the loop matters.
I wanted the samples. I had followed up about the samples. There was interest on both sides. What killed the opportunity wasn’t lack of interest. It was a broken communication chain. Pour out a little vinaigrette for our fallen friends.
Events are another big one.
If I ask whether transportation is being provided because that’s a factor in whether I can attend, and nobody answers me for two weeks, you cannot pop back into my inbox and assume I’ve been faithfully holding Thursday night open for you. Believe it or not, there’s a dozen potential invites to be RSVP’d to every day in my inbox. If one doesn’t work out, another one will. Or maybe I’ll just not attend an event that night and meet my friend for soup dumplings.
I haven’t been sitting by the window whispering, Perhaps today they’ll tell me about the Uber voucher.
I have a life. I have work. I have other invitations.
I had a decision to make, and you withheld a piece of information I needed to make it.
This is the part I really want to emphasize. Things happen. Executives don’t answer their questions, products get delayed, shipments get screwed up, budgets aren’t approved, trips get postponed, events change, people get sick, deadlines move.
I do not expect perfect execution 100 percent of the time.
What I do expect — and what I think we should all expect from one another professionally — is communication. Sometimes reliability isn’t delivering exactly what you promised. Sometimes reliability is saying:
“I know I promised this today, but I can’t get it to you.”
“We still don’t have approval.”
“The samples haven’t shipped.”
“We don’t know yet.”
“The answer is no.”
Those aren’t failures of communication.
Those ARE communication.
And frankly, they build more trust than disappearing until you have better news.
Because again: this is not a PR-only problem. If you requested a sample and no longer need it, say so. If you RSVP’d to an event and can’t attend, cancel with a respectable amount of notice. Don’t just be a no show. If you expressed interest in a press trip and your schedule changed, tell them while they still have time to fill your spot. If you requested an interview and the assignment died, send the email.
If someone is holding something, arranging something, ordering something, reserving something, shipping something, scheduling something or waiting on something because of you, you owe them the courtesy of closing the loop.
Sometimes the entire email is:
“Quick update: I no longer need this, but thank you so much.”
I think that’s ultimately what bothers me about being left hanging. Every unanswered question becomes a tiny open tab in somebody else’s brain.
Are those answers still coming? Am I going to that event? Is that trip actually happening? Did those samples ship? Should I hold that date? Do they still need this?
So close the loop, even when the answer isn’t the answer someone wanted. Silence just makes your unfinished business somebody else’s problem, and sometimes, apparently, it also makes compost.
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Upcoming travel: Anyone who plans to be in Vegas for IMM Luxe in a few weeks? Drop me a line! Also: I’ll be in Dallas for a few days in October. If you want to try to meet up for a drink or coffee or have a client you are hoping I can check out (or general recommendations) - drop me a line! (Note: Thanks so much but where I’m staying is all set!) I’ll also BRIEFLY be in Fort Lauderdale in November (just for about 24 hours!), KYP when I know more!
Reminder: Job leads are freely shared as a service to this community, and there’ll NEVER be any charge. It’s here to help me help you, and I’ll keep it in as long as you need. Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com if there’s any job leads you wish me to include!
Hachette Book GroupIS hiring a Senior Publicity Manager for the team at Artisan Books, Workman Publishing, and Black Dog & Leventhal to focus on an award-winning food and drink list: http://app.jobvite.com/m?3m16xnwS This role is based in NYC and the ideal candidate will be highly results oriented, focused on booking with the strongest ability to drive sales. Candidates must have 5+ years prior food & drink focused publicity experience, strong established relationships with key media, proven ability to manage and prioritize multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment, and poise and confidence in communicating with authors, agents, media, and in-house colleagues.
FINN Partners is currently looking for incredible PR talent to join across three senior and mid-level roles: Associate Vice President – Luxury Travel PR, Account Supervisor – Travel PR, and Senior Account Executive – Travel. If you’re passionate about travel storytelling, high-impact PR strategies, and working with top-tier travel brands, check out the links above or pass this along to someone in your network who would be a great fit!
I still have some space available the remainder of 2026!
I would love to join your team on Zoom, a phone call, or in-person and conduct a team Q&A where I answer any of your questions about planning events, media dinners, mailers, trips, pitching, followups, etc — giving you a very necessary media perspective from someone who has been in the trenches for decades and is excited to help ease your own path. Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com if you are interested in chatting more and setting something up and we can discuss rates and details. We can switch it up in any way you or your team needs. While most of my calls do end up being virtual, I just did one where we did our session over a martini lunch! I’m available for whatever your team prefers. Lets chat.
Please take a second to follow me on the Yahoo Creators platform! I’m writing a wide range of lifestyles topics: check out my author profile to see some of my most recent pieces! (This is updated daily - usually multiple times daily - so you’ll want to keep checking it out for new content!) — and there’s lots of gift guides published there, too!
Also, can we please be friends? Be sure to follow me on Instagram while you’re at it!
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The Recipe for Press Media Directory is an essential and affordable database—made by humans for humans— that targets the right magazine editors and freelance writers for pitching products and projects in food, fashion, interiors, travel, business and lifestyle. Created by former editor, Amy Flurry, the directory features emails, titles, active social media addresses, and a notes section with submission guidelines for each contact and other helpful information that editors share with Amy’s team. This is why leading publicists, editors, and entrepreneurs across the country, including me, widely use and recommend it! Annual subscription price is just $195 and absolutely packed with value. Another perk of the subscription: you receive a Pitch Tip newsletter once a month highlighting the updates and newly added editors that serves as a reminder of the movement and shifts happening in the industry. This is PR gold for publicists and brands!
I partnered with Pitchcraft to be able to share a special offer just for my readers: Use code ALY200: new users will get $200 off their first month of the monthly PR Membership or code ALY400: This one offers new users $400 off their first year of the annual PR Membership. This is a great network to join because it’s a community of both PR professionals and journalists working together to find better ways to work together and share opportunities, and you know how much I believe in all of that.
Exciting news from our friend Sarah Karger (who you’ve seen as the star expert panelist for several of our gift guide pitching workshops!) - she launched her new course, Affiliate Marketing & Performance-Based PR for Publicists - It’s built specifically to help PR pros and agencies add affiliate management as a core capability, something we all know is completely essential in today’s media landscape.
Have a client or service you think would be a fit for this section? Drop me a note at alywalansky@gmail.com anytime, I look forward to hearing from you!
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.
Yahoo Creators: Check out my author profile (I have several new stories a day across the lifestyles umbrella, so that’s the best way to stay updated!)
Yahoo: These 23 summer essentials help me to keep cool and comfortable during seasonal heat waves
Forbes.com: Some Like It Hot: 19 Spicy Dishes To Try Immediately
Forbes.com: 15 Delicious Ways To Appreciate Spuds On National Potato Day
Yahoo: Headed to college this year? The 25 most crucial back-to-school dorm essentials
Southern Living: I Tried Trader Joe’s New $2 Seasoning—And Now I’m Putting It On Everything
Southern Living: 5 Store-Bought Salad Dressings Chefs Always Keep In Their Kitchens
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Frequent Business Traveler, and I Found 6 Comfy Airplane Outfits That Still Look Put Together—From $8
Apartment Therapy:The 18 Best Prime Day Travel Deals, Vetted by Pro Travelers (Starting at $8!)
Travel & Leisure: This Plane Seat Cushion Is My Secret to Arriving at Destinations Pain-free
Food Network: 25 Little Treats You Can Score for Free on Your Birthday
Travel & Leisure: I Travel for Work, and These Are the 5 Genius Hacks That Save Me From Luggage Messes and Spills—From $4
Travel & Leisure: I’ve Been Solo Traveling for 25 Years—12 Mistakes That Cause the Biggest Headaches, and How to Prevent Them
Forbes.com: 20 Great Variations On The Classic Martini
Southern Living: I Tried Trader Joe’s New Marinated Mozzarella Balls—Now I’m Using Them In Nearly Every Meal
Southern Living: I’m A Travel Writer, And This Cruise Hack Gets Me An Empty Pool, No Buffet Lines, And A Better Vacation
Southern Living: I’ve Tried Every Way To Bake A Potato—This 1 Wins Every Time
Travel & Leisure: Frequent Fliers Say This Genius Hack Makes It Feel Like They’ve Upgraded Their Seat—and It’s Only $35
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Frequent Solo Traveler, and This Genius Safety Device Gives Me Peace of Mind in Every Airbnb
Southern Living: I’m A Travel Writer, And My Friends And I Are Obsessed With This App For Tracking Each Other’s Flights
Travel & Leisure: I Fly Around the Country for Work, and This Roomy Tote Is My No. 1 Airport Essential for Looking Put Together.
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Solo Traveler of 25 Years, and These Are the 18 Products I Swear By for Personal Safety in 2026
Travel & Leisure: Traveling Alone Can Be Expensive—Here Are 15 Budget-friendly Hacks That Save Me Money
Southern Living: The One-Pan Cheesy Meal I Make Whenever I'm Too Tired To Cook
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.
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.
Yes, indeed the time has come. I’m starting to source for holiday gift guides! For an idea of the type of formatting and content I write for my various guides, visit my Yahoo author page here - and please hit follow while you’re there to receive all my new content!
I’ll give more information in the coming weeks, but you can absolutely start polishing off those pitches any time you’re ready :) My content is generally not going to encompass parenting, sports, kids, automotive, but will include travel, home, gadgets, office, tech, wellness, beauty/fashion/accessories, culinary, and other topics.
Before pitching: Please be sure to refer to my photo submission guidelines for help with photo submission best practices!
I’m working on the final few nomination categories of the season for Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards contests.
The first section is a return to the casino floor with categories that include Best Casino Entertainment Venue, Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas, Best Casino Resort Las Vegas, Best Hotel Casino, Best Casino Dining, Best Sports Betting App (and yes, I know I did nominations these same contests last year and the year before that, but these are for this year — feel free to email again if you have before whether or not you ended up on the nominee or winners list!).
Next category, while (yes) we’re still enjoying summer, we’re imagining a Snow Day with categories that include Best Snow Tubing Park, Best Ski Resort, Best Ski Resort for Families,Best Après-Ski Destination, and Best Ski School. And just a reminder there’s a bunch of categories currently live and open for voting, so be sure to click the link above and check out if you or your client are among the nominees!
If you think I should consider you or your client when I submit my list of nominations, drop me an email at alywalansky@gmail.com.
Looking for southern chefs and southern food safety experts to comment on stories related to:
Is It Safe To Eat Eggs With Double Yolks?
Is It Safe To Eat Eggs With Cloudy Whites?
Favorite Southern Soda of Southern Chefs
Do you need to string celery? (remove strings before cooking or eating it)
If you have anyone who wants to weigh in, please drop me an email asap and be sure to email me before submitting commentary so I can share specific questions and guidance.
I’m a contributor to Dining Out NYC (see a recent story I did for them on the Las Vegas influence on NYC’s culinary scene), and always open to pitches related to NYC dining trends, and openings, news, and so forth.
I’m sourcing for product pitches and expert commentary related to smart solutions or product that creates storage out of thin air. Think: a closet, counter space, an extra tier or shelf inside of a cabinet, as well as surprising items to organize around the house, affordable (or splurgy!) finds that solve a very specific problem. Think: IKEA, Costco, Sam's Club, Amazon, HomeGoods, Dollar General, Dollar Tree. Halloween is coming up — Any retailer secrets around the fall/Halloween season to help people save money? Do you have any fall productivity gems? Do you have a productivity hack that differs from the tried-and-true’s like the Pomodoro method, etc? Do you have some way of staying moving that has changed your life? I’m looking for ways to save money. How do you save money at Costco, at the thrift store, at the grocery store, etc? How do you keep your budget intact as prices rise?
I’m sourcing creative drinks/dishes for National Bacon Day, National Cheeseburger Day, and National Queso Day!
To pitch, please include:
Name of drink/dish
Restaurant/bar where it can be ordered (as well as city, state, URL)
description
quote from chef/bartender about dish (and name and title of person being quoted)
and LINK to image, with an identifying file name, and any appropriate photo credits included
(I know I give these guidelines over and over, but every day I get dozens of pitches that disregard them, so it bears repeating! <3)!
Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com asap please! All the same parameters will apply when emailing.
Thanks!
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