After spring break and Cesar Chavez Day, this morning was the first time in 10 days that my alarm went off for the school bus at 6 am. It was painful. (So very painful.) But the house is quiet during the day again, and that’s helpful for a working mama!
As I shared earlier this year, Muck Rack named me among its list of the top 10 most popular freelance journalists for 2024 by views. (Aw, shucks!) Now, the platform has asked three of those writers —myself along with Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner and Brad Japhe —for a bit more about our stories and our processes.
You can read the whole thing here, but here are a few snippets from my interview answers to help my readers get to know me better! (Also, my dad says there’s useful stuff in here for any profession, not just writers, and he’s always right. 😉 So I hope you find a useful takeaway in here you might be able to apply, too.)
Do you have a specific niche or beat? Where are some places your work has appeared?
Alesandra “Alice” Dubin (AD): My niche is lifestyle with a focus on travel. My work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Insider, Esquire, Town & Country, Harper’s Bazaar, Parents, AFAR, Glamour, TODAY, The Hollywood Reporter, Business Traveler, Elle Decor, Verywell Family… and on and on and on!
How did you get into freelance writing? Tell us a bit about your career path.
AD: I started my career as a staff editor at a trade publication for the event industry, and spent many years with the same outlet, moving with it from New York (where I’d earned my masters in journalism at NYU and started my career) back to my hometown of Los Angeles (where I launched what was then the new bureau).
When my pay (and consequently my work output expectations) suffered a cut in the last major recession, I started freelancing on the side and ended up taking on more and more work for a new outlet that eventually hired me in a full-time, W-2 position. When that role ended a couple of years later in a layoff as part of a restructuring, I started freelancing as a stopgap measure—but I fell in love with being my own boss and I have never looked back.
Alice on a press trip in London during the coronation last May.
Please share your favorite recent byline.
AD: In January, I got stranded in Hawaii on a family vacation as a result of the grounding of the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 fleet. I had travel insurance, tons of hotel connections, and I was stuck in paradise—so it was a delight!
I also managed to turn it into four bylines with four different angles on the news for four prestigious publications: Travel + Leisure, Insider, Business Traveler USA and The Points Guy. I was proud of pounding the pavement in real time to make that happen.
Have you ever been laid off from a journalism job? Do you have any advice for a newly laid off journalist?
AD: As previously mentioned, I sure have. That layoff was so painful—it shook my whole identity and sense of worth to the core. I feared it was the end of my career. I started freelancing as a stopgap measure while I looked for new employment and— spoiler: I figured out freelancing is the place to be! It’s generally better compensated, more interesting, more flexible, more varied, and best of all—it’s my own name on the door.
I have told many laid-off journalists the same message: Once you establish yourself as a freelancer, you may find you wouldn’t go back to the other side for anything. It’s the best job in the world.
What’s your top tip for pitching a new publication?
AD: This advice is as much for me as it is for anyone else: Just do it! Don’t let fear or imposter syndrome prevent you from pitching. Don’t assume “this will never work.” Instead, craft the pitch and let the editor decide before you talk yourself out of your own pitch’s worthiness in your head.
Also, this may be controversial, but I pitch multiple outlets simultaneously, especially if the story is time sensitive. I believe it’s very much time for old conventions surrounding simultaneous pitches to die. (I do briefly disclose when it’s a simultaneous pitch.)
What advice do you have for fellow journalists looking to move into freelancing?
AD: I don’t believe that you can make a living as a freelance writer in the current era—at least not in a high cost-of-living area with kids (as is my situation)—if you hold out for only the most meaningful or glamorous bylines. I’m not too proud to write all kinds of content that pays the bills and keeps my writing muscles limber! And I definitely don’t just wait until I’m inspired to sit down and write—this is a great job, but it’s a job after all and some tedium is required.
Alice Dubin Media newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Tools of the trade
Freshbooks is the bookkeeping tool I use exclusively for my invoicing, expenses, and reporting. It’s the best, IMHO, so I evangelize. Get FreshBooks here.
Are you a publicist who needs help understanding the affiliate game? This course, Affiliate Marketing for Publicists, can help.
I use Otter.ai to record interviews and Zoom meetings and also to transcribe them in real time. It’s a game changer. There’s a pro plan for agencies/companies with a ton of neat features. Check out Otter.ai here.
You already know my own press opportunities are in this very Substack! I’m also an affiliate partner for Press Hook, where publicists can create and manage press kits and brand profiles on behalf of clients and use the AI-driven platform to connect with journalists in a streamlined way. You can give it a try with a 14-day free trial —and if you use it, let me know what you think.
I’m also a partner for Press Loft, officially launching in the coming weeks in the US. The platform connects journalists with brands and PR agencies — primarily, but not exclusively, in the interior, home decor, and gifting categories. (It’s already among the top resources in the UK.) It offers some cool features like image-enhancing tools that use AI to turn low-res images into high-res ones. And you can upload product images and information to specific image libraries that journalists can access 24/7. Check it out with a free trial.
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Open press opportunities
For The Hollywood Reporter, I’m working on a story rounding up the best gifts for moms. [Braces for inbox impact.] Please (only) send pitches for truly clever, beautiful, cool things that are a relevant fit for this audience.
STILL OPEN: For Travel + Leisure, I’m working on a roundup of the best hotels in Kauai. With your pitches, please send along the following info required for inclusion, which will help streamline the reporting process if I do select the property for inclusion:
Location (neighborhood):
Distance from Airport (miles):
Accessibility:
Loyalty Programs:
Wi-Fi (only if not included in the rate):
Parking (yes/no and rates)
Resort fee (y/n)
Rates (starting rates)
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Open jobs
Job posts in this newsletter are free! Have an open opportunity you want me to promote? Share it with me at info@alicedubin.com.
Rise at Seven is hiring adigital PR strategist based in NYC. “You will most likely have a minimum of three years’ experience in PR agency side or in-house, with some experience in digital and traditional PR as well as a good understanding of SEO and social media platform operations.” Salary is in the $65K to $75K range, depending on experience.
Quinn PRis hiring a senior account supervisorin a commutable distance to Los Angeles. The ideal candidate will have four+ years of PR agency and management experience working on real estate, travel, and lifestyle brands and must demonstrate they have current and relevant media relationships. Candidates can learn more and applyhere.
Work with me
I am always available for project-based consulting. Please reach out to discuss your needs: info@alicedubin.com.
Here’s how to pitch: Simply respond to this email with a new subject line or pitch me at pitch@alicedubin.com.
Are you a writer hoping to reach my engaged audience of publicists? A publicist hoping to connect with brands? A digital media type with a product or service for the industry? Maybe you’d like to sponsor this newsletter with a featured ad. Let’s chat: info@alicedubin.com.
How to help
Donate to the International Committee of the Red Cross and Save the Children.
Donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong fund and the Maui Humane Society.
Donate to the Anti-Defamation League to support the fight against hate.
Donate to Moms Demand Action and Everytown.
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