Meredith C. Fineman

Journalists are disorganized. That's your advantage. Yep, I'll ruffle a few feathers, but I work for founders and this is helpful. Journos aren't different from most professionals. They're disorganized, have no process, often run late, and have no solid systems to manage their workflow. They mark great ideas as unread to keep track, or if they're really organized, use Outlook folders they promise to check, but never do. Some try to explain their process and how they want to be pitched, but many go by instinct or what's trending, so it's hard them to explain their process. They really are trying to be helpful, but it confuses most folks. Knowing this, here's a process that works to pitch them: 1. Shape their gut: post cool stuff on social media for about 1 month then follow / engage with them. Don't pitch. Just engage. 2. Dig in: Learn their personal lexicon. Know what they like. Read all their work. Keep a investigative report on them. Track social media habits. 3. Be a resource: Email them short emails with helpful resources that DO NOT INVOLVE YOU. Do this only when it's really REALLY good stuff. You're warming them up! 4. Continue a convo: When you finally pitch, your tone should be as if you're continuing a conversation they started. Expand on details they didn't cover, answer questions they didn't ask. (But don't act like you know them. That's weird.) 5. Keep it short. Get important details in the subject, expand on all the important details in the first two sentences. Delete as much as possible especially if it looks like marketing language or isn't provable. 6. Follow up: Reply to your own pitch in 1-2 weeks, again continuing the conversation. Add details or expand on vital aspects. Do not send "just checking" BS! Assume they read the entire pitch and just didn't respond. If they posted an article or social media post between the original pitch that is relevant add that context. 7. Follow up again: In 1-2 weeks use the same process, adding something like "no need to reply if this isn't a fit. Appreciate your time!" They're hounded often, so if you go the opposite direction, that resonates. 8. Stop. You're done. No contact for a few months. 9. Pitch a better angle. It's gotta be new, not the same crap. If your pitches were short + kind before, they probably forgot much of it, BUT you're somewhat familiar to them now, and they're more receptive. 10. Repeat for every journalist who writes content for your core audience.

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If you’re wondering what or how to say something on an interview, stop. Trying to fabricate talking points or fit narratives into tiny boxes is what gets people into trouble when talking to the media. Gone are the days of canned talk tracks with repetitive marketing speak. If reporters wanted to know your product's value-add, they would go to your website. They are interviewing you to talk to YOU. They are looking for experience. Anecdotes. Context. Opinions. They aren’t looking for your newest feature functionality that only affects your direct stakeholders. The best thing you can do is be genuine, honest, and thoughtful in your conversation. If you inflate a story to support your narrative, a journalist is going to see right though that, and likely not want to work with you again. 

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Critique of Substack’s Approach to Email Delivery Enforcement The message from Substack Standards & Enforcement, while framed politely, reflects a concerning and overly punitive approach to handling email delivery metrics, particularly for publishers who rely on the platform to build and engage with their communities. First and foremost, disabling publishing abilities without prior warning or a transparent, data-driven explanation undermines the trust between creators and the platform. The vague reference to “poor email delivery indicators,” such as low open rates or spam complaints, is insufficient. Publishers deserve access to detailed analytics before such drastic action is taken. Without clarity or specific thresholds, the criteria appear arbitrary and opaque. Furthermore, placing the burden entirely on the creator to “prune” their list through a re-confirmation process penalizes legitimate audience-building efforts. Many imported lists consist of genuine followers collected from personal websites, events, or past platforms. Forcing re-verification not only risks losing engaged readers but also ignores the nuances of user behavior—open rates and spam complaints can vary due to numerous external factors, including email client algorithms or misleading spam filters. The enforcement email also lacks empathy and support for content creators, offering no collaborative solution or opportunity to appeal. A more constructive approach would involve education, tailored feedback, and system support (e.g., A/B testing subject lines or improved deliverability tips) rather than immediate suspension of core functionality. Lastly, it is contradictory for a platform built on creator empowerment and independence to impose such heavy-handed controls without due process or proportional response. Substack should rethink this policy and replace enforcement through disruption with engagement through support. Empowering creators to improve deliverability, rather than halting their work, would reflect a more ethical and sustainable strategy aligned with Substack’s supposed mission.

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Executives have the advantage of influence. Journalists, competitors, customers, peers, and employees give time to your ideas because there is gravity to your title. The way I see it, you can use this advantage in one of three ways: 1. Be a silent builder who seldom shares ideas publicly. You spend all your creative energy internally to support your team. 2. Play the media game to build a personal brand. Study the algorithms. Hire a personal branding agency. Create punchy content to earn viral social media fame. 3.  Share your thinking publicly to become known for your ideas. Lead your industry conversation through depth of insight. It’s that last one that most resonates with me. 👇 See the full story 👇

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Women in communications aren’t just asking for a seat at the table — they’re building their own tables. That line stayed with me after this conversation with agency founders and leaders in honor of International Women’s Month. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) webinar "She Built It" wasn’t just inspiring — it was grounding. A reminder of what it really takes to build, lead, and sustain something meaningful in this field. Thank you to moderator Natalie Ghidotti, APR, Fellow PRSA, and panelists Grace Leong, Priscilla Clarke, and my colleague, Vanguard Communications CEO & President Maria Rodriguez, for such a thought-provoking discussion. A few reflections I’m still sitting with: 1. Confidence doesn’t always come first. Sometimes you build it while you’re doing the thing — even when fear and doubt are right there with you. 2. No one does this alone. Behind every bold move is a circle of support — mentors, partners, teams and people who believe in you (sometimes before you fully believe in yourself). 3. Communications expertise isn’t enough anymore. To lead, you have to understand the business — the numbers, the strategy, the outcomes. 4. Leadership evolves. You start by doing everything, then you learn to empower others, and eventually your role becomes removing barriers so your team can thrive. 5. Culture shows up in the everyday. Flexibility, mental health and how we support each other — that is leadership. 6. And AI isn’t something happening “out there.” It’s here. The question is whether we’re willing to lean in, learn and lead through it. What I appreciated most was the honesty — especially around imposter syndrome. That feeling doesn’t just disappear at the leadership level. But you learn not to let it make your decisions. One reminder I’m carrying forward: You don’t have to feel 100% ready to take the next step. Sometimes, you just have to trust that you belong in the room — and build anyway.

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"Brand and reputation are related but distinct functions with different owners, different metrics, and different time horizons," writes Nathaniel Sillin, senior director of global corporate communications and public affairs at Gilead Sciences, in the latest "Perspectives" article at PRovoke Media. "Reputation investments are expensive, slow, and difficult to attribute. Sooner or later, a CEO will ask to cut the budget in a tough quarter. That will kill the function unless the CCO has already built the case. The real case is that reputation is the asset that determines whether the company gets the benefit of the doubt when something goes wrong. And something always goes wrong." https://lnkd.in/eVrFWG27

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Do you need to commit your media plan and messaging to writing? 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝘁: Big yes. Who from our company should be speaking to the press? 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝘁: It depends. What should I do when reporters call me on the phone asking for comment? 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝘁: Don’t start babbling. Such questions about media strategy are among those I’ve heard from clients and others throughout the years. Take a look at 10 related questions — along with rapid fire responses — on the C-suite Blueprint (𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀).

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When my firm works on projects that involve community outreach or public education, one thing we often have to gently remind our professional teams about is the “Curse of Knowledge.” Land planners, attorneys, engineers, environmental and traffic consultants are all experts in their fields. That expertise comes with industry jargon most people don’t speak. And if complex issues aren’t translated into plain language, people simply won’t understand what’s being discussed. Good communication isn’t about dumbing things down. It’s about making sure everyone can follow the conversation. I wrote more about this in my recent column. Take a look and tell me: what’s YOUR Curse of Knowledge? Nancy McCarthy Allison Megrath, AICP, CNU-A, GPC, Christen Spake, Jill Marasa Morris Crady Maureen Saltzer Chelsea Ryan, PE Robert Mulcahy Georgia Vince Marcy (Policastro) Frick

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Sometimes the most powerful tool isn’t a “no,” but a simple “maybe.” In my latest Substack article, I explore how “maybe” keeps ideas alive, protects collaboration, and strengthens client relationships without shutting down possibilities. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/gKevaxUB

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One thing publishing has taught me: no two books are marketed the same way. And more importantly, no two authors should be either. It’s tempting to look for a formula. Launch event. Influencer list. Media outreach. Social media plan. Repeat. But books aren’t products on an assembly line. They’re extensions of the people who wrote them. Some authors are natural speakers: you build rooms around them. Some are exceptional thinkers: you lean into long-form conversations and essays. Some connect deeply one-on-one: you focus on intimate communities. Some carry lived experience that becomes the anchor of the narrative. The marketing has to play to that strength. We’ve learned that the most effective campaigns don’t start with “What worked last time?” They start with “Who is this author, really, and where do they come alive?” Because when the positioning feels aligned with the person behind the book, the audience can sense it. And that alignment travels further than any template ever will.

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Writers are famously bad at celebrating progress. We wait for big milestones: the finished book, the signed contract, the glowing review. And then we quietly dismiss everything else as “not enough.” But most writing lives in the middle: the paragraph that finally clicks, the week you showed up three times, the draft you didn’t abandon when it got uncomfortable. Those moments matter. Celebrating small writing milestones isn’t about lowering standards; it’s about reinforcing the behavior that actually gets work done. When you notice progress, your brain learns that effort leads somewhere. And that makes it easier to begin again tomorrow. Small celebrations build confidence, momentum, and trust in yourself as a writer. If you only reward the finish line, you’ll burn out long before you reach it. Progress deserves recognition while it’s happening. ✍️ How do you celebrate small wins? ♻️ Share this post if it hits home

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Getting an agent and selling your book to a big five publisher is NOT about the story. And that’s why so many authors have difficulty when pitching their manuscripts to an agent. Publishers are in business to sell books. Your pitch has to sell into that reality. Brooke Warner’s great post about her experience at a writers conference: “For memoirists, it's: 1) Do you have a strong hook? 2) Do you have a meaningful author platform? 3) Can you articulate a specific audience? For novelists, it's an ineffable combination of voice and who the author is and what the story is about.”

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Everyone talks about book launch day in publishing, when we really should spend more time talking about what happens in 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓. You see, even though launch day gets all the attention (and Instagram Stories, LinkedIn Live celebrations, and launch parties ), the long game is what turns a one-time promo into a long-term platform. Because that first year post-launch… That’s where staying power is built. That’s when your book: ✅ Stops being a “new release” and becomes a trusted resource ✅ Starts showing up in your speaking pitches, media mentions, and client calls ✅ Moves from front-and-center to background credibility—supporting your business, not overwhelming it Most importantly, that’s when authors decide whether they’re done… or just getting started. If you want to build visibility that lasts, here’s what matters: → Refresh your messaging: shift from “preorder now” to “available now,” and promote new formats (audiobook, paperback, etc.) → Keep your website working quietly in your favor. Don’t shout, but don’t go silent → Blend your book into your brand: into bios, intros, workshops, and lead magnets → Post with intention, not just nostalgia. New wins, timely insights, relevant media → Let it evolve. After 6–12 months, you can ease off promotion while still staying discoverable Have you thought about how you’re showing up after your launch window closes? Let me know in the comments below! I’m here to help if you have questions.   #Publishing #Author #Marketing #ThoughtLeadership #Leadership

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Beware of pointing towards headlines to prove your worth. There have been three viral articles in about as many weeks that I've seen so many comms people saying, "see? I MATTER!" 1) The Wall Street Journal: "Companies Are Desperately Seeking 'Storytellers'" 2) Scott Galloway: Strategic comms is "only going to increase in importance" 3) Business Insider: "The hottest job in tech: Writing words"* First, to be clear: these headlines are great. I'm glad these stories were written. I'm grateful the tide is shifting from AI will replace comms teams → we need better comms teams because of AI. But if all you're doing is shoving a headline into your CEO's face and saying "here's the proof I should be valued" then you're missing 99.9% of the point. Here's what you should do instead: 1. Massively lean into AI and building systems that replace your grunt work so you *can* focus on strategic ~storytelling~ 2. Do the hard work to align what you're doing with driving revenue. There's no one size fits all approach, but there *is* something every person can do to demonstrate business value 3. Transform how you communicate about yourself internally from comms metrics → what the business cares about. Headlines aren't going to save your job. Doing the work will. Storytelling for yourself will. Transformation will. (PS: for #1, I'm hosting a free Vibe Code Your Comms Team webinar - you can grab your spot here: https://lnkd.in/eqUTdbDT ) *I was quoted in this article and damn that felt good but re-read the quote and you might feel my cynicism overfloweth "Because AI generates so much content, 'you would think that actually the job of the comms person or the storyteller would be fewer and farther between,' says Gab Ferree. [...] 'There's just so much garbage out there that people want to pay a premium for someone who *can claim* that they can cut through the noise.'"

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Nobody called me a writer. Cue existential crisis, stage left. I've positioned myself as a writer for three decades. Last week, I asked seven people what they value about me. Three responded — the other four are SLACKERS. (You're on the clock, people!) Not one mentioned writing. Zero. Not "Meg's great with words" or "Meg can write." Nothing about the craft I thought was my primary value. All three said the same thing: — My former boss: "The ability to make connections that others don't see." — My analytics colleague: "Connected to the zeitgeist. You find the story behind the reporting." — My close friend: "You're always ahead of the curve—ahead of the trend, ahead of the thinking." I thought everyone did this. See pattern A, connect weird detail from 2019, land on something that makes people go "oh, shit." Nope. What I called "being thorough": All three called rare. "She does extensive research to back up her premises. Not many people can do that." What I thought was trauma response from newsroom deadlines: They called competitive advantage. "Your ability to read the room and have thoughtful takes. How quickly you went from freaking out about AI to making it a business." Here's what I am: A voice archaeologist. Indiana Jones with better hair, spending the past year obsessively digging with AI, bending its LLMs to my will. The treasure isn't in dusty tombs — it's buried in transcripts under decades of saying "circle back" and "let's take this offline." I used to say: "I'm a writer who helps executives sound authentic." What I truly do: "I excavate voices from corporate burial grounds. The adventure is in the dig, not the damage control." The writing is the delivery mechanism. The archaeology is the value. The pattern recognition is the moat. Why I've been worried about the wrong threat: AI can write. Everyone knows this. The problem isn't that AI writes. It's that everyone thinks AI can't write for them. They've tried. It's generic. It sounds like ChatGPT had a baby with corporate communications. I get you 80% of the way there — in YOUR voice. You edit and refine instead of starting from scratch. AI cannot excavate what's been buried for years, spot cultural shifts 18 months early, or see the connections in your expertise you're too close to notice. But when I feed those patterns into custom systems? That's when AI stops being generic and starts being you. I introduce myself incorrectly in our AI era. Not because "writer" is inaccurate—I DO write. But because it obscures what clients truly pay for: The dig. The discovery. The "how did she know that?" moment. Nobody is paying me to write. They're paying me to excavate—then express what I find clearly enough to move things forward. I just didn't know it until three people told me in writing. Time to stop wearing someone else's job description. X marks the spot.

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Technical PR skills are becoming more essential than the traditional ones we’ve long relied on. It’s time to stop saying we’re “not good at math.” AI is transforming communication faster than most of us can keep up, and our latest research with We. Communications shows just how fast that shift is happening. Our new study, Message vs. the Machine, reveals that while AI is widely seen as transformational, there’s a widening gap between who’s adapting and who’s not. Older leaders and public companies are leading adoption: raising questions about what that means for agencies, students, and newcomers who haven’t yet caught up. And while large language models are emerging as a new communication channel, few brands are thinking of AI as a storytelling vehicle. With more than 3,000 models worldwide, half based in China, the landscape of brand visibility and reputation could look very different in just a few years. At the USC Center for Public Relations, we believe every communicator will need to manage their AI brand as carefully as their corporate one. You can read Message vs. the Machine here: https://bit.ly/3LGrhrE #USCAnnenberg #WECommunications #AinPR #PRFuture #CenterforPR #Leadership

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I didn’t expect a microphone and a sound booth to remind me why telling our stories matters so much. Last week, I sat in a small recording booth, headphones on, microphone in front of me… and I read my own life back to myself. I was recording the audiobook version of my memoir. I thought it would be a technical process - speak clearly, stay hydrated, don’t mess up the pacing. Instead, it became something far more emotional. With each chapter, I was transported back to moments from my 22 years as a political spouse - the high-stakes public events, the quiet personal challenges, the unexpected lessons. And I was reminded of the readers who’ve told me over the years: “Your story helped me.” “I felt less alone.” “You gave me hope.” That’s when I realized: writing a memoir is one of the most generous things we can do. When we tell our stories authentically, we offer others a perspective they didn’t have before, hope they didn’t know they needed, and the reminder that they’re not alone in their journey. In my latest podcast episode, I share why memoirs matter, how personal stories ripple out further than we can see, and 10 tips for writing generously so your words land with lasting impact. 🎧 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ghQKVEbC #MemoirWriting #Storytelling #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife #LeadershipThroughStory #LifeStories #WriteYourMemoir #WritingTips #PersonalStorytelling #StoryMatters #NonfictionWriting

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