Coffee with a Journalist

In today's episode, we have a special guest joining us, Sarah Whitten from CNBC. Sarah is an entertainment reporter based in Los Angeles. She has been covering the industry for nearly a decade.

During the episode, Sarah shares her tips for effective pitching, including the importance of building relationships with sources and crafting attention-grabbing headlines. She also reveals the types of stories she focuses on, from Hollywood news to box office trends, and expresses her interest in expanding her coverage to include more extensive coverage of the music industry. Sarah also gives us an inside scoop on the value of exclusives and embargoes and how they impact her work. Additionally, she discusses her preferred method of communication, her appreciation for background sources, and the challenges of managing a packed inbox.

Moises Mendez II from TIME magazine is our guest this week on Coffee with a Journalist. Moises is a culture reporter who covers a wide range of topics, from the Internet and movies to music, TV, books, and podcasts. In this episode, Moises shares his insights into his preferences for exclusive pitches about creators. He also gives valuable advice on how to prolong a professional relationship with him. Plus, we dive into Moises' passion for music coverage, his favorite interview experiences, and the importance of finding a mutually beneficial arrangement in the world of journalism.

In this week's episode, Colleen DeBaise, the executive editor of The Story Exchange shares her insights on the world of journalism, providing valuable tips and advice for anyone looking to pitch their stories to media outlets. Colleen DeBaise talks about her process of skimming pitches, the importance of subject lines, and her preference for building relationships with PR professionals in person.

In today's episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Christopher Zara, a senior editor at Fast Company and the mastermind behind the news desk. Christopher recently released a memoir titled "Uneducated," which delves into the value of higher education and challenges the stigma of not having a degree. During our conversation, Christopher opens up about his personal journey and shares why he believes it's important to be easily accessible to sources in the fast-paced world of journalism. He also provides valuable insights into what he looks for in a pitch and how to effectively pitch the news desk at Fast Company. With a busy week in the newsroom, Christopher shares the exciting stories he's working on and reveals the challenges of saying no to pitches, even when they are exceptional.

In today's episode, Aarthi Swaminathan, the housing reporter at MarketWatch, brings her expertise on real estate and travel to the table. During the episode, Aarthi shares insights about her work, including the types of pitches she's interested in receiving. She discusses the significance of exclusives and embargoes, as well as the importance of data in her reporting. Aarthi also reveals her preferences for communication and provides some invaluable tips for successfully pitching to her.

Sarah Burke, the editor-in-chief of Them, a platform for LGBTQ+ people from Condé Nast is our guest this week on Coffee with a Journalist. Sarah discusses the target audience and focus of stories for Them readers, as well as who to pitch from the publication, specifically the section editors. She shares valuable tips on how to craft compelling subject lines to catch her and her team's attention. Sarah emphasizes the importance of subject lines in determining whether the sender is familiar with the site and its coverage. Sarah also prefers in-person interviews and bullet points for easier digestion.

On this episode of Coffee with a Journalist, we sit down with Rebecca Ruiz, a senior reporter at Mashable, to discuss her coverage of mental health, digital culture, and technology. Rebecca shares her insights on effective subject lines for PR professionals and highlights the keywords and strategies that grab her attention. She also reveals her interests in exploring how people's well-being and mental health unfold in the context of digital culture. We delve into Rebecca's past articles, where she has covered topics such as coping with suicidal feelings during the long COVID period, managing negative emotions online, and the use of Ketamine for treating depression on TikTok. Rebecca also explains how she keeps track of sources and ideas, highlighting the significance of managing digital clutter and email inboxes for her own mental health.

On this episode of Coffee with a Journalist, Alexa Mikhail, a health and wellness reporter for Fortune's Well team, joins us. Alexa discusses her role at Fortune Well, sharing that she joined the team about a year ago as a health and wellness reporter. Her main focus is on mental health and workplace wellness, but she also covers topics unrelated to business. She also shares insights on the latest article from Fortune, the Fortune 50 Best Places to Live for Families, which highlights the significance of supportive communities. The episode also dives into Alexa's preferences when it comes to pitches and sources. She values introductions and looks for exclusive or embargoed content.

On this Coffee with a Journalist episode, Kevin Dugan from New York Magazine is the featured guest. Kevin has over a decade of experience covering the finance industry and has established a solid list of sources and contacts. During the episode, he talks about exclusives he would consider covering, including people with power and money in finance, economics, and crypto. Kevin Dugan also shares his lack of interest in crypto but has an interest in meeting with academics and government figures.

Sara Spruch-Feiner, a senior reporter for Glossy and the force behind their Pop vertical, is the guest on this week's episode of Coffee with a Journalist. Sara talks about her reporting style, the importance of specificity in pitches, and why she prioritizes her four-story-a-week workload over coffee dates with publicists. She emphasizes the value of authenticity in pitches and advises against pitching stories that have already been covered. Sara also delves into the intersection of business, fashion, and beauty, and what sets Pop apart from traditional reporting in those areas. Tune in to learn more about pitching to Glossy and how to catch Sara's attention.