Some updates for Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards: New nomination categories are live and open for voting. This includes Ice Cream, Bakeries, Massages and Pampering. Check it out and see if you or your client were included!
As I mentioned, my day yesterday involved an eye exam, breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. It was a busy day! But it was also one that ended up giving me some clarity, and in several ways.
The eye exam I went to was actually a component of a morning event LensCrafters hosted to prepare for back-to-school (and as old as we get, doesn’t this time of year ALWAYS feel like back-to-school prep season), and as part of the event, you could sign up for an eye exam.
As, like many of us, I live in the world where health insurance covers everything but your eyes and your teeth, I was all about this as an event perk! (True fact: Journalists will ALWAYS value event components or gift bags that replace a functional need or service they will otherwise need to schedule or purchase. It’s better than the fanciest of pashminas.)
Now, I know my reality. I am over 40, and also spend all day staring at a computer screen, all evening staring at my phone, and somewhere in between I’m trying to read menus in dimly lit restaurants and squinting to read ingredient lists on samples I’m sent. I totally expected to walk out needing glasses.
The verdict was a little different though. My eyes are actually in pretty great shape. I just need a very mild Rx for reading glasses.
I’ll take it.
Also, let’s be real: If I have to wear glasses, I’m absolutely going to have fun shopping for them. Hell, I’ll probably end up writing a roundup of sexy specs.
But walking to my next meeting, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much that tiny prescription reminded me of everything we always talk about in media and PR.
We spend so much time assuming every challenge requires a dramatic solution.
“We need to completely change our messaging.”
“We need a new media list.”
“We need a new strategy.”
“We need to start over.”
But sometimes, you don’t need a major Rx or Lasik or anything else crazy extreme. You just need reading glasses.
Most of the pitches I receive aren’t hopeless or impossible to cover, and don’t require some elusive magical ingredient.
They’re just slightly out of focus.
Maybe the juice of the pitch doesn’t show up until the fourth paragraph instead of the first, maybe the photos don’t have captions or I have to circle back for the credit, maybe I have to click through five links to find the one image I actually need. Maybe the quote says absolutely nothing memorable. Maybe the pitch arrived two days after I already filed the story.
None of those things are catastrophic, they’re tiny adjustments. But those tiny adjustments can completely change how clearly I can see the story you’re trying to tell.
The best part of my eye appointment wasn’t hearing that I needed reading glasses. It was hearing that my eyes were healthy. This wasn’t a major problem. It wasn’t bad news. It was simply recognizing that a small adjustment would make things easier.
I think that’s true of our work, too. Sometimes feedback isn’t someone telling you your idea is bad. It’s someone handing you a slightly better lens.
This happens to journalists too, an editor may reach out after we submit copy asking us to tighten our lede or play around with a different angle.
Those aren’t failures, those are prescriptions. And unlike some prescriptions, most of them don’t require a complete lifestyle change but just a small tweak.
So here’s my official diagnosis for this Thursday (and I watch GH every day and every episode of The Pitt, so i’m basically a doctor): If your pitches aren’t getting the response you hoped for, don’t immediately assume you need to burn everything down and start over.
You might just need to adjust the focus. Sometimes the smallest prescription makes the biggest difference.
P.S. If anyone has recommendations for sexy reading glasses that say “sassy journalist” and not “cranky librarian who confiscated your Tamagotchi in 1998,” my inbox is open.
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Upcoming travel: 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!
My fab friends at KLG PR are looking for a Senior Account Executive and a Account Manager who is truly passionate about PR and the world of spirits. View job details here and here and be sure to tell them you heard about the job lead in Aly Walansky’s newsletter!
Work with some of my dearest of dear friends! BrandBomb PR is hiring a full-time PR Coordinator to join their award-winning agency. If you’re ready to gain hands-on experience pitching local and national media, supporting red carpet events and working with an exciting mix of clients across hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, lifestyle and more, they’d love to hear from you. Candidates must have 1-2 years of PR experience and either live in Las Vegas or be willing to relocate. (Side note: I love these ladies so much and anyone who work with them will have a THRILLING experience.)
I still have some space available the remainder of 2026!
I can join your team on Zoom, a phone call, or in-person and do a team Q&A and answer any of your questions about planning events, mailers, trips, pitching, followups, etc — giving you a very necessary media perspective. Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com if you are interested in chatting more and setting something up :)
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.
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!
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I’m 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 well over 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!
The Recipe for Press Media Directory is an essential and affordable database 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. 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 and serves as a reminder of the movement and shifts happening in the industry. This is PR gold for publicists!
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.
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: Alex Prime Blends Las Vegas Steakhouse Traditions With A Poignant Family Legacy
Yahoo: Headed to college this year? The 20 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
Forbes.com: 25 Delicious Ways To Enjoy Oysters While Celebrating National Oyster Day
Yahoo: A legendary Nashville hotel just opened up the city’s first music-inspired spa, and I’m obsessed.
Forbes.com: 11 Delicious Ways To Enjoy Chicken Wings
Forbes.com: 30 Delectable Ways To Appreciate Caviar
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.
Before pitching: Please be sure to refer to my photo submission guidelines for help with photo submission best practices!
I’m looking to round up gifts for Knicks fans who are all about the Knicks commemorative memorabilia. If you have anything you think may work, please pitch me!
I’m also loving for great ways to stay cool this summer - think cooling items for your apartment, cooling sheets, lightweight summer dresses/shoes, and so forth.
I’m working on back-to-school (leaning more toward college/young adulthood than kids) gift roundups. Think return to dorm more than return to recess. Email if you have anything that may be a fit!
In answer to all the queries I’ve been receiving, yes, these are all unsponsored, no fee associated gift guides.
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 thrifting wisdom, hosting and etiquette tips, methods/tips to save money at the grocery store, cozy, shoppable finds or things that can upgrade life in some way, reusable/greener swaps for your everyday home finds, low-tech heating/cooling tricks. If you have any pitches, send them my way!
It’s almost Hot & Spicy food day, and I’m looking for creative, interesting, delicious dishes and cocktails. Also, August is National Sandwich Month, so I’m looking for some great sandwich builds.
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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