We Earn Media

Today we have a personal finance and commerce editor on the show. We’ll analyze a data-driven story that stemmed from a PR pitch, however, the story that was pitched was different from the story that came out! From it, we’ll hear the tale of a time when a publicist was able to pivot effectively and give the editor what they needed. We also go into tips for pitching CEO interviews!

In this episode you’ll learn…

What kinds of stories a commerce editor for a top tier publication covers

Our guest is...

Catey Hill, a personal finance journalist, author and frequent TV and radio commentator. For more than 10 years, she has written and edited personal finance stories for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Seventeen, Worth, SmartMoney, Forbes, Real Simple and MarketWatch, among other magazines and websites. She has appeared on dozens of television programs, including “The Today Show,” “FOX & Friends,” “The Huckabee Show” on FOX and “CBS This Morning.”

Stories we talked about:

The single best month to buy a home, according to this analysis of 33 million home sales over 8 years

In this episode, we speak with seasoned TV reporter, Ken Molestina, who has reported from news stations all across the country. We focus on his real estate segment, but quickly dive deeper beyond the basic tips and get a good look at the current state of the local newsroom, despite the ever-evolving media landscape he’s actively navigating. You’ll also catch a glimpse of what a real working relationship looks like between Ken and Jackie, including some real segments where Jackie had to be particularly scrappy in order to land those placements.

In this Episode You’ll Learn...

What a franchise piece is (& why publicists should care)

Our guest is...

Ken Molestina is an Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter for CBS 11 News in the Dallas Fort Worth. Prior to joining CBS 11, Ken reported for WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C. and KVIA-TV in El Paso. Born in New York and raised in Miami, he graduated from the University of Florida and began his career at WFOR-TV in Miami.

Stories we talked about:

Next Year Might Be The Time For North Texas Buyers To Finally Strike On Landing A Home

In this episode, we chat with TechCrunch reporter, Natasha Mascarenha, about a pitch that led to a phone call, which inspired a 4-part series on a well-known edtech company, Duolingo! What stood out about the founder that led to such an in-depth look at the company? We’ll dive into how this series developed, leaving you with tips on how to pitch your founder and best prepare them for interviews. Despite the reality of most startups not holding household names like Duolingo, our guest will guide you through making your client stand out by communicating with transparency and authenticity.

In this episode you’ll learn…

Our guest is...

Natasha Mascarenhas is a senior reporter at TechCrunch by way of Crunchbase News, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe and BostInno. She primarily reports on early-stage startups in edtech and future of work, through the lens of how culture and strong opinions can shape a company's trajectory. Beyond journalism, Mascarenhas spends her time cooking Indian American fusion recipes, dancing and writing on her personal blog.

Stories we talked about:

How a bot-fighting test turned into edtech’s most iconic brand, Duolingo

**In this special 2 part episode, we have a WEM first. Our guest (with the permission of the publicists!) shared some real pitches with us. Check out a full transcription of the pitch at the bottom of the notes!**

In part 2, we analyze another pitch that led to a Q&A article about women’s personal finances. And while this second pitch looks very different from the first, similar themes are re-explored through a different lens, proving that there truly is no one-size-fits-all approach to media pitching. Finally, Mia discusses the evolution of PR assets and story pitching through her time in the industry. You’ll walk with a full understanding of the “big picture” as well as inspiration for little details you may include in your next pitch.

A special thanks to Cat Soroush for providing and allowing us to republish the pitch in its entirety!

In this episode you’ll learn…

Our guest is...

Mia Taylor, a staff Finance Writer for Real Simple, Health, Parents, and Better Homes & Gardens. She is an award-winning personal finance and travel journalist who has also covered wildlife conservation, sustainability, eco-tourism, climate change, the hospitality industry, technology, AI, robotics, and single parenting.

Stories we talked about:

For Women to Make More Money, We Have to Stop Competing With Each Other

**In this special 2 part episode, we have a WEM first. Our guest (with the permission of the publicists!) shared some real pitches with us. Check out our show notes for a full transcription of the pitches!**

Larger, lifestyle publications like Real Simple and Better Homes & Gardens plan their stories months in advance, so how can following the latest news help you craft a better pitch to these publications? In part 1, we’ll analyze a pitch from a publicist who earned coverage by doing just that. Our guest, Mia Taylor (Real Simple), will expand on why this pitch was successful, what exactly about it resonated with her, and what actionable steps you can take to accomplish the same, regardless of who you are pitching. A special thanks to Gina Masullo (Misfit Toys Communications) for providing and allowing us to republish the pitch in its entirety! 

In this episode, you’ll learn...

How to contextualize your client within the current news cycle

Our guest is... 

Mia Taylor, a staff Finance Writer for Real Simple, Health, Parents, and Better Homes & Gardens. She is an award-winning personal finance and travel journalist who has also covered wildlife conservation, sustainability, eco-tourism, climate change, the hospitality industry, technology, AI, robotics, and single parenting.

Stories we talked about:

Sustainable Banking: How to Make Earth-Friendly Choices With Your Money

Daily newsletters are hot right now, and brands want in. But, it’s not that simple! In this episode, we speak with the editor of one of the most popular daily newsletters at the moment– Morning Brew. Our guest discusses the power of the newsletter and gives a behind-the-scenes look at how a daily newsletter is produced. With limited space, exceptional curation, and a fast-paced, round-the-clock news cycle, our guest works with repeat-publicists in ways that are unique to the art of newsletter publishing.

In this episode you’ll learn…

Our guest is…

Neal Freyman, a managing editor at Morning Brew, where he writes and edits the flagship newsletter that's sent to more than 3.1 million readers around the world 7 days a week. As one of the first employees at the company, he helped grow the Brew's workforce from 3 to 120 and launch new newsletters, podcasts, video products, and even trivia! (Neal writes A LOT of trivia questions for the Morning Brew audience.)

Stories we talked about:

Health reporters, especially in the time of COVID, need to make sure they get it right. This goes into the stories they choose to tell, how they frame it, and whom they enlist to help tell the story. With the standards so high, this is likely to scare some publicists away. Never fear, listeners, because our guest today breaks down a story that stemmed from a health product pitch (pre-launch!) from a startup founder. From it, you’ll walk away confidently able to pitch your own health stories, should the need arrive in your career.

In this episode you’ll learn…

Our guest is:

Local news tips are coming your way from our guest, a local news anchor and segment host. He give us an insider look on how a local news station operates. From it, you’ll come out ahead with a more informed approach of how to reach out to a local news station— even when it’s not clear who you need to send your pitch to!

In this episode you’ll learn…

Our guest is:

Our guest is freelance journalist and editor whose mission is to help and inspire Black women and girls. Her work is intersectional, focusing on mental health, wellness, lifestyle, career and more. We dive deep into some in-depth reporting that demonstrates all the ways in which a publicist may have a positive impact on real lives, regardless of the company they represent. We’ll even get a close look at how a publicist took time to get to know our guest’s personal interests, which has not only resulted in some great stories, but also a lasting journalist-publicist relationship.

In this episode you’ll learn…

Our guest is:

Also, a special thank you to Tamika Morrison Okeleke (@1stladyofPR), for tweeting about our show and connecting us with today’s guest!