DEAI in Media, Pitches from Southeast USA
Welcome to the first edition of my Media Substack! Here's what I am working on this week...
Welcome to my Media Substack!
Last week, I attended the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) international convention in Puerto Rico. In addition to seeing many friendly faces, I also got a chance to share some of my knowledge with the industry. Many of you asked me to add you to my mailing list, which is what promoted me to start this newsletter.
I have enjoyed working with many of you already and aim that through this channel, we are able to have more frequent communication to help you secure more earned media through my outlets. Many press releases amd emails, though filled with great ideas, tend to get lost in my inbox. This will ensure that the timing of what you send me matches my needs. Please make sure to read the updates regularly and respond ASAP. I am often working on short deadlines and have to revert to my editors right away.
Attracting Diverse Audiences and Stories
At SATW in September 2023, Ian Thompson from Visit Milwaukee and I presented a workshop on how to accurately represent your destination and attract diverse writers, traveler and editorial coverage. I gave several examples of destinations that launched successful campaigns for BIPOC, international and travelers with accessibility needs, as well as how some of the publications I write for (Conde Nast, Travel+Leisure) are producing content created by diverse writers. Ian also sited all the different cultural events Milwaukee is hosting and how they partnered with influencers to exceed their goals of having a minimum number of BIPOC hosted media.
Our presentation was followed by another great DEAI session on diversifying press trips. Mandi Stefanak from Myriad Marketing and freelance travel writer and editor - Lavanya Sunkara co-presented this session that you can also access online. Sunkara has done a terrific job of putting together a database of BIPOC Travel Media Professionals List hat you can reach out to when creating your marketing outreach.
I have shared links to both presentations above that hopefully you will find beneficial.
If you would like me to speak at your next internal event or conference about DEAI, working with media, the craft of storytelling, 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 Anna Parry Fox, Public Relations Manager at Travel Portland, at International Media Marketplace (IMM) in New York couple of years ago. In this speed dating networking session, we could only say hi, introduce ourselves, and not go quite deep into any story angles. She followed up right away by email understanding that I write about sustainability, food and human interest.
Couple of months later, when I was seeking pitches for TIME Magazine’s Best Destinations list, Anna sent me a very interesting pitch about how the city of Portland, Oregon was being more inclusive by making foot traffic accessible through a series of pedestrian bridges. We collaborated on every detail of the story, and Portland was included in The World’s Greatest Places of 2022.
Anna invited me to visit Portland on an individual FAM with my plus one, and to experience the city for myself. She crafted an itinerary that introduced me to many James Beard award-winning chefs, ethnic restaurants, beautiful gardens and the wine country. Inspired by what I saw, I included Portland in my list of Best Cities for Biking in AAA, and a feature on Mexican chef Angel Medina “Margaritas And Tres Leches Aren’t Mexican” for HuffPost. Because I had such a great experience dining in Portland, I also wrote a blog about the international restaurant scene for Go Eat Give.
Since then, Anna continued to send me tailor-made pitches for my specific outlets and my interests on a regular basis. Earlier this year, for national sobriety month, Anna recommended two local bartenders - Gabriel Rucker and Eric Nelson (I am guessing she vetted them out before connecting me), both of whom landed separate stories in HuffPost. Anna and her team never send me a generic press releases. If an email comes from Anna, I know she has just the right story for ME, so I am excited to read it.
Anna is a great example of a professional who really gets to understand the writer’s interests and connects the right stories to the right person. Rather than using a blanket strategy of sending all freelance writers the same ideas, take time to get to know the writers you want to work with and give them a story they can’t say no to. You will see the investment pays off over time and converts to an ongoing relationship that delivers results for both the freelance writer and the destination.
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 Thrillist: ASAP
Holiday markets and small towns in and around Atlanta, that go all out for the holidays.
Round up of cool small businesses to feature during the holiday season.
Special holiday events surrounding Halloween, Thanksgiving, the December holidays, Indigenous Peoples Day etc.
Have access to a celebrity? I’d love them to walk ne around the coolest spots in a neighborhood they love.
Weekend-long itineraries or list of fun events within 5 hours driving radius of Atlanta, so could be GA, TN, SC, NC, AL, FL, etc.
Please Share This Newsletter With Your Colleagues
I’m looking to grow and develop my network of travel and food publicists and friends. If you find my newsletter helpful, or if you know someone who might, please share it with them. Thanks!