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The PPA's January lunch hosted producers and reporters from New York City print and broadcast outlets.
Laurie Muchnick,
Book Editor, Newsday
How Newsday works:
She assigns books about 2 months before the pub date. She can also turns things around faster if she has to.
Please send self-help books to their advice editor Margaret Corvini.
As a general interest daily newspaper, their target audience is quite broad. She tries to assign a wide range of books so everyone will find something that interests them.
She is always looking for books with a New York or Long Island tie in.
When she looks at books she in interested in something that will have a buzz and an interesting back-story.
Newsday doesn't mind following other papers.
They do not cover events and have no listings.
She would like to know about touring authors a month in advance.
Laurie's Interests/What she looks for:
- She likes to see all books and reviews a lot of fiction.
- She will review paperbacks, especially originals.
- She is not interested in business books or self-help books and rarely reviews science fiction and fantasy titles unless in a round up of them.
- They do round ups of children's books.
- She reads Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus.
- She reads the press material and hates it when the release is the same text as the back of the book.
- Laurie says that when a publicist cares about the book it shows and she is more interested in looking into it.
- She doesn't care if the book is a big book for the publishing house.
- It is helpful if publicists read her reviews and know what she likes.
- Please have the publication date clearly on the galley.
Other Information:
- Email is the best way to contact her.
- She works part-time and is only in the office Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
- She doesn't have a lot of time to talk on the phone when in the office but can answer her email from work and home.
- Laurie wants to see catalogs, galleys, and finished books.
- She would rather see more rather then fewer titles.
- She is open to emails from all publicists but she can't guarantee she can answer them all.
- There website is www.newsday.com. The website is just what is in the paper and nothing else.
Christopher Bonanos
Senior Editor, New York Magazine
How New York Magazine works:
Their lead-time is three weeks but he would like to know about big releases a couple of months ahead so that he can consider the schedule and assign the books to reviewers.
Touring authors won't affect their book coverage but they are interested in hearing about events. For events they need to know 3 weeks in advance and will list authors from New York and out of town.
They will cover a book that has a big buzz and try and analyze it in a fresh way.
They will not follow the New York Times book Review or book section.
You can also send food pitches to Robin Raisfeld, Rob Patronite, and Gillian Duffy.
Serious nonfiction for potential excerpts can go to Christopher or Adam Fisher, a features editor.
Christopher's Interests/What he looks for:
- Almost all our New York Magazine's coverage is of upper-middlebrow to highbrow fiction and nonfiction, with a New York focus.
- He is not interested in science fiction, fantasy, and rarely covers paperbacks (even originals).
- They are interested in excerpts.
- Please have the publication date clearly on the galley.
Other Information:
- E-mail is the best way to contact him and then phone. Stay away from the middle of the week, especially Tuesday and Wednesday when their culture coverage goes to press.
- Catalogues are essential.
- Christopher likes to see galleys and finished books.
- Their website, Newyorkmag.com, includes all the content from the print magazine, plus more.
Julianne Welby
News Director and Co-host of City Folk Morning, WFUV
How WFUV works:
Their lead-time is a month or more before the release date or author book tour.
She would like to know about touring authors a month in advanced.
Everything is taped.
She prefers the authors in-studio and will rarely book phoners. They do have 700 sister stations where authors can also do an interview if necessary.
They do list events if they know far enough in advanced.
They cover one author interview per week plus review books.
Julianne's Interests/What she looks for:
- She asks that publicists know whom they are pitching. They have an NPR audience and are not a college station.
- The hosts do read the entire book.
- She is very interested in the following kinds of books: music themed, music or audio companion books, Pulitzer and book prize winners, NY/NJ/CT authors & subjects, issue-oriented subjects, cultural commentary, history, journalistic travel, and auto biographies.
- She is interested in children's books, especially if they are related to the Tri-State area or are music-oriented.
- She sometimes will cover: essay and short story collections, young or debut authors, poetry, photo, art, and novelty books, and cook books
- She is not interested in: self-help and how to, paperback releases, bestseller fiction, celebrity authors and themes, and romance.
- They do not do promotional contests or the like.
- They love to have an audio component to the interview, this includes music and readings. She will always ask an author to read from their book.
- She reads the press release and likes them to be clear and concise.
- She likes to see pitch letters with questions, if only to know what not to ask. They like to have original questions.
- If they are already best sellers she won't interview them because she feels they don't need the show.
- Please have the publication date clearly on the galley.
Other Information:
- E-mail is the best way to contact her. Her workday is generally 5am - 1pm. Alisa Ali is also a producer for City Folk Morning and is there during normal business hours.
- She would love to be on more catalog mailing lists so they can read and book author interviews by or before the release dates.
- Julianne prefers galley copies whenever possible for advanced planning.
- She is open to calls from all publicists.
- There website is www.wfuv.org and they share many of their productions with other NPR affiliates.
Emily Raiber
Coordinating Producer, Today in New York, NBC
How the Today in New York works:
They book about a week or two in advanced but can book earlier as well.
She would like to see finished books and catalogs.
She is interested in touring authors and will promote the local appearance.
You can also send books to: Kim Gerbasi, Executive Producer, and Mary Azzoli, Weekend Segment Producer.
The book about two guests per show.
They will follow a national show but try and cover the book in a different angle.
They would like to be the first local show to have a guest.
They prefer to do interviews live but will rarely tape.
Emily's Interests/What she looks for:
- They are looking for books with a local New York tie in.
- They are interested in all topics and cover everything from politics to fashion.
- She is interested in experts, especially doctors.
- They rarely do fiction.
- She is always happy to hear pitches that are topical and tied to the news.
- Emily is especially interested in guests that will have a visual element to their interview and aren't just a talking head.
- She would love to see tape of other author appearances.
- She likes to have a pre-interview, although it is not necessary.
Other Information:
- E-mail is the best way to contact her.
- She is open to calls from all publicists.
- The website is wnbc.com and then click on Today In New York. All of their segments are posted there daily. The website will give publicists a good sense for what kind of guest they book for Today in New York. They do put other material on the site that did not air on the show.
- They also have a blog that their talent and producers contribute to regularly.
- They will not do promotions or give-aways.
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