Coffee With A Journalist

Our guest on today’s episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Rebecca Pifer, Senior Reporter at Healthcare Dive. Rebecca covers the business of healthcare with a focus on health insurers and public policy. During the episode, Rebecca discusses the nuances of healthcare journalsm, the instances where it's ok to ping her multiple times with an idea, and the ideal elements of a standout subject line. Hint, it's all about short, sweet, direct, and relevant.

Elisabeth Sherman is this week's guest on the show, and she's an associate editor at Parents whose expertise focuses on family, parenting, internet culture, food and drink, and entertainment. During the episode, Elisabeth walks us through what she recommends PRos do before pitching her, the nuances of pitching a product versus expert commentary, how she keeps her inbox organized in her new role, and more.

Stephanie Palazzolo is an AI reporter at The Information covering artificial intelligence startups, VCs, tech giants and research. Stephanie also writes AI Agenda, The Information's daily newsletter. During today's episode, Stephanie walks us through her background in tech investment banking, the sources and stories she's currently most interested in, and her favorite resources and reading material for staying up to date on AI. Let's get after it!

This week on the show, we welcome Iris Goldsztajn morning editor at Marie Claire. During the episode, Iris discusses her role in celebrity news and women's lifestyle coverage, the intricacies of managing a high volume of PR pitches, her preferences for specific types of pitches, and the nuances of working independently in a demanding field. 

Sarah Allard is a digital director at Conde Nast Traveller. During the episode, Sarah discusses how her role has shifted from writing to strategy and planning, what catches her eye in a travel pitch, the types of stories she helps Condé Nast Traveller tell, and what it's like working with a global journalism team. Let's get into it!

We sat down with Taylor Crumpton, freelance writer with bylines in TIME, Essence, Grammy.com, Pitchfork, Marie Claire, and more for today's Coffee with a Journalist episode. During the episode, Taylor discusses her take on going viral, her collaborative approach to working with publicists,  strategies for networking and building relationships with purpose, and what she's currently focused on in coverage.

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Kelsey Ramirez, an associate, strategic initiatives, at Fox Business, where she edits the team’s coverage about personal finance. During the episode, Kelsey discusses her strategy for managing and prioritizing emails using color-coded tags, what she likes to see in a subject line, timing preferences for exclusives, and her favorite newsletters for staying inspired and on top of the latest headlines.

Our guest on today’s episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Joni Sweet, freelancer writer covering travel, health, and wellness with bylines in Forbes, National Geographic, TIME, Trip Savvy, Lonely Planet, and more. During the episode, Joni discusses her relationship to PR folks and pitches, including a preference for personalization, how she organizes her work with a busy inbox, and what effective PR engagement looks like for her. Let's dive in to the conversation!

Our guest on today’s episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Anthony L. Fisher. Anthony is the senior opinion editor and a columnist for The Daily Beast, and also writes the “Calling Balls and Strikes” newsletter on Substack. During the episode, Anthony discusses his strategies for managing pitches, the Daily Beast's style preferences, and insight into his role, workflow, and time management strategies. Let's get into it!

Our guest on today's episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Beth Gilette. Beth is a beauty editor at Cosmopolitan where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. During today's episode, Beth discusses her go-to e-mail organization tactics (hello folders and specific rules), her favorite story she's ever written and how it came to be, as well as why sit-downs with PR pros help her learn more about who they represent, and how they tick, and vice versa. 

Our guest on today’s episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Ilona Limonta-Volkova, host of Money Memories, an NPR podcast, and contributing writer on fintech at Forbes. During the episode, Ilona discusses her podcast and the types of guests she features, plus her dream guest, the art of staying pithy in pitching, and the best way to connect with her.

Our guest on today’s episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Tim Crino. Tim is a senior editor at Inc. where his coverage focus is on cybersecurity and data privacy. He also oversees Inc.'s book reviews, collaborates on strategies for Inc. Video, and edits Inc. Insider, a print section that curates expert advice from entrepreneurship's brightest. During the episode, Tim discusses how PR folks can get in his email’s “good folder” (and what that is), how he vets angles and news to cover, as well as how he stays organized and on top of his stories.   

In this week's episode of Coffee with a Journalist, we sit down with freelance journalist Farrell Evans. Farrell covers a range of topics like business, golf, history, and race for outlets including Inc., Sports Illustrated, the History Channel, Andscape, and more. He'll walk us through how exactly to catch his attention in your pitch to him as well as what to call out in your pitch, what he looks for in a solid publicist, and more.  

Our guest on today’s episode of Coffee with a Journalist is Monica Pitrelli, editor of CNBC Travel, part of CNBC. Monica covers news, trends, and financial matters for high-yield travelers around the world. During the episode, Monica discusses how she organizes her email inbox across time zones (she’s based in Singapore), how she puts her stories together, and what makes a great source for her coverage.   

Welcome to this week's episode of Coffee with a Journalist, where we sit down for a chat with the talented Maya Goldman, health policy reporter at Axios. Maya takes us through her email inbox routine and shares insights into the kind of sources she prefers to work with, the timing of pitches, and much more. She emphasizes the importance of a direct yet conversational approach in pitches and the benefits of providing exclusive or embargoed information. Join us as Maya provides a glimpse into her world of healthcare journalism and offers valuable tips for publicists looking to work with her.

In this episode of Coffee with a Journalist, host Beck Bamberger is joined by John Hyatt, a staff writer for Forbes. John specializes in covering billionaires, finance, deal making, money and politics, and white-collar crime. During the conversation, John provides insights into his coverage of the wealthiest individuals in the world, how he produces the annual Forbes 400 list and the Forbes world billionaires list, and also sheds light on his inbox, the type of pitches he receives, and how publicists can effectively engage with journalists. Additionally, John shares details about his typical workday, his experience as an intern during COVID-19, his interest in investigations and valuable sources, and some rapid-fire preferences in media pitches. Don’t miss this engaging conversation offering a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a Forbes staff writer.

In this episode of Coffee with a Journalist, we sit down with Andrea González-Ramírez, a senior writer at The Cut. Andrea discusses her role at The Cut, her beat covering systems of power, and her approach to receiving pitches. She shares insights into managing her inbox, the types of pitches that catch her attention, and the kinds of sources she prefers to work with. Andrea also delves into her story approval process, her preference for communication, and her self-care practices. Join us as we uncover the inner workings of The Cut and gain valuable tips for successfully pitching Andrea.

In this episode of "Coffee with a Journalist," we sit down with Daysia Tolentino, the culture and trends reporter at NBC News. Daysia shares her insights on covering Internet culture and trends, emphasizing the importance of pitches related to online content and trends. She discusses the challenges of identifying true trends amidst the noise of the Internet and offers valuable tips for publicists looking to pitch to her. From her preference for data-driven pitches to her inbox management strategies, Daysia provides a candid look into her world as a reporter. Join us as we dive into a conversation about the evolving landscape of journalism in the digital age.

In this episode, we sit down with Conz Preti, the senior editor for Freelancers at Business Insider. Conz covers a wide range of topics, including parenting, health, college life, and sex and relationships. Throughout the episode, she provides valuable insights for publicists and freelancers looking to pitch stories to Business Insider. From her inbox management strategies to her preferences for expert sources and pitch subject lines, Conz shares tips and advice to help you land your next story in Business Insider. Join us as we dive into the world of journalism with Conz Preti.

In this episode of Coffee with a Journalist, host Beck Bamberger sits down with Lucy Morgan, purpose editor and deputy website editor at Glamour. During the discussion, Lucy shares the inside scoop on her role, her hectic inbox filled with exciting and sensitive pitches, and her dedication to meaningful, women's empowerment content. She also talks about her preferences for phone interviews, paragraph-based pitches, and the importance of authentic, expert sources. Lucy dives into Glamour's dynamic approach to women's health topics and emphasizes the need for thoughtfully crafted pitches.