In this episode, Lexie Smith talks with Peter Shankman, a 6x best-selling author, speaker, and entrepreneur. In the world of media he is best known for founding HARO; an online service for journalists to gather feedback from the public, and a newer service called Source of Sources. Additionally, Peter is a marketing expert for several national and international news channels, including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, and is frequently quoted in major media and trade publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News, The Associated Press, Reuters and USA Today.Peter's conversation delves into the core principles of SOS, highlighting its simplicity and efficiency in connecting reporters with knowledgeable sources. He shares insights on how SOS improves upon its predecessor by incorporating the immediacy and directness that made HARO a game-changer in the PR world. Peter also offers valuable tips for crafting effective pitches, stressing the need for brevity and relevance. Tune in to discover how SOS is setting a new standard in media sourcing and learn from Peter’s extensive experience in both journalism and entrepreneurship.Here’s What You’ll Learn:Discover how Peter transitioned from a journalism major and fashion photography student to a successful entrepreneur and media expert.Understand the origins and evolution of Help A Reporter Out (HARO), the revolutionary platform for connecting journalists with sources.Learn about SOS, Peter's latest venture designed to improve and simplify the way journalists find sources, and how it builds on his previous work with HARO.Explore how Peter built trust over his career and why it is crucial for successful PR and media relations.Discover why the immediacy of email communication was a key factor in HARO's success and how SOS maintains that principle.Gain insights into how Peter's personal network and interactions have contributed to his success and the growth of SOS.Learn about the strategic partnership between SOS and Muck Rack, and how it enhances the value of both platforms for journalists and sources.Understand the common pitfalls in PR and media relations, such as off-topic pitching and unnecessary preliminary information requests.Hear Peter's advice on how PR professionals can make journalists' lives easier and the broader impact of creating valuable, respectful relationships in media.Social Links: Website: https://www.shankman.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petershankman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petershankman/?hl=enSun Moon Rising Wine - the world's first astrology-inspired wine brand - is offering all Pitchin' and Sippin' listeners 10% off their first purchase. Visit sunmoonrisingwine.com and use promo code PITCHIN10 at checkout.Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about Growth Mode: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/Connect with Lexie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-smith-pr/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprbar_inc/

Journalist and communications pro Imani Bashir joins Lexie to talk about when to pitch a freelancer and how to create measurable content strategies. Imani Bashir is a media professional with over 13 years in the field of communications. She began her career in sports broadcasting, covering collegiate sports and in 2015 made the decision to move abroad. Imani has lived in five countries and has written for some of the most prestigious publications worldwide, including The New York Times, Forbes, Glamour Magazine, Travel + Leisure, and more. In 2021, she was the recipient of Adweek's "Shine 'A' Light Award" for her dynamic voice as a journalist and content within the travel industry. Today, in addition to being a freelance journalist, she serves as the Director of Communications of BEAM (The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective).In this first episode of season 7, Imani Bashir recounts how her experiences, from launching a luggage company during the pandemic to navigating the complexities of her current role, have shaped her approach to creating impactful content. Imani emphasizes the importance of aligning content with an organization’s mission and measuring its effectiveness through both quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback.The conversation also explores Imani’s process for pitching and managing freelance assignments. She discusses the balance between cold pitching and responding to incoming opportunities, highlighting the importance of understanding the unique needs of each publication and editor. Whether it’s crafting a compelling story from a PR pitch or ensuring that content resonates with its intended audience, Imani offers valuable insights into the art of effective communication and strategy. Here’s What You’ll Learn:How Imani Bashir got her career startBest practices for pitching freelancers effectively.Strategies to create content that delivers measurable results.Insights into the evolving role of freelancers in the media landscape.Tips for crafting compelling pitches that capture attention.Imani Bashir's experiences and lessons from working with top publications.Key factors that contribute to successful content strategies.More about BEAM and their experiential learning styleAnd more! Guest Social Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheisimanib/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imanibashir/Website: https://sheisimanib.com/about-meSign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about Growth Mode Agency Here: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprbar_inc/Connect with Lexie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-smith-pr/

Listen to quick updates and announcements as we wait for Season 7 to Launch this Summer!Submit pitches online at theprbarinc.com/podcastsEmail topic requests to pitchinandsippin@gmail.comSign up for THEPRBAR weekly round-up at https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Don't forget to hit subscribe wherever you watch and listen so you don't miss the first episode of Season 7!

This week’s minisode is the final episode of Season 6 of the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ Podcast. On this wrap up episode, Lexie Smith reflects on this season of the podcast and all that she’s learned and taken away from her conversations with ‘Journalistic Royalty’. She reflects particularly on the different themes from her interviews with different journalists throughout the season. From freelance journalists to higher-ups at significant outlets, Lexie breaks down 8 core takeaways about the future of the media and journalism world. Here’s What You’ll Learn:Lexie’s reflections on her interviews with journalists on Season 6The effect AI has had on these journalist's careers and the media worldCore takeaways about the differing personal pitching preferences of journalists The influence of the business of media and how it differed guests based on their titleHow many more things are being put on journalist's plates in this day and ageThe influence of the rise of Substack and the decline of XAnd more!Listener Links: Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Listen to Season 6: https://theprbarinc.com/podcasts/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about Growth Mode Agency: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Danielle Belton is the current editor-in-chief of HuffPost where she led the Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom to profitability in 2021, after her first year in leadership. In her three-year tenure, she has improved overall newsroom diversity and relaunched HuffPost's legacy Voices brands, including adding a new vertical, Indigenous Voices — one of the first mainstream, digital media offerings for Indigenous people. Prior to joining HuffPost, she was editor-in-chief of the leading Black digital publication, The Root. Belton grew the award-winning site's traffic by 300 percent within her first year leading its newsroom. A 20-year-veteran of journalism, blogging, and writing, Belton is also known for being one of the first black women to lead a writer's room in late night when she was head writer for BET's talk show, "Don't Sleep" in 2012. She was also the creator and author of the popular, former politics and pop culture weblog, The Black Snob. In this episode, Lexie and Danielle Belton discuss all things journalism and the ever-changing media landscape. She breaks down what she believes is impacting the journalism landscape, both positively and negatively, and what needs to happen to save the media industry at large. Lexie wraps up the episode by asking Danielle about her personal pitching preferences. Here’s What You’ll Learn:Danielle Belton’s career cliff notesHow Daniella got into journalismHer journey to becoming editor-in-chief of HuffPostWhat her average day looks like in her role as editor-in-chief at the HuffPostThe pros and cons of advertising revenue when it comes to media and journalismHer thoughts on the role journalism leadership plays in the overall state of the industryWhat she sees that is negatively impacting the industryHow she believes we can save the Journalism industryHer personal pitching preferencesAnd more!Listener Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/daniellecbelton?lang=enInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beltondanielle/?hl=enThreads: https://www.threads.net/@beltondanielle?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellebelton/Substack Profile: https://daniellebelton.substack.com/Huff Post Profile: https://www.huffpost.com/author/danielle-beltonSign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about Growth Mode Agency: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Maria Streshinsky is the executive editor of features at WIRED. Before joining WIRED she was the editor-in-chief of Pacific Standard, a magazine she launched in 2012. In its first year Pacific Standard was nominated for a National Magazine Award for general excellence; in 2014 the publication won the National Magazine Award for public service for a story that Streshinsky edited. Streshinsky also served for many years as the managing editor of The Atlantic, where she won the Atlantic Media Company award for editing excellence. She has also worked for the Department of the Interior in Washington, DC, and a stint in New York as a freelance editor and writer. In this episode, Lexie and Maria discuss all things feature. They discuss what makes a great feature and how it’s different from other types of stories, how to pitch features as both a freelancer and publicist, and what a coveted publication—such as WIRED—looks for when selecting their next feature topic. They also review Maria’s personal pitching preferences, the best title to pitch at WIRED if you’re hoping for coverage, and much more. Here’s What You’ll Learn:Maria Streshinsky’s career journey and how she developed her love for feature writingHow Maria ended up as WIRED’s executive editor of features, and what her role entailsWhat differentiates a feature from other storiesThe difference elements that make a great feature articleTips on how to pitch a feature as a freelance writerHow to pitch a feature as a publicistWhat she is specifically looking for as an executive editorCurrent stories and ideas she’s working onTips on pitching feature stories with WIREDAnd more!Listener Links: Wired Profile: https://www.wired.com/author/maria-streshinsky/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-streshinsky-b44aaa211Twitter: https://twitter.com/mstreshinsky?lang=enMuck Rack Profile: https://muckrack.com/maria-streshinskySign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about Growth Mode Agency: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Shana Clarke is a wine, sake, and travel writer and author. Her work has appeared in Decanter, Saveur, Fortune, NPR, Wine Enthusiast, Vinepair, Conde Nast Traveler, and Hemispheres. She was shortlisted for the Louis Roederer 2020 International Wine Writers’ Awards and ranked one of the “Top 20 U.S. Wine Writers That Wineries Can Work With” by Beverage Trade Network. She holds a Level 3-Advanced Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Sake Sommelier. In addition, she is the author of 150 Vineyards You Need To Visit Before You Die and the contributing author to the North America section of The Wine Lover’s Bucket List. In this episode, Lexie and Shana discuss how she got into wine journalism and career cliff notes. Shana walks listeners through how she got into wine journalism and what it took to succeed in such a niche category. Shana talks about her process as a wine journalist and how she curates her stories. She discusses the importance of reading and events that help pique her interest in stories on specific brands, vineyards, and more. She advises aspiring journalists specializing in niche topics and how to get hyper-focused in that niche. Here’s What You’ll Learn:Examples of how Shana Clarke finds/curates different storiesWhat wine journalism looks like todayTips on how to become focused as a writer in a certain nicheShana’s career cliff notes and other types of writing she’s done beforeTips for aspiring journalists wanting to enter in a more niche type of journalismWhat niche reporting is good forWhat themes and stories Shana is working on this SpringHer story ideas on why the wine industry might be struggling in this day and age and other big and broad topics she is interested in writing aboutShana’s pitching preferences And more!Listener Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeakswine/Threads: https://twitter.com/shanaspeakswine?lang=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanaclarke/Website: www.shanaspeakswine.comFor book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/150-vineyards-you-need-to-visit-before-you-die-shana-clarke/18477518?ean=9789401485463Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about Growth Mode Agency Here: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/Instagram: @theprbar_inc

This week’s episode holds a very special announcement for the next chapter with THEPRBAR Agency. And for Lexie. This minisode walks listeners through Lexie’s brand new rebrand for her agency, now GROWTH MODE PR & Communications agency. She talks about the inception of this rebrand, the process of how she did it, and what GROWTH MODE Agency is going to offer and more!Here’s What You’ll Learn:Why Lexie decided to rebrand THEPRBAR Agency to GROWTH MODE PR & Communications AgencyWhat the new rebrand means for THEPRBAR brand overallWhat makes the agency differentThe steps Lexie took to create and roll out the rebrandHow Lexie enlisted branding expert Hilary Hartling to help her establish the new brandAnd more!Listener Links: Visit the New Agency Website: http://growthmodeagency.com/Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Instagram: @theprbar_incGrowth Mode Agency Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthmodeagency/?hl=en

Linda Zebian is Senior Director of Communications & Community at Muck Rack, where she sets communications strategy for Muck Rack’s enterprise, both internally and externally, including messaging, issues management, media relations, social media, and employee communications, as well as partnerships and events. Linda joined Muck Rack from The New York Times, where she spent 10 years in various communications positions. Most recently she served as a freelance Communications Advisor, and before that, as Executive Director, Corporate Communications.Before joining The Times, she was communications associate at the nonprofit organization Consumers Union, where she managed media relations for Consumer Reports magazine, ConsumerReports.org, and ShopSmart magazine. She began her career as a reporter for Folio, covering the magazine media industry and later managing conference programming for Folio’s publisher, Red 7 Media, a division of Access Intelligence.In this episode, Lexie and Linda talk about the state of artificial intelligence in PR circa 2024. They also touch on Linda’s straightforward approach to media training and interviewing. Linda shares her tips and tricks on what to do to help prepare clients for interviews and how best to get those sound bites that are good for the press in an interview. Here’s What You’ll Learn:Highlights from Muck Rack’s 2024 State of AI in PR Report.Insights from Linda’s current position at Muck RackTips from a seasoned expert on media trainingThree tips on how to prepare the best sound bites for interviewsTips on identifying the best candidates for media training at an organizationTips on selecting key points and staying on message during interviewsExamples of how to best approach interview opportunities with clientsAnd more!Listener Links: (X): @lindazebian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-ezziddin/ Access Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/Download 2024 State of AI Report: https://muckrack.com/blog/2024/01/04/state-of-ai-in-pr-2024Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about THEPRBAR Agency here: THEPRBARagency.comInstagram: @theprbar_inc

As an agency search consultant, Rachel Huff, President and Founder of Victoire & Co, builds brand-agency partnerships that drive long-term success. With a keen understanding of clients’ communications and business needs and a network of trusted marketing and communications agency connections, she guides companies toward their best agency fit. Prior to founding Victoire & Co, Rachel spent more than a decade at agencies, including on the accounting side, developing integrated communications campaigns for brands including John Hancock, Verizon, Ocean Spray, DraftKings, and CVS.In this episode, Rachel talks through her career journey and the agency world she was in for many years before founding her company, Victoire & Co. Rachel defines and decodes what an RFP (Request for Proposal) is for listeners and walks them through various types of proposals. She offers tips on how to create an effective RFP, how to submit a winning RFP proposal, what opportunities are worth pursuing, and more. Here’s What You’ll Learn:What is an RFP (Request for Proposal)Detailed differences between types of RFPsTips on what should be included in a RFPOther names and acronyms used in lieu of an RFP - such as Client Brief or RFITips on how to win a client brief and Rachel’s thoughts on what opportunities are worth pursuingTips on defining your own brand and positioningTips on creating filters for evaluating client opportunitiesWhat decoding a brief looks like for Rachel and her companyWhat a search consultant does and the process of matching agencies and clientsThe importance of understanding what makes your brand and agency unique The different buckets to consider when looking at a prospective client’s goalsAnd more! Listener Links: Company: Victoire & Co (pronounced Vik-TWAR)Website: https://www.victoireco.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmhuff/Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/Learn about THEPRBAR Agency here: THEPRBARagency.comInstagram: @theprbar_inc