Activity
3K followers
-
Stephanie Cain shared thisProud moment as a journalist: Stories that we love—long-form features, that we discover through experience, domain expertise, and true reporting—are few and far between these days. This isn't celebrity. It isn't politics. It isn't about reality tv. And it certainly isn't clickbait. Read more about the last riddlers of Champagne, a traditional craft in the Champagne production process that's being preserved by a handful of artisans, who believe in keeping the art alive. Now in National Geographic 🥂 Link in comments!
-
Stephanie Cain shared thisDo you have to monetize your passion? The other day I was at an industry event and when someone asked what I'd been up to. I explained I was deep in interior design mode re-doing some of my home and loving the creative outlet. I happened to joke that in another life I'd be a professional interior designer. "Why not do that in this life?" I struggle with this idea that anything we like to do, we suddenly need to turn into a side hustle. In fact, that's especially true when it comes to our careers. It's foolish to think you need to make your passion your full-time job. More, on my latest The Mad Ones—link below.
-
Stephanie Cain shared thisA few years ago, I worked with a life coach to separate my identity as a human from my identity as a journalist. Somehow media equates your worth with your title, your beat, and your portfolio, and it became toxic. But as we all should know, you are worth so much more than your job. In one exercise, I was asked to imagine my future life. What did it look like? A strong vision came to mind: me, opening the door to my home, wearing a caftan and holding a glass of Champagne, and inviting in dear company, about to laugh, cry, and make happy memories. I think I have looked at too many Slim Aarons' photographs in my lifetime. But I haven't wavered from that vision because it seems to still ring true. So when I had the opportunity to turn some of that vibe into a photoshoot at an estate house on a jet-set island, boy was I in. This photo is one of my favorites, with the button earrings, grandma's costume jewelry, and vintage touches. It's also a nod to a new little project I'm working on in the fashion space. What out for more 🥂
-
Stephanie Cain posted thisIt's Earth Day! Shop vintage. Shop pre-loved. Shop your closet. And bonus: You won't look like everyone else wearing the same outfit they saw on all the Insta influencers 🤣
-
Stephanie Cain posted thisI hit a nerve. It seems we journalists can cry foul about big tech and social media and chatGPT and the decline of readership and the fact that no one paying��for news but...but...but... WOWZA, we cannot criticize ourselves as part of the problem. Last week, I posted about my embarrassment of the title "journalist" as may who use this term aren't really journalists now, especially those blurring the lines for personal gain, like free trips. It's justified by saying journalists are just trying to make it, or we are the victims, or what about people trying to keep their jobs. Look, I get it. I've been there. I've been laid off, spun around, tossed out, and struggling. I even lamented the victimhood for a while. We have to evolve, but not feed into the monster that we also claim is destroying society and our careers. If we really believe that people need to know the deep truths about the world and the stories we tell, then why are we putting out crap? Why are we becoming puppets for CEOs and publicists? Why are we a marketing vehicle loosely disguised as journalism? Why did we start blurring the lines? What about our integrity? I have nothing against someone working in marketing, communications, or publicity. I have. I just don't do it in my journalism work. My favorite (and best) stories never came through a publicist's pitch email or a press release. They came from—gasp!—observations. Or better yet, talking to people. I think we journalists need to draw the line. Our journalism should reflect journalistic ethics. If we want to be a megaphone for a brand, then let's go work for that brand directly. Brand journalism is on fire. And it can be impressive. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking that we are journalists if we're doing favors for favors or misleading our readers.
-
Stephanie Cain posted thisI never thought I'd say this, but I'm embarrassed to be a journalist. Today's media industry is full of too much bullshit. And readers are paying the price. I'm not talking about the endless political hamster wheel that leads to random things some random guy says to be breaking news. But that's bad too. I'm talking about anything featured in lifestyle publications. -If it's a top 10 list of accessories, it's all because that writer got free purses. -If it's a travel feature in Forbes, that contributor used their "column" to get a free trip. -If it's restaurants or lipsticks or gadgets or hotels or wines or snacks or just about anything, you bet someone with a byline was getting something for free. It used to not be that way, but today it is increasingly that bylines are just extensions of some marketing and PR team. These so-called journalists are letting it happen because hey, who doesn't love free stuff? They certainly are not abiding by journalistic ethics whereby you may try or experience something but you are not bound to cover nor bound to cover it positively. What I see is these writers are always covering their free stuff and always giving it glowing reviews. Case in point: a "journalist" posted about "collaborations" with publicists in one of my media groups. This travel "journalist" outlined the process to "work with her." That involved being "brought to a property," and in exchange for a stay for her and her team, she would shoot photo and video content that she could use, and the brand could use, and could "accompany" her writeup in a string of publications she claims to contribute to including Forbes, Robb Report, Travel + Leisure, and Condé Nast Traveller . See, here is the problem: You, the reader, are getting the short end of the stick. She'll only give you the positives, and even if the entire stay is HORRIBLE, she will still write it like it's grand because she has to pay back the brand for giving her and her team a free stay. Otherwise she won't be invited by that publicity team to other properties. And she wants more free stuff. You, dear reader, get inspired to book the destination based on this excellent review. You spend $200, or $2,000 or $20,000 to go. You are disappointed when it's not what was expressed to you in a glowing article because it may never have been so great to begin with. You just got tricked. I personally don't want to be some brand's marketing mouthpiece. Nor do I seek to be disingenuous. Honestly, if I were going to be hawking marketing lingo, I'd hope the brand simply paid me as a spokesperson, because that probably makes more than the $200 I'll get for writing an article. In an era where distrust in media is so high, I would hope journalists would be part of the solution, not the problem.
-
Stephanie Cain posted thisAmericans need to party more, and I’m here for it. The number of people who host or attend a party on a random weekend has dropped some 35% in the past two decades, with only 4% of us really leaning in. Only 59% of people attended a birthday party (including their own!) and even fewer, 29%, said they would "probably" throw a birthday party. Are we no longer even celebrating that with conical hats and noisemakers and Funfetti cakes?! This both shocked and didn’t shock me. I love to host a party, but rarely is that invite reciprocated. For years, we had quarterly cocktail shindigs at our home with guests having visited my abode several times, but me never setting foot in their own. Not that it’s a 1:1 game. I don’t play like that. But I can see how we have ended up here, per Ellen Cushing’s recent essay in The Atlantic that's making rounds on Instagram (thanks to a very catchy photo). We are increasingly lonely. The pandemic taught us to do everything at home, alone. People are inherently lazy. Gen Z isn't drinking—not that you need alcohol for a party. Nor is the myth that hosting is expensive. It doesn't have to be. If I have a piece of advice for you all: Throw a party. Just no Solo cups.
-
Stephanie Cain posted thisCaught up on long-form journalism over the holidays—and landed on the the best piece of writing I've read all year: Crying Myself to Sleep on the Biggest Cruise Ship Ever. Author Gary Shteyngart penned a satire of his time on the world's largest cruise ship and as a fellow resort anthropologist, found his observations to be both amusing and particularly eye-opening. Though he is rather self-deprecating about being on the boat at all, his fellow passengers aren't—and they are on the hunt to reach the elusive, highest level of cruising. The Atlantic, thanks for keeping real writing alive. Enjoy. Link in comments. ⬇️ "As someone who has rarely sailed on a vessel grander than the Staten Island Ferry, I am confused."
-
Stephanie Cain shared thisFun post! My In/Out list of the year. I launched a Substack, The Mad Ones, earlier this summer, which has been such a creative outlet from the drain of modern-day journalism. I had a little extra fun putting together my own list of overhyped and under-hyped elements of culture, something I don't really get to do for bigger publications (if they even exist anymore). It's free for all as my holiday gift to readers. Enjoy. And happy holidays 🥂 Link in comments!
Stephanie Cain commented on a post
2w
This is me! Sent you a note + connection request.
Stephanie Cain replied to a comment
1mo
Nisha Chittal Honest answer: nanny/babysitter. At least in NYC, the camps are so expensive than even an expense such as a nanny makes more sense if you have at least 2 kids!
Stephanie Cain commented on a post
1mo
I don't think there is such thing as a creator journalist. I think "creator" is a term reserved for influencers/social media personalities, which often assumes you are paid by brands, etc. Since journalists are meant to be impartial, you are just a freelance journalist or as I say, "journalist." Using social media is just the medium like I would use a digital or heritage publication. Creator is what is mucking it up if you are claiming to be a more traditional "journalist" in your approach online.
-
Stephanie Cain liked thisStephanie Cain liked thisLet’s talk about red flags of ageism in the job market. The other day I challenged a hiring manager, and the conversation stuck with me. They didn’t come out and say “we don’t hire older workers,” of course not, it’s never that obvious. Instead, it was all the little hints, the coded phrases, the “dog whistles” of corporate hiring. And once you notice them, you can’t unhear them. It started when they said, “We’re looking for someone who’s really energetic, you know, someone who can keep up with the fast pace.” Translation: we’d prefer someone under 30 who hasn’t yet discovered back pain. Then came, “We’re hoping to build a young, dynamic culture.” Translation: don’t bother applying if you’ve ever used a fax machine. And my personal favorite: “We need someone who’s a digital native.” Translation: if your first computer wasn’t an iPad, thanks for playing, but no. So I asked them point blank, “Do you realize how that sounds?” And of course, they backpedaled. “Oh no, no, we just want the right fit.” But let’s be honest, too often “fit” means “someone young enough to post TikToks about team building.” Meanwhile, the people with decades of experience, battle scars, and actual wisdom are left standing on the sidelines, overqualified but somehow “not a culture match.” Here’s the funny part though, when companies avoid hiring experienced workers because of age stereotypes, they shoot themselves in the foot. They complain about talent shortages while turning away people who could actually solve their problems. It’s like refusing to hire a pilot because they’ve flown too many planes. “Sorry, Captain, we’re looking for someone who’s only crashed a few times. We want fresh energy!” And the emotional part? It’s exhausting. People spend years,decades building skills, leading teams, navigating crises, and then get told they’re “too experienced.” Too experienced? That’s like telling a surgeon, “Sorry, you’ve done too many successful surgeries. We’d prefer someone who’s just watched a few YouTube tutorials.” The truth is, ageism isn’t just a red flag, it’s a neon billboard flashing, “We value image over substance.” And those companies end up losing out, because sooner or later they realize that “fresh energy” without experience is like handing car keys to someone who’s only played Mario Kart. Exciting at first, but sooner or later, somebody’s hitting a wall. So to my employed and unemployed legends: don’t let those red flags convince you that your value has an expiration date. Experience isn’t a liability, it’s leverage. It’s the reason projects get finished, fires get put out, and customers come back. If a company can’t see that, that’s not your red flag to ignore, it’s your signal to walk away. Stay legendary. And the next time someone says, “We’re looking for a young, dynamic culture,” just smile and remind them, “Nothing’s more dynamic than someone who already knows how to fix the problems you haven’t even discovered yet.”
-
Stephanie Cain liked thisStephanie Cain liked thisSome (great) news: I'm hiring! I’m looking for a Supervising Editor to help me run NYT Wirecutter's technology section. The ideal candidate is an ambitious self-starter with excellent editorial judgment who understands consumer technology and enjoys working with writers to tell stories that help our readers understand and get more out of the tech in our lives. I’m looking for someone full of ideas who can assign and edit a variety of story types — the traditional Wirecutter guide, of course, but also features, news-pegged short-form pieces, and big editorial packages. If this is you, please apply! https://lnkd.in/gTrae7N4 A few things to note: This person will report directly to me. I don't use AI to screen applicants and I personally read every cover letter. This position can be based in our New York City office or remote (in the US). More information is in the job posting.
-
Stephanie Cain liked thisStephanie Cain liked this“Are we hiring journalists anymore or just content machines?” A journalist can report. But they can also: → find a story nobody else has → interview people who don't want to talk → understand context → spot misinformation → write under pressure → ask uncomfortable questions → turn a complicated issue into something people actually understand. Yet somewhere along the way, the media industry started measuring people by: “How many articles did you publish?” “How many reels did you make?” “How much traffic did you bring?” “How quickly can you rewrite this?” Speed matters. SEO matters. Social media matters. AI matters. But journalism is not just production. It is judgement. And I think that's going to become even more valuable as AI makes content cheaper and faster to produce. The interesting question is: Will media companies invest more in journalists who can think, or continue hiring people who can simply produce more? Curious to know what journalists, editors and recruiters think. #Journalism #Media #Journalists #DigitalMedia #ContentStrategy #MediaIndustry #Linkedin #AI
-
Stephanie Cain liked thisProud of my son, Jasper Gould and his partner Emile Chilingirian who were recognized in the NY Post today.Stephanie Cain liked thisMy son Jasper Gould and his partner Emile Chilingirian are in the NY Post today! Their Passing the Torch Media newsletter has over 60k subscribers - probably many more after this article - including two-thirds signed up with corporate emails, from McKinsey to Goldman to Nvidia. I personally love their youth-oriented take on a wide array of business, investing and economic issues. This is in addition to their fine work founding and running the BYCIG charitable organization. I'm not sure how they will find time to do the normal work of high school seniors - including college applications! - but I can't feel anything but proud of their hard work and the impact they are already making on the world. https://lnkd.in/gJBShpPb #proudfatherMeet the 17-year-olds behind the finance world’s favorite Gen Z newsletterMeet the 17-year-olds behind the finance world’s favorite Gen Z newsletter
-
Stephanie Cain liked thisStephanie Cain liked thisWe are looking for a Brand Manager for Krug & Ruinart to join us in New York! In this role, you’ll lead 360° brand programming, consumer experiences, luxury partnerships and U.S. market strategy for two iconic Maisons. Reach out or apply directly link below! https://lnkd.in/eKZTFmXQ
-
Stephanie Cain liked thisStephanie Cain liked thisThe tricky thing about posting AI writing is that lots of readers will know it's slop, but almost no one will tell you. (Except me, immediately and with Larry David bravado.) This lack of feedback lulls the writer into thinking they got away with it. But in reality, your brand takes a hit. And your credibility score as a thinker (if not a human) loses a few points. If you post writing that is clearly AI, it tells us a few things about you: - You are a person who doesn't take the time to do things with care - You haven't actually thought through the issue you're writing about - You're comfortable taking public credit for something that was produced, in private, by the model The bigger problem is that when someone posts AI writing and DOESN'T get feedback on its slop-iness, this gives them permission to post even more; it also gives them even less of an incentive to think critically and put care into the next piece. And so on. In the end, we're left with a feed that is bad for the authors, and even worse for readers. My only nudge: real friends don't let their friends post AI slop. As they say on the L train: If you see something, say something. 😉
Experience & Education
Licenses & Certifications
Volunteer Experience
-
Fundraising Committee Lead
The New York Junior League
- 6 years 4 months
Social Services
Led fundraising marketing and communications efforts for 10+ events, raising 600K+ for Junior League programs supporting NYC women and children
-
CFA Representative
The Caedmon School
Education
Manage communication strategies for Family Association across preschool classrooms and contributed to fundraising efforts by soliciting silent auction items, raising $12,000+
Languages
-
English
Native or bilingual proficiency
-
Italian
Limited working proficiency
Recommendations received
5 people have recommended Stephanie
Join now to viewOther similar profiles
Explore more posts
-
Ee Ming Toh
Nithin C. wrote this piece about the increasingly challenging environment for freelance journalists, and reached out to hear my perspective. Only a snippet made it into the final article, so here's a bit more of what I shared: "Freelancing today feels far more relationship-driven and competitive than when I started. Editors are increasingly selective, income remains unpredictable, and most of us have had to diversify our work just to stay afloat." One thing I've noticed in my own career: I used to pitch mostly international publications for Singapore stories. Now it's flipped — I write more regional/international stories, but work more with local editors, because the relationships run deeper and the trust means steadier commissions. I do miss the outside perspective an international editor brings, but there's real value in supporting local and regional media too. Despite the challenges, I still find the work meaningful , and I value the independence it gives me. https://lnkd.in/g74eY9td
-
Dani Leviss
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 The Institute for Independent Journalists 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝙰̲𝙸̲ 𝚃̲𝚘̲𝚘̲𝚕̲𝚜̲ with Martina Guzmán, Frank Bi, and Jeremy Caplan moderated by Benét J. Wilson Learned about a few tools that could help with non-creative, technical tasks—mostly NotebookLM, but also Pinpoint, Claude, Perplexity, Eddie AI, and Kapwing. 𝙺̲𝚎̲𝚢̲𝚗̲𝚘̲𝚝̲𝚎̲ 𝚂̲𝚙̲𝚎̲𝚊̲𝚔̲𝚎̲𝚛̲ with Kavitha Cardoza moderated by Katherine X Reynolds Lewis When conducting an interview on a sensitive or tough topic, end the interview on something positive to bring the subject back to the present before leaving the conversation. 𝙿̲𝚒̲𝚝̲𝚌̲𝚑̲ 𝙵̲𝚎̲𝚜̲𝚝̲ with Brandy Jensen Defector Media, Missy Frederick, Elizabeth Rich, Alyssa Bereznak moderated by Katherine X Reynolds Lewis Cheers to the writers who bravely pitched their stories in front of an audience. Fingers crossed these pitches land somewhere soon where we can read them! 𝙳̲𝚎̲𝚌̲𝚘̲𝚍̲𝚎̲ 𝙴̲𝚍̲𝚒̲𝚝̲𝚘̲𝚛̲ 𝚁̲𝚎̲𝚕̲𝚊̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚜̲𝚑̲𝚒̲𝚙̲ with Daniel Jones The New York Times, Paige DiFiore, and Sahar Fatima moderated by Ann Marie Awad Maybe the best time to land a pitch 6 or 9 months or even a year from now is to pitch today? The editors shared about their swamped inboxes and how they sometimes come across a pitch for the first time a while after it was sent and will reach out to the writer to see if they’re still interested in writing it. So an old pitch may not be too old... 𝙽̲𝚘̲𝚗̲𝚏̲𝚒̲𝚌̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲ 𝚝̲𝚘̲ 𝙵̲𝚒̲𝚌̲𝚝̲𝚒̲𝚘̲𝚗̲ with Vanessa Hua, K.J. Dell'Antonia, and Sekou Campbell moderated by Blanca Torres An interesting connection between the genres: conducting interviews helps hone an ear for dialogue that creates more believable characters that have unique voices. And always good to remember it’s super important to pre-order the books of authors you want to support, or request your library purchase the book. Just finished the 𝙽̲𝚎̲𝚝̲𝚠̲𝚘̲𝚛̲𝚔̲𝚒̲𝚗̲𝚐̲ session. Getting to know five other freelancers was a great way to end the day. Looking forward to more learning tomorrow!
3 Comments
Explore top content on LinkedIn
Find curated posts and insights for relevant topics all in one place.
View top content