Last week, there was a sign taped up in the lobby of my apartment building.
WATER WILL BE SHUT OFF TODAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. SO SORRY!
Totally not a big deal. While I was not necessarily thrilled about having no water for four hours, I appreciated the heads up. I could plan.
I knew this was not going to be a day I would take a midday everything shower at noon. So, no big. I just did all my things that needed to be done early in the day.
Ten o’clock came. I still had water. Eleven o’clock came. Still water. Noon. One. Two. All’s still clear on the water front. Apparently, whatever was supposed to happen didn’t happen. And because there was no new sign, no update, no further communication of any kind, I did what any reasonable person would do: I forgot about it.
Until yesterday morning. Four days later, when I went to turn on the faucet and...nothing. SURPRISE! TODAY WAS WATER SHUTOFF DAY. Apparently, the work had been rescheduled. But nobody thought that the notification should be rescheduled along with it.
Note, I live in a brownstone building with only a handful of apartments. Our building is small enough that if you shout loud enough in the lobby or from the street, everyone will hear you. Or you can send a text, an email, a quick door knock. None of those things happened.
It ended up being fine. It was no big deal. The water came back that afternoon. I had enough time to shower and get ready for dinner plans that were really important to me. My life continued. This is not a newsletter about the second great apartment water crisis of 2026. But other people in my building may have had a much more disruptive experience.
The point isn’t that the water was turned off. The point is that we could have planned for the water being turned off if someone had bothered to tell us when the water was actually going to be turned off.
And, obviously, you know where my head went. Because of course I did.
Messengers get delayed. Packages don’t ship when expected. Samples take longer to prepare. Chefs don’t get interview questions answered on schedule. Events move.Schedules shift. Things happen. I don’t expect every plan anyone ever communicates to me to remain carved in stone.
But here’s the important part: When the plan changes, the information needs to change with it.
If you told me a messenger was coming Tuesday and now they’re coming Thursday, tell me. If you said samples were shipping this week and they’re actually shipping next week, tell me. If you told me a perishable package would arrive Friday and now it’s showing up Wednesday, tell me. If you promised me chef answers Monday at 10 a.m. and you realize Sunday night that you’re not going to have them until Monday afternoon, tell me. If the event timing changed, tell me. If the location changed, DEFINITELY tell me.
Because the problem often isn’t the change itself. It’s taking away someone else’s ability to plan around the change.
This is the part I think gets missed. Once you give someone logistical information, they’re probably going to do something with it. If you tell me a package is arriving Friday, maybe I make sure I’m home Friday. If you tell me a messenger is coming between 2 and 4, maybe I don’t schedule an appointment or a phone call during that window. If you tell me interview answers are coming Monday morning, maybe I build my Monday workflow around receiving those answers. If you tell me an event starts at 6, maybe I arrange my transportation around getting there at 6.
And if that information changes but you don’t tell me, I’m still making decisions based on information you already know is wrong.
There’s another piece of this that my Great Apartment Water Incident (Part Deux) illustrated beautifully. The water didn’t get shut off on the day we were told it would. And then nobody said anything. So what was I supposed to do? Wake up every morning for the foreseeable future thinking: Perhaps today is the day they take away my water! Better shower early and wash off that overnight conditioning masque at dawn just in case!
Of course not. When a plan doesn’t happen and nobody follows up, people reasonably assume that plan is no longer active. This happens with media logistics constantly.
“Remember those samples we discussed three weeks ago? They’re downstairs!”
“Remember that messenger we said was coming Friday? HE CAME TODAY AND YOU WEREN’T THERE TO RECEIVE HIM. WHAT’ UP WITH THAT?”
“Remember those answers you needed at 10 a.m.? Here they are at 6:14 p.m!”
But I stopped planning around those things when the timeline you gave me passed. You can’t expect someone to remain permanently on alert because you never closed the communication loop.
You need:
Hey! Quick update: This changed. Here’s the new information.
That’s it! And sometimes that update gives us the opportunity to solve a problem before it becomes a problem. Let’s say you promised me chef answers by 10 a.m. Monday. On Sunday afternoon, you realize that’s not happening.
You could email:
The chef is running a little behind and we’re probably looking at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Will that still work for your deadline?
Maybe I’ll say yes.
Maybe I’ll say, “Actually, I’m filing at noon, but if you can get me answers to questions 1, 3 and 5 by 10, I can work with that.”
Maybe I’ll say, “Unfortunately, that will be too late, so I’ll have to move forward without the chef.”
You may not get the answer you want.
But now we both have the information we need to make a decision.
That’s what communication is supposed to do.
So that’s my extremely glamorous professional lesson from yesterday’s plumbing situation. Plans change. Timelines move. Deliveries get delayed. People run behind.
But if you know that information you’ve already given someone is no longer accurate? Update them. Don’t leave them planning their day around a messenger who isn’t coming. Don’t let them expect a package that’s still sitting in a warehouse. Don’t make them chase answers you already know are going to be late. Sometimes great communication isn’t a brilliant pitch.
Sometimes it’s simply: Hey, remember what I told you before? That’s changed. Here’s what you need to know now.
And sometimes that tiny update is the difference between a minor inconvenience and somebody standing in the bathroom covered in shampoo, wondering what the hell happened.
Tell people when the water is actually going off.
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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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