10 PR Etiquettes That Journalists Love
Ghosting is not one of them! I am offering you 2 masterclasses this month.
October has been a super busy month! From IMEX America and Las Vegas, to seeing polar bears in Churchill, and a quick turnaround to Los Angeles for a fun Diwali celebration, followed by Atlanta’s MICHELIN reveal party. I am finally home for 2 weeks and look forward to eating healthy and sleeping in.
I know you are dying to hear about the polar bears! It was surreal to see them in person and come so close to us. They looked like big, fluffy labs, but of course you don’t want to pet them. To think that 2/3 of the polar bear population may be gone by 2050 breaks my heart!
I also saw the northern lights each night from my bunk bed at the Tundra Lodge. I have traveled with hundreds of tour operators before but never experienced this level of dedication to sustainability as Natural Habitat did. More on that in my upcoming newsletter through Go Eat Give. Please subscribe if you haven’t already.
The PR folks I want to highlight this month is Nicolette Dantas from Treat Day Creative and Sabrina Kim from Kinship. Nicolette reached out to me over a year ago to pitch me a story about an Indian chef on the rise at Laguna Beach. She invited me to an event in Oct 2023 but my schedule was already booked up, so she kept in touch regularly, scheduled a phone call to learn about my other interests while in the area, and got her team involved to plan my itinerary while she went on maternity leave. I ended up going to the same event in Oct 2024 and loved it! Every aspect of my trip so well organized. Sabrina sent out Uber vouchers (for my travel from home as well), reserved event tickets and coordinated with the chefs to come out and say hello. Even though Nicolette was OOO, everyone I met during my stay knew of my arrival and were eager to host me. I can’t wait to see this story in print.
Why are PR Folks Ghosting Media?
On the other hand, I have had some negative experiences with PR in the past few weeks. A few people invited me for press trips and once I accepted, they came back asking for a “confirmed assignment.” Sorry folks, even if I could, I won’t any more because of the 100 things that can go wrong (see my previous Substack). Another PR person was satisfied with my writing track record, but wanted the story from a future hosted press trip to be in a particular magazine.
After receiving responses to pitch calls (these are assigned stories I am working on), a few hotels and cruises who offered to host me for a media stay, got my availability, and then ghosted me. Some have been giving the runaround for months. One said that since my story will publish a year out (that’s how print works), they wanted a letter from my editor.
Can I please just say that editors are very busy people and don’t have time to write letters for freelancers to go on a press trip? Most publications do not issue LOA (it’s generally a quick email, followed by a contract close to date of when story is due). And there is nothing guaranteed. Editors move around. Editorial needs change. Pages cut short and stories get pushed back. Budgets fluctuate. Publications fold up. Even the hosted client go out of business.
If you or your client want a guaranteed story, please consider a paid advertorial at the publication of your choice, and make sure to mention my name as the preferred writer for your story!
I would like to know WHY some PR folks take so much time and effort to write great pitches, follow up, and ghost media eventually? If you have something to say on the subject, please email me. I would also love to host you on my next webinar.
Member Benefits - Two New Masterclasses in November
Have you RSVP’d for the Press Trip Planning Masterclass I’m hosting with travel writer Joni Sweet on Nov. 7? Expect a riveting conversation on things like:
Securing gifting/sponsors for the trip
How far in advance to send invitations
Pros/cons of offering +1s
What to do if a client doesn’t have budget for airfare
Whether it’s worth having virtual travel events
Individual vs. group press trips
This event is exclusively for paid subscribers to either of our newsletters. Upgrade your subscription to either of our Substacks, and you're welcome to join! Your paid subscription gets you (and only you!) exclusive access to the event. If you’d like to invite colleagues, please email me to discuss group rates.
On Nov 18, Sparkle Boss Taryn Scher and I are going to talk about how to talk to your clients about the perpetual “guaranteed coverage” debate and make a case for FAM trips in 2025. Paid subscribers will be able to join LIVE. Stay tuned!
10 PR Etiquettes Every Journalist Loves
Let’s help work together more effectively by taking these simple steps.
Customize your emails. We like making a human connection.
Do your research about the journalist (most have a website or MuckRuck profile).
Do not call, text or send pitches on social media (we all have emails).
Respond timely. Within one week for non urgent matters.
Be transparent. What’s included, what are your expectations, are you just testing the waters to see who’s available?
Don’t invite on media hosted trips before doing your due diligence. Also, if you are inviting someone for a local event, make sure to find out which city they live in.
Don’t try to negotiate trips for coverage (if you guarantee me a story in xyz, I can look into a hosted stay)
Follow up regularly, but not pester. Once a quarter check in is more than enough. Don’t follow up on a press release.
Respond to pitch calls on Substack. This is the best way to know what we are working on right now.
Plan ahead. Some excellent PR folks in Idaho have already booked me as far as July 2025!
As Joni says in her recent newsletter, post your client list on your website and make sure to email me a copy as well!
Thank you to Travel Unity for recognizing me and Congratulations to all the nominees!
Recently Published
Boarding Pass Cafe for Georgia Trend Magazine
It’s Always Off Season Somewhere for Marriott Bonvoy Traveler
How Grass Heals Prisoners in St Vincent for Go Eat Give
Remaking History in the Mountains for Georgia Trend Magazine (PRINT)
Navratri Staple Superfood for Khabar Magazine (PRINT)
Noemi’s Tamales for Georgia Trend Magazine
7 Best Shore Excursions on Royal Caribbean for AAA The Extra Mile
We Can Do Better To Support Immigrants for HuffPost
9 Hotels Where You May Run Into Celebrities for AAA The Extra Mile
48 Hours in Toronto for AAA The Extra Mile
Atlanta Travel Guide for Fodor’s Travel
Looking for a Speaker in 2025?
With 20 years of travel writing for world’s leading publications, and traveling to 120 countries, I am looking to expand my storytelling to live audiences.
You can hire me to speak about your destination at a consumer event.
For an inspiring keynote on how food connects people, trends in sustainable travel, solo female travel, and BIPOC stories from the front lines.
At your company event, to talk on cultural etiquettes, marketing to diverse audiences, journalist and media relations, and how to plan effortless press trips.
For your community festival, women’s leadership retreat, Rotary club, university, library or school author event.
I have previously spoken at IPW, IMM, SATW, PRSA, IMEX, New York Times, Travel Adventure, as well as 3 TEDx talks.
Holiday Gifts For Kids…
As you shop this holiday season, why not give an educational travel book authored by someone you already know? And I will be happy to autography them for you! Purchase ‘Beato Goes To’ series on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Mascot Books or a signed copy directly through me. I can ship it directly to your recipient too.
PITCH REQUESTS
Here is what I am looking for at the moment…rolling deadline unless mentioned.
Best hotels in the world to ring in the new year. Still looking for good pitches. Please specific WHY/ WHAT makes the hotel ideal for NYE celebrations. Deadline Nov 10.
Best New Year’s Eve destinations around the world. No deadline.
Best hotels in the world at airports for long layovers. No deadline.
South Asian (Indian) culinary trends, cookbooks, and products appealing to Indian-American community. See example of a good pitch I ended up writing into a story.
GA based new restaurants (not new menus or list of openings), new businesses (chocolate factory, ice cream store, etc), culinary festivals, human interest stories, cookbooks & fresh ideas.
TRIP ASSISTANCE
I am planning some trips in 2025 already and looking for assistance. Please pitch only if you are open to hosting in exchange for coverage.
2 night hotel stay in New York City in Nov 2024
2-3 night hotel stay in Tokyo in early 2025
2 nights in Rome & Verona in Italy in Feb-March 2025
Individual press trip to The 5 Stans/ Silk Road and Mainland China & Tibet
Cruises to Svalbard and Northwest Passage in summer 2025