Join me for the popular "How to Become a Journalist's BFF" one-hour workshop

Plus: assignments and recent bylines

It’s Monday of what appears to be the world’s longest month … how’s everyone holding up?

In addition to crazy world disasters like the LA fires, the industry is experiencing yet another round of shakeups. Editors are losing their jobs, writers are getting laid off, and we’ve heard of so many publicists losing clients in these uncertain times.

By now you’ve probably heard that DotDash Meredith had huge layoffs this month. Add that to the other unfortunate layoffs that have happened over the last few months:

• Vox Media laid off a ton of staff and it looks like Thrillist might be over

• DotDash Meredith laid off 53 people

• Hearst laid off 200 employees

• TMB laid off an unknown number of employees, mostly in the e-commerce departments across all brands

• And here’s a link to a whole bunch more layoffs

With all this movement in the industry, one of the smartest steps you can make now is to build and foster your network. January is a great time to:

• Intro yourself to new journalists you’ve never worked with before

• Touch base with journalists you’ve fallen out of touch with

• Reconnect with your go-to journalists

• Put yourself in positions to meet new journalists

• Team up with new journalists to try new things for your clients

On that note, Nicole Pajer and I are bringing back one of our most popular workshops this month in a group format. It’s been an entire year since we’ve offered this and it’s been highly requested so here goes… and we’ve updated our presentation for today’s ever-changing journalism landscape, of course!

How to Become a Writer’s BFF: Networking & Relationship Management session

Here are the details:

What: Some publicists seem to have a transactional “wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am” approach to their work, but highly successful publicists know that building long-term relationships with journalists is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Learn how to meet new journalists, and discover best practices for staying in touch, following up, and creating meaningful relationships.

Format: 1-hour workshop via Zoom with Jill and Nicole includes:

• a formal 45-minute presentation of our best relationship-building and management tips:

  • Learn how to meet new journalists and develop a lucrative working relationship with them

  • Discover best practices for staying in touch

  • Learn the finer points of following up that will increase your response rate

  • Discover how to become a writer’s go-to source

  • Learn how to stand out when answering a writer’s call for sources (whether that’s on HARO, a FB group, Twitter, Substack etc) — there is definitely an art to this and we will walk you through our magic formula!

  • Discover how to avoid common writer pet peeves that may make someone want to pass on working with you again.

• 15 minutes for Q&A: Anything and everything is on the table for discussion here and you will walk away with your questions answered.

• Opportunity to network with and learn from your colleagues

Date:

Tuesday, January 28th 10 am PST/1:00 pm ET. Can’t make it live? Sign up anyway and we’ll send you the recording to watch on your own time!

Pricing:

$99 per person for annual Top Tier Paid Subscribers; $149 per person for Free Subscribers (prepayment is required to hold your slot)

(Note to free subscribers: The TTC annual subscription fee is $99 — so, upgrading would save you $50 on this workshop, PLUS you’d get access to ALL our paid content — including our vast archive of content — and monthly Top Tier Talks.

Questions? Ready to sign up?

Reach out to us at info@toptierconsulting.NET today! We hope to see you there!

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Buy an Ad in This Substack That 7,000+ Publicists and Journalists Read Each Week

Do you have a course, book, conference, event, tool or service that you’d like to promote to the 7,000+ publicists and writers who subscribe to my newsletter?

Humble brag alert: My average open rate is 45%, so this is a highly engaged audience (PS: that open rate is DOUBLE what’s considered “good” for marketing!).

Contact me today to discuss sponsorship opportunities: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

Testimonial from a recent sponsor:

Choosing to regularly advertise with Jill has been transformational for our business. Not only has she fostered such a genuine connection with her audience, but she’s also a complete natural at helping our business form the right copy to connect with the right person at the right time. It’s not even really in an advertisement – it’s an honest-to-goodness placement of her trust in your business to her loyal readers!

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***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)

• Reader’s Digest: Don’t Make This Expensive Mistake On Your Next Cruise

• Reader’s Digest: Carnival Cruise Line Is the First to Ban This Controversial Item on All Sailings

• Reader’s Digest: How to Score a Cruise Upgrade—For Free!

• Thrillist (my first byline for this outlet!): How Realistic Is ‘Doctor Odyssey’?

• Business Insider: I frequently visit Las Vegas between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's one of the best times to experience The Strip.

• Southern Living: I’ve Been Cruising For Over 25 Years, Here Are 22 Things You’ll Be Glad You Packed

• Reader’s Digest: It’s Not Your Imagination: Flights Are Getting Longer—Here’s Why

• Taste of Home: Why Are There So Many Food Recalls Right Now?

• Reader’s Digest: Here’s How to Tell Which Side of the Car Your Gas Tank Is on—Without Getting Out

• Business Insider: I spent $50,000 on my kitchen remodel. These 5 splurges were totally worth it — but I have one expensive regret.

• Insider: I spent $50,000 remodeling my kitchen. Here are 5 things I got right and one I wish I'd done differently.

• US News & World Report: Bucket List Cruises for Seniors

• Business Traveler: What Is It Like to Fly Singapore Airlines Business Class on the A350?

• AARP: Don’t Make These Mistakes on Your Visa Application (my second story about getting denied entry into Vietnam)

• Insider: I took an ultra-luxury river cruise with only 40 other passengers. I'm not sure how I'll ever sail with the masses again.

• Insider: I went on an ultra-luxury cruise that sails with up to 68 passengers at a time. I loved it, but it's not for everyone.

• Insider: I went on a $7,075 cruise for 9 days. See inside my 344-square-foot suite with a glass sunroom and walk-in closet.

• Reader’s Digest: Don’t Miss This Black Friday Cruise Deal to Score 75% Off a Second Guest

• Reader’s Digest: What Is the 5-4-3-2-1 Packing Method, and Why Do Travel Pros Swear by It?

• The Points Guy: 10 hotels with Michelin-starred restaurants — and how to use points to pay for them

• Insider: Meet these retired sisters in their 60s who live on cruises full time. They've already spent over 1,500 days at sea.

• Southern Living: The 8 Best Cruise Itineraries That Sail Out Of Southern Ports

• Reader’s Digest: Royal Caribbean Is Raising Its Gratuity Fee—Here’s What You Need to Know

• Reader’s Digest: A Swiftie’s Guide to New Orleans: 12 Things to See and Do

• Insider: I Flew 33 Hours to Vietnam But Was Denied Entry

• AARP: Smart Guide to Reducing Food Waste

• Reader’s Digest: The First Thing You Should Do When You Board a Cruise

• AARP: 25 Great Ways to Build Healthy Habits

• US News & World Report: Utopia of the Seas: The Best Dining, Amenities and More on Royal Caribbean's Newest Ship

• AARP: A Suspected Blood Clot Landed Me in a Cruise Ship Medical Center

• The Points Guy: 10 Best Asia Cruises

• The Points Guy: 8 Best Australia/New Zealand Cruises

• Southern Living: Royal Caribbean’s New Utopia of the Seas

• Town & Country: A Savannah Itinerary for Every Traveler

• Southern Living: 12 Tips To Know Before Taking Your First-Ever Cruise, According To Veteran Cruisers

• US News & World Report: Crystal Symphony Review: First Impressions of Crystal's Revamped Ship

• Insider: Here’s How I Maximize a Weekend in Sin City

• Southern Living: 11 Etiquette Mistakes You Might Be Making on a Cruise

• Reader’s Digest: July Luggage Review: I Tested the Carry-On Pro on Multiple Overseas Flights

• Insider: I Tried Princess Cruise’s Premier Package and It’s One of the Best Deals At Sea

• Taste of Home: Amish Chicken and Noodles

• Copper Courier: 8 Phoenix Rooftop Bars

• Virtuoso: The Sun Princess Sets Sail with Some of the Most Exciting Entertainment at Sea

• Reader’s Digest: After 20 Ocean Cruises, I Took My First River Cruise—Here Are 6 Ways It Was Better

• EatingWell: 10 Foods Rich in Vitamin K, Recommended by Dietitians

• Reader’s Digest: I took the Beis Front Pocket Carry-On on Multiple International Trips, and It’s a Winner

• Copper Courier: Puff, Puff, Pass .. The Best 4/20 Promos and Deals Around the Valley

• Taste of Home: How Long Does Rice Last in the Fridge?

• Copper Courier: Where to buy farm-fresh eggs in Tucson

• Copper Courier: 10 Best Pizza Joints in Phoenix

• The Points Guy: Holland America restaurants: The ultimate cruise guide to food and dining on board

• Travel Market Report: What to Expect When Riding Brightline

• Travel Market Report: The 3 Highest End Suites on the Crystal Symphony

• Copper Courier: 7 Places to See and Smell Wildflowers Near Phoenix

Now, it's time to get the word out! When you and your clients share your coverage on social media, please be sure to tag my accounts: Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn (and please connect with me yourselves!).

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If you find this newsletter valuable, please click the share button below and send it to your colleagues … the more, the merrier!

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—— Current Editorial Needs ——

1. AARP: Need a Perfume Scientist and/or Fragrance Chemist

• Looking for a perfume scientist or fragrance specialist who can share insider secrets about making your fragrance last the longest, purchasing tips, etc.

• Especially interested in BIPOC sources!

• Subject line: AARP Fragrance Expert

• Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

• Pitch by: Wednesday, Jan 29th

2. Copper Courier: Mochi Donuts in Arizona

• Looking for where to buy mochi donuts around the state

• Subject line: AZ Mochi Donuts

• Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

• Pitch by: Tuesday, Jan 28th

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More Useful Info

• Other journalist newsletters definitely worth subscribing to: Be sure to follow my trusted colleagues so you can stay up-to-date on their pitching needs: Alice Dubin, Aly Walansky, Nicole Pajer, and Joni Sweet.

• Have you signed up for my OTHER Substack newsletter yet? It’s a joint venture with Nicole Pajer and we do deep dives into the media industry to help PR pros increase their ROI. Check it out here!