Working From Home Just Got Way Cooler As Savannah Guthrie Returns Home - To Work For Today Show

The COVID-19 pandemic is opening our eyes to many things. One of them is working from home and being close to family. Granted, one can hardly work from home if there are small children around, but Savannah Guthrie’s decision to return to work from home - after self-quarantining herself after a coronavirus scare - is a testament to how working from home will become our new normal as the governors of this country band together to figure out our “new normal,” a term embraced by Rhode Island’s Governor, Gina Raimondo during today’s group teal-briefing with New York’s Governor Cuomo as he introduced the 6-governor task force to reopen the country. Oops! I mean region.

This an opportunity for all makeup artists, all stylists, all hair experts. You need to help her! Just kidding. She has her peeps of course, employed by the Today Show, to fix her up But this is the type of opportunity that experts in the beauty field can get creative in. What can you tell her for beauty tips? To make herself on-air ready if her hair and makeup crew isn’t going to come into her home?

• False eyelashes: How to falsify the false eyelash when you can’t get to your stylist

• Is having kids in the picture OK now in the time of coronavirus?

• What’s your work/life schedule like when you need to hit a deadline - like going on air?

Read The Highlights At People.com

Tin Shingle’s beat reporter for the Today Show, Teslie Andrade, loved this article at People.com. There are a few highlights she wants you to read:

“After briefly returning to the studio last week, the newscaster anchored Monday’s broadcast of Today from home, explaining to her co-host Hoda Kotb that she wanted to be close to her family amid the coronavirus pandemic. Guthrie shares 3-year-old son Charley and 5-year-old daughter Vale with husband Michael Feldman.

“‘I’m home. You know, the reason, Hoda — my family is upstate, and so I’m sticking close to the family and coming to the city less and less,” said Guthrie, 48. “So I’m trying to work from home. And also, frankly, that’s what these officials are telling us to do, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.’”

Savannah sets the scene at 30 Rock right now in the People article:

“Several other Today show stars are also working remotely, and in a new interview with Page Six, Kotb opened up about the strange experience of coming into the deserted office.

“‘The Today show is normally teeming with people. Even when I arrive, there are people outside 30 Rock waiting for the show to start — they’ve made trips to come see us. But [now] there’s literally not a soul outside,” she said. “I go into the studio and you can hear your footsteps echoing [because] there’s no one there.’”

Hoda Kotb shares what her in-studio experience is like:

“With no stylists or makeup artists, Kotb has been doing her own hair and makeup.

’“I do my hair with, like, a curling iron from the ’80s and really don’t lay eyes on anyone until Savannah pops up on the monitor,” she said.’”

So great. So honest. More of it!

Stay Home And Get Dressed Up!

Outfits for Tin Shingle’s TuneUp webinar = getting dressed up. Because enough of this already. I enjoy putting on fancy shoes and my favorite lightening bolt shirt because TuneUp’s are the bomb and include the best Motivation Minute, and really good advice for how to pitch the media right now. Everything must be specially crafted. Outfit from Beacon’s Main Street.

One Thing At A Time!

This has @alittlebeacon logo but it’s what I could grab, and I want this message to go to my business friends all over the country. My two companies are blurring in the sense of how we can help with media access and guidance. It’s hard when you have so many important things to write about at once. Reminding us to slowly focus on the one thing you know you need to get done, before moving to the next thing that you really want to do. One thing at a time!

Tin Shingle Removes Fox News From Media Contacts Idea Center

It’s official. Tin Shingle removed Fox News programming from our Media Contacts Idea Center. Their ideas are dangerous! No small business in our sphere should pitch them for publicity or to educate their audience. No on-air debate of poisoned information is worth that. Bye bye! DELETED FOR PROPAGANDA.

Pandemic Bangs? Quarantine Hashtags Here!

This just in! @teslieandrade is our beat reporter for @todayshow and she learned of a few more style hashtags for Coronavirus related posts. Updating Tin Shingle’s #coronavirus cheat sheet on our blog for you to look at when you’re posting social posts that are related. Includes beauty, work from home, health, etc. Normally our Hashtag Cheat Sheet is behind our member wall, but we brought this niche collection up for all to use as you get the word out.

Coronavirus Hashtag Cheat Sheet HERE!

Refinery 29 Talks About Being Single And Quarantining Alone

This. Is a very good read. @refinery29 focuses on the single life, but this article explores deep into what it means to quarantine alone. Others have been writing about this as well, like @coach_colette . I’ve wondered about this, as I live on the other side of this spectrum - with 3 kids and the extreme attention that comes with that, and a husband, and the nurturing of a partner’s fears that come with that (debates about going out to get gas or groceries). But in all of the chaos, there is company (and potty training and butts), and someone to call 911 if necessary. Google the writer’s name and Refinery29 and you’ll find the article. As I type this, my 9yo has set up a very intense movie Theater night, that gives her a heightened sense of anxiety that we all do things perfectly right (enter the theater with a movie ticket, get the snacks right, blankets rolled perfectly, we are actually getting yelled at, etc). The movie has started at 10:30pm, I’m pretty tired, and Trolls 2 rental costs $19.99. Guess we are supporting the box office! One of the most striking aspects about her piece is the lingo that Coronavirus help speaks in: the assumption that you have someone there to help you if you get sick. If you are a solo parent and aren’t quarantining with the other parent, you are alone with your little kids or babies when/if you get sick. And if you have no kids, no one can wake you up if you’re feeling super sick. Do read her piece at Refinery29.

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.