Layoffs at Business Insider
Today’s news that Business Insider laid off 21 percent of its staff feels big enough for an after-hours post. The memo to employees contains plenty of fuzzy language but offers this (which I’ve been squinting at in an attempt to read between the lines);
We’re focusing where we can deliver unique, lasting value and serve our audience in ways only Business Insider can.
As Insider, we cast a wide net, covering a broad range of topics. Some of those still align with our strategy — stories that spotlight the smart moves (and mistakes!) people make as they actually experience the world.
At the same time, we’re scaling back on categories that once performed well on other platforms but no longer drive meaningful readership or aren’t areas where we can lead.
It also explicitly cites AI in the decision:
More broadly though, the media industry is at a crossroads. Business models are under pressure, distribution is unstable, and competition for attention is fiercer than ever. At the same time, there’s a huge opportunity for companies who harness AI first. Our strategy is strong, but we don’t have the luxury of time. The pace of change combined with the opportunity ahead demands bold, focused action — and it’s our chance to lead the pack.
Now is an excellent time to be sincere, authentic, and check on your people — they’re either safe, or they’ve been launched out into the freelance and/or future-staff pool. Relationships are what stay with us for decades — even as job titles and duties change — and even (especially!) amidst so much seismic change in the industry.
Related:
When a layoff is the first day of the rest of your life (my own layoff story)
I was laid off from my corporate job 5 years ago. Turns out, it was the best thing that could've happened to my career. (another version, in Business Insider ironically)
Do this one thing literally TODAY in response to the editorial layoffs.
Tools of the trade
You already know my own press opportunities are in this very Substack! I’m also a media member of 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. If you’re not using Press Hook yet, you should definitely give it a try: It’s designed as a platform to connect journalists looking for story sources with brands who want to showcase their products and experts, and it’s all really built on trust and meaningful connections (it’s not spammy). It also offers a suite of helpful workflow tools. Journalists can search by product and category, and participating brands get exposure and affiliate opportunities — so it’s designed as a win-win for everyone (in the same vein as this Substack, I like to think). Give it a try — and let me know what you think.
Are you a publicist who needs help understanding the affiliate game? This course can really help: Affiliate Marketing for Publicists. (It’s from Sarah Karger, a brilliant affiliate expert who you might remember from some of my past Zoom workshops.) In this course, you’ll learn what affiliate marketing really is, why it has taken over the industry, and how to navigate the waters of all things affiliate to be successful.
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.
Open press opportunities
For The Points Guy, I’m updating this story about the best overwater bungalows in the Caribbean and I’m still looking for contacts at the following properties to help fact check:
Royalton Antigua
Sandals Royal Caribbean
Sandals Grande San Lucian
Nayara Bocas del Toro
Sandals South Coast
Banyan Tree Mayakoba
Looking to connect with luxury properties in Amsterdam, Luxembourg, and Bruges. Please reach out if you represent a property in these areas!
Media job moves
Share your job change news with me to be included! Send to info@alicedubin.com.
Laura Bottke recently joined REM Public Relations, with clients including The Abaco Club (Marsh Harbor, Bahamas), CDA National Reserve (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho), Ibiza Gran Hotel (Ibiza, Spain. Reach her at laura@rempublicrelations.com.
Julia Feinbloom left J/PR and recently joined Murphy O’Brien as a senior account executive and am now working across a beautiful lineup of luxury travel clients, including Auberge du Soleil (Napa Valley), Viceroy Snowmass (Colorado), The Hermitage Hotel (Nashville), Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, THesis Hotel Miami, and more. Reach her at jfeinbloom@murphyobrien.com.
Marcella Thompkins recently joined J/PR as a senior account director, likely specializing. To start, she’ll be working with Foley Family Wines, Foley Family Spirits, and California Olive Ranch.
Ruby Virchow has recently joined the af&co. team as an account supervisor! She writes: “I'm thrilled to be joining such a well-reversed team with strong roots in the Bay Area hospitality scene.”
Hanae Reith left J/PR and joined Dreamday as an account director.
Amanda Ostrove, formerly of NJF PR/MMGY, has joined REM Public Relations, representing hospitality, travel, and golf across the globe; clients include San Ysidro Ranch, Romer Waikiki, Ibiza Gran Hotel, and more. Her new email is amanda@rempublicrelations.com.
PR vet Ty Bentsen has launched P-22 Agency, with a namesake inspired by Los Angeles’ famous mountain lion. It offers “a new breed of founder-led, strategic communications for leading luxury and lifestyle travel, tourism, commercial and private aviation, and wine/spirits clients. Operating in Los Angeles and New York City, the bi-coastal agency brings big, brand-level thinking to clients at scale with an ethos that prioritizes high-touch service over ego.”
After 10 years at White Oak Communications, Annie Goldenberg is now at MMGY, where she’ll be working on travel accounts including Visit Greater Palm Springs, Visit SLO CAL, LUMA Hotels in SF and NY, and more.
Meredith Strodel has left C&R after more than 10 years at the agency. She’s currently consulting and taking on select clients under her own new PR Lab brand umbrella.
Buy an ad and reach ~6,000 engaged publicists
Do you have a coaching program, online course, service, platform, or anything else that makes sense to get in front of my highly engaged PR and media readers? Reach out to me at alice@alicedubin.com to discuss sponsorship in this newsletter.
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Open jobs
Job posts in this newsletter are now a free perk for paying subscribers. Do you have an open opportunity you want me to promote? First, upgrade here if you need to. Then email me at info@alicedubin.com.
Modern Currency PR’s Digital Studio is currently seeking a Digital Marketing Director with 4-5 years of direct experience in social media strategy & management. The ideal candidate has a passion for hospitality (food, travel, etc.), excellent managerial and organizational skills, strategic campaign development and execution experience, and a strong handle on social media. “They must enjoy managing but also executing strategy, and enjoy wearing multiple hats, including securing notable influencer, tastemaker, and Social Media Editor results, developing compelling content creation that builds client following/engagement, as well as unique & innovative digital partnerships/collaborations, on a daily basis.” MCPR offers generous benefits, including a work-from-anywhere program, 401k matching, comprehensive healthcare benefits (medical, dental, vision, life), generous PTO, summer Fridays, annual holiday office closures, PR travel perks, incredible mentorship, training, and more. While this is a remote position, candidates must be based in Los Angeles to ensure on-site presence at select meetings, client venues, and events as needed. Interested candidates can drop us a line with resume at contact@moderncurrencypr.com.
Modern Currency PR is also hiring a highly skilled, scrappy, and strategic public relations account supervisor with 3-4 years of public relations agency experience within the hospitality, culinary, travel, tourism, restaurant and/or consumer lifestyle arenas. MCPR offers generous benefits, including a work-from-anywhere program, 401k matching, comprehensive healthcare benefits (medical, dental, vision, life), generous PTO, summer Fridays, annual holiday office closures, PR travel perks, incredible mentorship, training, and more. “Those who enjoy a small-company feel and who are drawn to a service-based and hospitality-driven culture should apply. While this is a remote position, candidates must be based in Los Angeles to ensure on-site presence at select meetings, client venues, and events as needed. Interested candidates can drop us a line with resume at contact@moderncurrencypr.com.”
Work with me
I am available for project-based consulting. Please reach out to discuss your needs: info@alicedubin.com.
Feedback from a recent agency after a consulting session: “That was amazing!!! Thank you SO much, you really gave us so many valuable insights to think about, and I could tell what you were saying was really resonating with the team. Really appreciate your thoughtful answers to all our questions and feedback on our pitches.”
Here’s how to pitch: Simply respond to this email with a new subject line or pitch me at pitch@alicedubin.com.
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