Confirmed Assignments, Pitches for Best Places
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This week, I am writing to you from my suite onboard Windstar’s Sea Breeze sailing around Japan and South Korea in partnership with the James Beard Foundation.
I work on several cruise stories through the year and food is one of my passions. Also, I have written a children’s book on Japan. So, I am very excited to see the country from a different view this time.
There is a lot of debate about confirmed assignments in the industry, and please note I am only speaking on behalf of U.S. media (my counterparts in other countries have different policies).
I generally do not send pitches to my editors based on trip invites, conversations or press releases. It is only when I have a confirmed date of a trip, a strong original storyline, and my own photos, that I will start mentioning an idea to my editor. I attribute much of my success as a freelance travel writer to being authentic in my voice and crafting unique stories that are over overlooked. This happens only when I see, feel, observe and connect myself. If you are looking for a desk reporter to push your story before experiencing it, thats not me.
There have been several instances where I have learned the hard way. After confirming ask assignment, the trip did not end up happening (as in 2020), I don’t get the interviews with the people I needed to speak to, or the trip dis not go as expected (If you want specific examples of who and what, send me a personal note. This has led me to have difficult conversations with my editors about not delivering on the topic or by the due date.
I know it is a catch 22 situation because the hosts may be wanting a confirmed assignment to guarantee that they will get a story placed, and a freelance writer is not suppose to give them that. Blogs are different. Most national publications have listed clearly on their Pitching Guidelines page that do not want pitches prior to a press trip.
So it is important to educate clients (destinations, airlines, hotels, etc) on how the freelance industry works, and how they can get maximum coverage using a media hosted trip specially, for a freelancer who will deliver more than one story in multiple outlets.
I have conducted several workshops on How to Work With Freelance Travel Writers especially addressing the needs of PR and DMO’s. If you are interested in having me speak at your next internal event or conference about earning paid media, publishing life cycle, or maximizing press visits, please reach out at any time.
Success Story
In this section, I identify an exceptional PR person or company I worked with to create multiple unique stories.
I met Melendy Britt, a lovely marketing a communications professional (be360, KlickX, Wagstaff, Edelman) while she was representing her client, Jose Cuervo at IMM meeting in New York City. She told me about the town of Tequila in Mexico, the tequila train, and their efforts towards sustaining recipes, traditions and agave byproducts. I was sold, but I also sold the story too soon! I generally never pitch a story to an editor before having been to the destination and experiencing it myself, but it was women’s history month coming up and my editor at CNN Travel was looking for this type of story. Of course, when she assigned it, she wanted the story completed within a couple of weeks.
So I reached out to Melendy and told her that my photographer and I would need to fly out to Guadalajara next week to do some deep dive interviews with the women and meet people in the tequila industry, she did not waste a moment. She reached out to her local partners right away and arranged personal tours and meetings with tequila distilleries, farmers, and women who were working with the agave byproducts. One of the ladies also invited me over to her home and cooked some of her family recipes. Everything was planned within just a couple of days and we were on our way to Mexico, Guadalajara.
Except that our flight got canceled and we had to rebook on another airline for the next day. Melendy waived her angelic wands and bought us new tickets. Once I got there, everything was flawless! I was able to connect with so many people and bring this story to life within a few days. The CNN Travel story on Women in Tequila was syndicated worldwide and I have see several versions of this printed by other publications as well.
Recently, I worked with Melendy in revisiting that story - Spirited World of Mexican Agave for AAA - The World print issue. Melendy also invited me to speak at the virtual PRSA Los Angeles meeting.
Melendy is a good example of a PR person who recognizes that turnaround time in stories and press trips is crucial. You need to be quick to action, flexible and empowered to make decisions on behalf of your clients. She came prepared with the resources, approvals and cooperation of all stakeholders, so she could not only host media but also create a customized experience for each person. I feel that because of her due diligence before approaching me, helped these stories come to life so quickly and enables us to have a great working relationship.
Recently Published
September has been a busy month already! Here are some of the stories I published so far…
Making Dream Trips More Accessible for Travel+Leisure (PRINT)
6 Popular German Towns in the U.S. for AAA The Extra Mile
The Best Fall Festivals Around The U.S. for AAA The Extra Mile
Where Can You Swim With Sharks for AAA The Extra Mile
Modern Mexican for Atlanta Magazine (PRINT)
Indian Ice Cream Parlor in Metro Atlanta for Khabar Magazine (PRINT)
Georgia’s Seasonal Coast - Review of Fleeting at Thompson Hotel Savannah for Georgia Trend Magazine (PRINT)
Georgia’s Vegetarian and International Dining Hotspots for Savor Georgia (PRINT)
Need Pitches
I am always in need for pitches for my ongoing columns and contributing publications. Here’s what I am looking for RIGHT THIS MINUTE…
Email to: Sucheta at GoEatGive dot Com
For Going: ASAP
Taking suggestions for Going's annual Where to Go list for 2024. This can be a city, state, region, country or island. Important hook is “why now” so stay relevant to any new attractions, hotels, experiences launching in 2024.
Answer: Why should people visit this place specifically in 2024? What's happening now that makes the coming year a great time to go? How expensive is this place to visit?
The places picked with determine additional stories on Places (destinations), Worth the Flight (experiences), or Deep Dish (food) piece about that place - so please make sure to include those story angles as well.
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