Coffee with a Journalist

This week on Coffee with a Journalist, we sit down with Nicole Schuman, the managing editor at PRNEWS. Nicole gives us an inside look at her approach to managing emails, shares what makes a pitch stand out, and discusses the importance of building genuine relationships in the PR industry. With over 200 episodes under her belt, Beck navigates this conversation to uncover practical tips and behind-the-scenes insights from Nicole’s experience at the helm of a leading PR publication. Don't miss this episode if you want to learn how to effectively pitch to editors and improve your PR game. Grab your coffee and join us for this engaging discussion!

Mikhaila Friel is a seasoned journalist and senior reporter currently working at Business Insider. Known for her evolving roles within the publication, Mikhaila has honed her expertise in identifying unique stories and effectively pitching them. She actively shares her insights on the importance of thorough research in pitching and navigating the story approval process. Mikhaila's experience and dedication make her a valuable resource for aspiring journalists and PR professionals alike.

In this week's episode of "Coffee with a Journalist," Aaron Monk, a freelance writer and AI contributor at Observer, joins as a guest. Aaron delves into how ChatGPT ignited his passion for artificial intelligence writing. He shares insights on the types of pitches and sources he prefers, offering valuable advice for PR professionals from AI startups on how to effectively engage with him. 

Claire Stern Milch is digital director at ELLE. During the episode, Claire discusses why she appreciates in person pitch meetings, subject lines that piqued her interest, tips for follow up etiquette, and more.

Todd Plummer is a freelance writer with bylines in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and more. During today's episode, Todd discusses his career background as an attorney and writer, what he wants PR people to understand when pitching him, and his own process for pitching stories and staying organized.

Jillian Quint is the editor-in-chief at PureWow, which covers all things regarding women's lifestyle. During the episode, Jillian discusses PureWow's coverage and mission to empower women, how she organizes her inbox as an editor-in-chief, effective pitching strategies, the value of expert opinions and more.

Radhika Seth is British Vogue's film and culture editor. During the episode, Radhika discusses the beauty of advocacy through fashion journalism, why simplicity is an underrated PR strategy, her dream sources, and more!

Nathan Burrow is the senior deals editor at Wirecutter, the product reviews and recommendations department of The New York Times. During the episode, Nathan discusses how Wirecutter identifies and recommends the best products on the market, his goal to always serve his readers in his coverage, ways to craft a winning subject line, and more.

Our guest on today’s episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Tanner Saunders. Tanner is the senior hotels reporter at The Points Guy, and covers how to redeem travel points for maximum value, the latest and greatest in credit cards and perks, and scenic stays around the globe to check out. During the episode, Tanner discusses his history in travel reporting and what TPG's beat reporters cover, how he builds a symbiotic relationship with publicists, and what travel story angles and trends are most compelling right now. Let's dive in!

Our guest on today's episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Sam Cole, journalist and cofounder at 404 Media. During the episode, Sam discusses 404 Media, its coverage, and its founding in 2023, what makes a great PR relationship for her, and pointers for email and pitch etiquette.