Media Contact Updates: The Today Show, Ellen, Wendy Williams And More!

Media Contact Updates

Media exposure has shifted to TV and digital news in the Time Of Coronavirus because those two mediums are the fastest to get news out, and so far have proved the most adaptable. TV people can get a little more creative and air from their basements: Hello Savvanah Guthrie (Today Show), Chris Cuomo (CNN) and many others.

Print publications are at a disadvantage right now because of:

• Printers: Their possible inability to print - if the printer literally can't maintain 6' feet social distance to do the job.

• Distribution sites just closed up. No more deli, Barnes & Noble, etc.

• Photo Shoots and other logistics for preparing for a story are impeded by the shut down.

While the media has been dubbed and "essential business" by New York (where most media is produced from). However, California is in the same boat, with the entertainment industry shut down (no more TV shows or movies being produced), which limits celebrity gifting, etc. The celebrities are in their homes, so if you want to get something to them, this is a whole different ballgame possibly.

What Tin Shingle Is Doing - Local Media + TV Updates

It's all hands on deck for Local Media updates and TV Show updates. A ton of content is being produced, and writers are busy.

For celebrity outreach, we booked another TuneUp with celebrity gifting expert Sarah Shaw. This will be live on April 15, 2020 at 1pm EST. Register here for the live, free broadcast. If you miss it, it will be packaged up and made available to Tin Shingle Media Kit Members to stream anytime.

We are updating the media contacts for which shows are on, and who is working over-time. Local media is key right now, as the coronavirus makes deep impacts on communities at the very hyper local level. National print media is digging deep into digital content, with articles and video.

- Today Show: Updated, and getting re-organized for which producers and assistants work on which hour. Today Show 1st Hour, 2nd Hour, etc. have different vibes.
- Ellen: She's back!! Announced today. These Media Contacts have been updated.
- Wendy Williams. Also coming back! Will refresh these contacts. Most likely not much change. Hopefully :)
- "Coronavirus" Tag: For writers who are writing deeply about coronavirus impacts in different areas of life, Tin Shingle has identified this as a new Area of Interest you can search by when trying to find the best person for your pitch.
- Hudson Valley, NY Media Outlets: Updates to publications in this region of New York continue to be updated.
- Vermont Media Outlets: These are in the works now. We are researching this region for easier access to small but mighty local publications.

Editorial Calendars - Relevant? 

Yes, the Editorial Calendars are still relevant, though distribution dates may be changing, and issues may be merging into a double issue. Because of the New Normal, editorial content may change, since people are talking about such wildly different things now. You can still find these in Tin Shingle's Editorial Calendar Collection, available to members of Tin Shingle.

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SAVVANAH GUTHRIE IS BACK!
After experiencing coronavirus symptoms, Savvanah self-quarentined an did the show from her home (no coronavirus, just a scare). “It feels good to be in the same room,” she told co-host Hoda Kotb according to Page Six. “I wish we were closer like we used to snuggle up,” she said, noting the gap between them because of social-distancing guidelines.

The Today Show is producing so much coronavirus news, that Hoda has even been doing some news at night. Tin Shingle has assigned our Program Manager, Teslie Andrade, to cover the Today Show for you as our beat reporter. We know you can't watch TV all day, so we'll give you a feel of what's going on the show in case you want to pitch it. Read her first article here!

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TUNEUP: PITCHING IN THE TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS
For this weekend only, we have made this TuneUp free for everyone to stream. To be fair to our current Tin Shingle Media Kit Members, and to continue to provide value to them, we will put this behind the membership wall again. But we want help everone, so here you go! This TuneUp has a huge Motivation Minute for businesses who are having to reinvent themselves and are scared. It also has ideas of how to pitch the media right now. Yes, your retail business is relevant. Very relevant. You just need the right angle.
Watch Now >

TUNEUP: WHAT TO PITCH THE MEDIA IN APRIL
Same thing. View this for this weekend only. We interview veteran publisher Beth McDonough, former publisher of Traditional Home, with insight into the state of print magazines right now. This also has a huge Motivation Minute that you will want to listen to, as well as pitching tips and ideas.
Watch Now >

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New Instagram Video Series

Coming at you live every morning on Instagram with Katie's Morning Message! Also catch advice in tiny Pitch Whisperer videos, and Katie and Teslie's Work From Home tips! How to find it? Go to our Instagram IGTV link. Soon we will move these to the Tin Shingle website via Vimeo as well.

Talk to you soon!

Annnnd, She's Back! Savannah Guthrie Is Officially Back On Air At The Today Show

Photo Credit: People.com via screenshot

Annnnnnd she’s back! Savannah Guthrie is officially back on air alongside Hoda Kotb (6 feet away, of course). Savannah spent the last two weeks working from home with a sore throat and runny nose out of caution due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She said at the time she felt “good” but after an employee who works on The TODAY Show tested positive for coronavirus, Savannah erred on the side of caution.

Al Roker (weatherman & co-host of 3rd hour of today) and Craig Melvin (news anchor) are continuing to work entirely remotely. Both men had some contact with the employee who tested positive, however, they both feel good. Al is still delivering weather from his home and Craig is on air from home (sometimes letting his son joins!)

And, in light of recent events, Hoda announced on Monday that she and her boyfriend, Joel Schiffman, are engaged after six years together.

What else is happening on The TODAY Show?

• Filing for unemployment.

• Couples hoping to expand their families have been struggling with IVF cancellations amid the coronavirus pandemic.

• Two cruise ships heading to Florida are experiencing roadblocks- desperate to dock".

Timing Is Everything: What To Pitch Media During Coronavirus

Magazines: Are They Printing? What To Pitch In April

We interrupt this regular monthly series to bring you the Coronavirus Edition of What To Pitch The Media This Month: April.

What are magazines doing in The Time Of The Coronavirus? We turned to a magazine expert to answer this question: Traditional Home's former publisher, Beth McDonough. She tells us about distribution troubles some magazines may face, as well as the challenge print shops face in order to comply with social distancing and keeping their employees safe.

In Tin Shingle's exclusive monthly TuneUp series, "What To Pitch The Media This Month," we zeroed in on what you should be focusing on right now for your PR and Social Media campaign planning.

COVERED IN THIS BROADCAST

• Motivation Minute

• Housekeeping: What you can find at Tin Shingle right now. Hint: Updated Today Show and Ellen contacts!

• Magazines (in print) (story ideas relevant for 6 months from now)

• Blogs / Podcasts (story ideas relevant for 1 week to 2 months out)

• TV (story ideas relevant for 1 week to 2 months out)

If you didn't make it to this free broadcast, Tin Shinglers with the Media Membership get 24/7 access to watch any TuneUp whenever they want. Apply for Tin Shingle membership today to get access! Click HERE for access.

Silver Lining To Working At Home With Our Pets By The Team At Vital Pet Life

The Team at Vital Pet Life wrote in and shared with us how working from home with pets can contribute to positive therapeutic effects. The article is below.

Silver Lining to Working at Home with our Pets

In trying to find silver linings to our new remote working situations, if you're working from home with your pet, and haven't done so before, I'd love to share some uplifting stats. An estimated 85 million families, or 68% of the U.S have pets in their homes and studies have found that you may see a boost in your productivity, health benefits as well as perks if you have kids too. Obviously, no more anxiety about rushing home to care for them because they’re probably sitting on your desk or at your feet. Say goodbye to a post lunch crash; a quick walk outside with your dog in the fresh air, gives you the energy needed to push through your day.

Studies have shown that pets, especially dogs and cats, help keep us calm, reduce anxiety and loneliness by elevating our levels of serotonin and dopamine with their unconditional love. Working from home, we can feel the positive therapeutic effects of touch when we take a moment to love and rub our fur babies. You don’t have to have a dog or cat to feel the positive benefits of pet companionship; those who care for a reptile or a fish in an aquarium still have lower pulse rates and reduced muscle tension. My dog Tuxedo is now embodying mindfulness during this new surreal reality. He’ll bark, look me in the eye (is that compassion I see?) and ask for my immediate attention and awareness. Is he letting me know I’m not alone or maybe he needs to go out. Either way, he’s reminding me to live in the moment.

Many of my friends now have children at home. While it can be challenging to juggle your workload with your new role as home-school teacher, keep in mind that all of us benefit from playing with our pets. Our furry friends help us remain calm and relaxed, as well as stimulating our brain and body. Dressing up your dog and teaching it new tricks teaches our kids an appreciation of patience, creativity, collaboration and possibly most important during these times; humor.

We at Vital Pet Life are donating "Comfort & Care Packages" of our Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil & Oatmeal Aloe Shampoo to our local animal rescue shelters because we know they’re feeling the burden of the quarantines as well.

Outfit For Today's Tin Shingle Tune Up Webinar

Because enough of this already! I am putting on fancy shoes and the lightening bolt shirt because today’s Tune Up is bringing it. Got a great Motivation Minute for you today, and really good advice for how to pitch the media right now for April. Everything must be specially crafted. Tune in to hear how to do it. Starts at 1PM EST today (Wednesday). Outfit from Beacon’s Main Street.

Today's TuneUp: Are Magazines Printing? We Ask Traditional Home's Former Publisher, Beth McDonough

Magazines: Are They Printing?
What To Pitch In April

When: Wednesday, April 1st, 2020
Time: 1pm EST
Where: At your computer or on your phone.
Price: Free for all during this live broadcast.

We interrupt this regular monthly series to bring you the Coronavirus Edition of What To Pitch The Media This Month: April.

What are magazines doing in The Time Of The Coronavirus? We turn to a magazine expert to answer this question: Traditional Home's former publisher, Beth McDonough. She is going to tell us about distribution troubles some magazines may face, as well as the challenge print shops face in order to comply with social distancing and keeping their employees safe.  

In Tin Shingle's exclusive monthly TuneUp series, "What To Pitch The Media This Month," we zero in on what you should be focusing on right now for your PR and Social Media campaign planning.

COVERED IN TODAY'S BROADCAST

• Motivation Minute

• Housekeeping: What you can find at Tin Shingle right now. Hint: Updated Today Show and Ellen contacts!

• Magazines (in print) (story ideas relevant for 6 months from now)

• Blogs / Podcasts (story ideas relevant for 1 week to 2 months out)

• TV (story ideas relevant for 1 week to 2 months out)

Get ideas! Join us live on today's broadcast! 

If you can't make it to this free broadcast, Tin Shinglers with the Media Membership get 24/7 access to watch any TuneUp whenever they want. Apply for Tin Shingle membership today to get access!

Timing Is Everything: How to Pitch The Media During The Time Of Coronavirus

Hi. This is Katie talking. Before we get into the TuneUp details below (which is going to be AWESOME), I wanted to update you on Tin Shingle and the coronavirus. I have wanted to write you so many articles, but I have been scooped up by the local media here in Beacon, NY because New York is one of many states is that is dealing with and preparing for coronavirus in a major way. Coronavirus: coming to a state near you. We have been blogging breaking news, and basic news like where kids who are not in school can pick up their free lunch, etc.

Here is what we are doing Coronavirus-wise here at Tin Shingle:

Coronavirus # hashtag cheat sheet. As you share in social media, you want to use the most relevant hashtags. This will help the media find you and possibly pick up what you are doing. The media is frantically looking for story ideas, tips, breaking news. You can get into these flows. Normally for our Media Kit Members only, we are putting this on our blog for all to use for free.

Local Media Contacts: We are inputting LA and the Hudson Valley of New York. Editorial Calendars: We have a bunch in, but are stopping this research in order to do more Media Contact updating.

Pitch Whisperer: If you are pitching the media or a sponsor or partner and want feedback on how that email reads, submit it to Tin Shingle's Pitch Whisperer in the Community section of the website. DM me at Tin Shingle for fastest response. Our website does auto-send an email when a new pitch has been submitted, but it has a delay. DM Tin Shingle.

Morning Message: I am checking in with you every morning on Instagram. Usually between 7-8am. Recorded, not live. The Internet is getting shaky, so I don't want a lot of transmission interruptions. All short videos (between 3-5mins) are there.

Working Remotely: We work this way anyway, so nothing has changed here! Except that our kids are surrounding us 24/7 and we are now "Substitute Teachers" as we have been given supplemental School From Home material. School is probably done for New York and Ohio, and others. Unless this #FlattenTheCurve movement works and a major change happens fast enough. So Social Distance!

Timing Is Everything: Pitching Your Business In The Time Of The Coronavirus

This TuneUp is all Coronavirus COVID-19. If you're not aware of how this pandemic has taken over the news cycle, then you need to wake up right now :) If you are aware, AWESOME! This call is all about how to pitch the media something very relevant that may get picked up very quickly. People are spending money. People are holding on to money. Lots of content is being created. Media is looking for: feel-good stories, resource stories, breaking news. There is SO MUCH going on at one time, that informing a news outlet right now is what we need to do.

COVERED IN THIS BROADCAST

• Motivation Minute: If you're located in one of the states dealing with COVID-19 in a major way, then your brain has broken several times. That's OK. Katie addresses this in the Motivation Minute.

• What Is The Media Doing Right Now? (hint: they are literally moving out of their offices...they are all working from home!)

• Topics You Can Pitch

• How To Write The Email Pitch

• Why Subject Lines Are So Important Right Now

• Why This Is Your Time To Shine

Tin Shinglers with the Media Membership get 24/7 access to watch any TuneUp whenever they want.
Apply for Tin Shingle membership today to get access!

Coronavirus Hashtag Cheat Sheet

LIFESTYLE HASHTAGS

#washyourhands
#wereinthistogether
#stayhome
#staysafe
#safehands
#handwashchallenge 
#handwashing
#workfromhome
#WFH
#quarantineandchill
#mypandemicsurvivalplan
#quarantined
​#coronapocalypse
#flattenthecurve
#stayinplace
#socialdistancing
#netflixandchill
#TogetherApart

BREAKING NEWS HASHTAGS

#coronavirus
#coronaviruses
#covid19
#covid
#corona
#pandemic
#MERS
#zika
#antibioticresistance
#highriskcovid19
#coronavirusoutbreak
#coronavirusupdate
#NCOV19
#NCOV2019

Trend Story: What It Is And How To Use Current Events To Get Your Business Featured In The News

If you have ever listened to a Tin Shingle TuneUp, the series dedicated to “What To Pitch This Month,” you’ll recall that there is a section called “Trend Stories.” In it, of-the-moment topics are rattled off to give you ideas of how you can jump into a current event right now. You have only a flicker of a moment to do this, so consider if it is a PR strategy you want.

What Is A Trend Story?

A “trend story” is when you think of a spin-off article idea based on current events that are cycling in the news right now. A current event can present an opportunity for you to create a reason to be in the media. You’ll want to do this carefully, because you may not want to be associated with a current event, and you don’t know how a media outlet may handle what you give them (i.e. your knowledge, a quote, etc.)

As of this posting, we are in the middle (or beginning, who knows) of the new coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak. New articles and TV stories are being published all day as new discoveries are made. The stock market is also moody (or tanking) thanks to price oil wars between Russia and Saudi Arabia. This opens the door to a lot of interesting, relevant and helpful articles that you can pitch to the media.

An example of a trend-story during the coronavirus outbreak is Why You Can’t Stop Touching Your Face. People are constantly being told to wash their hands and avoid touching the face (eyes, ears, nose). Big magazines that ran a version of a trend story with this story angle: Vogue with “Help! I Can’t Stop Touching My Face” and Wired with “Can't Stop Touching Your Face? Science Has Some Theories Why.”

The Process: How To Pitch A Trend Story

You are going to think of a unique idea that the media hasn’t written about or broadcast yet. Think of one media outlet, and then think of an idea that would work for those readers or viewers. Need help thinking of media outlets? You have loads of media names of magazines, TV, etc. in Tin Shingle’s Media Contact Idea Center.

You’ll write someone at that media outlet with your idea. You’ll title the email something really clever and catchy (but not confusing - you don’t want it to be too clever - just a really grabby headline). Ideas are below. You’ll want to use your Tin Shingle PR Planner to keep a list of the media contacts who will always be your go-to people for certain topics, like Kids, Tech, Design, etc.

You can’t sit on this pitch idea. You have to do it now. It’s timely. It’s trending. Ears and eyes are perked for relevant story angle ideas, so you are in a prime moment that won’t last long.

But First - Is It Worth It?

Pitching a trend requires quick thinking and typing. This means your day will be interrupted for hours as you think of your ideas, form them into an email, and find the media contact emails or social handles you need to ping to get someone’s attention.

Make sure this feature would be good for your business. Not just something that gets your business mentioned in the media for the sake of being mentioned. That would be a waste of your time. Does this feature back up what your business offers or believes in? If so, go for it.

Have These Items At The Ready

The person in the media who you are pitching needs to know who you are, fast. They don’t need your life story. They need your story in 2 sentences.

• Your headshot

• You bio (the 2 sentence version)

• Your website + social handles

• Picture(s) of what you are talking about, if applicable

Article Ideas For Right Now

Ok. So we’re all close to self-quarantining, or our local government has quarantined us, or our job or client has canceled an event or meeting. What does this mean for your business? Are you a pro for working from home? Are you a financial advisor who has guidance on a fluctuating market and 401K? Do you sell a product to make remote working easier?

You’re going to think in terms of bite-sized ideas, like these:

• 8 Things To Do With Kids During A 2 Week Corona-Break From School (OMG!)

• How To Work From Home With Little Kids

• How To Make An Eye-Pleasing Background For Your Video Conference-Client Meetings

• 3 Camera Tips For Not Looking Silly On Your Video Client Meetings

• 7 Ways To Clean Your Home In 5 Minutes

• How To Turn Your Shed Into A Temporary Office During A Corona-Break

• Stock Market Clearance Sale! Why To Rush (or not) Into Buying Stocks

• 4 Positive Thinking Tips When You Start Thinking Business As We Know It Will End Forever

Responsibility Of Publishers And You

What goes out onto the printed page, TV or Internet makes an impression. Especially during a time of uncertainty, avoid feeding the machine of fear to get press. Offer reassuring news that helps improve people’s lives and give them power through positive thinking.

Bonus Tips

A few bonus tips are included in this video for you! Including how not to respond to a media request, and how not to follow up on a feature story you know is going to hit the air-waves any moment.

TV Segment Opportunity

TV Segment Opportunity

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: DUE BY 2PM ET MONDAY

Two TV segment opportunities just came across our desk from our dear friend, Sabina Hitchen, who is featuring wow-worthy innovations and discoveries from small business owners. Sabina has promoted products on regional morning shows and Cheddar. She loves Tin Shingle, and you can include in your pitch that you heard about it from Tin Shingle!

Categories: Log in to see which types of products Sabina is looking for!

Sound like you can spin your business into it with a high value must-have? Details are listed in Tin Shingle's PR Center which is accessible by those who have the Media Kit Membership.

This lead has a very specific formatting requirement. Details are listed in Tin Shingle's PR Center which is accessible by those who have the Media Kit Membership.

Tin Shingle is not affiliated with any lead unless otherwise specified.