Oooh, HERO is here!

What do you think?

I wasn’t planning to send out another newsletter this week, but we have a major development to discuss: HERO!

Peter Shankman, founder of HARO, came out with a big announcement relevant both to PR and journalists: With HARO now dead and replaced by Connectively, he’s created a new platform in the original HARO model. It’s live now and it’s called (wait for it) Help Every Reporter Out (aka HERO).

As he wrote in his announcement on Wednesday:

After I posted last week about the death of HARO at the hands of Cision, I received well over 2,000 replies asking me if I'd consider building a new version. Not connected to the old one, but rather, one that went back to basics. A simple email sent out every day, using my connections, that could help both journalists and sources connect around the world.

As it was originally, this version is completely free. Sign up to get journalists’ queries every day by email. So easy! This is what people loved about HARO, and judging by the buzz I’m seeing around this launch, people are very ready to embrace a similar format.

For my part, I’m definitely planning on using this next time I have a query beyond the realm of my Substack readers’ expertise. (It occasionally happens!)

What do you think? Comments are typically open only to paid subscribers, but I’m opening the discussion to all this time because I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this below. Chime in!

RELATED: Recording: All the best places to find open press opps in 2024

Sign up now for the May pitching workshop

Everything you need to know about pitching dads and grads gift guides for 2024
May 2, 2024 at 11 am PT/2 pm ET via Zoom

I’m once again teaming up with Aly Walansky on this session, so you’ll have a full two of Muck Rack’s 10 most popular freelance journalists of 2024 on board to answer all your questions! The sign-up sheet for the dads and grads gift guide Zoom session is now open to anyone who is a paid subscriber of either of our newsletters. Find the registration link in this post.

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.

Open press opportunities

• STILL OPEN: For The Hollywood Reporter, I’m working on a story about the best TSA-approved travel products.

• LAST CALL TODAY: For Woman’s Day, I’m working on an explainer piece covering: What is the hamsa? For the piece, I’d like to include comments from several different experts across faiths: religious studies professors, spirituality experts, spiritual leaders (rabbis, imam), etc.

Recently published or updated

• 76 Funny Puns and Clever One-Liners Both Kids and Adults Will Laugh About (Woman’s Day)

• Where celebrities travel: 11 under-the-radar or perennially hot places to visit in summer 2024 (The Points Guy)

• The 10 Best Hotels in Palm Springs for 2024 (Travel + Leisure)

• What Do Flight Attendants Pack for Vacation When They’re Off the Clock? We Asked, They Answered (Travel + Leisure)

• What Is It Like to View Path of Totality Onboard the JSX Private Jet? (Business Traveler USA)

• The Best Museums in New York City Where Kids Get in Free (Elle Decor)

• My Dad Was a Doctor for 25 Years, and He Told Me to Always Travel With This $15 Life-saving First-aid Tool (Travel + Leisure)

• 50 of the Best Things to Do in Vegas Under $50 (Esquire)

• The 9 Best Waterproof Mascaras for Beach Getaways, Destination Weddings, and Long Travel Days (Travel + Leisure)

• Why Doesn’t Aldi Play Music in its Stores? (Southern Living)

• Want Better Bowel Movements? Follow These Tips (The Well)

• Springtime Event Ideas From Janie and Jack’s Cheerful Garden Party (BizBash)

• Spring Cleaning: This Whimsical BÉIS Pop-Up Created a Car Wash for Your Luggage (BizBash)

• These 40 Best NYC Hotels Are the Epitome of Luxury and Elegance (Bazaar)

• The best all-inclusive family resorts where you can vacation without ever opening your wallet (BabyCenter)

• Wasabi: Why It’s So Uniquely Spicy (The Well)

• A flight cancellation stranded my family for days — and it was the best vacation we've had in years (Business Insider)

• Ahead of ‘White Lotus’ Season 3, Book These Luxurious Thailand Resorts Before the Reservation Rush (The Hollywood Reporter)

• 20 Best Passover Gifts for 2024, from Traditional to Fun (Woman’s Day)

• Can You Eat Raw Green Beans? (Southern Living)

• How I got $2,900 of expenses covered after the 737 MAX 9 grounding stranded me in Hawaii (The Points Guy)

• The 25 Best Hotels in Hawaii for Families of All Ages and Sizes (Elle Decor)

• After a Flight Cancellation Left Me Stuck for 4 Days, These Are the 12 Travel Essentials I'll Always Pack (Travel + Leisure)

• 20 of the Best Las Vegas Hotels for Couples on and Off the Strip (Harper’s Bazaar)

• Stranded in Paradise: How the 737 MAX Grounding Left Us Stuck in Hawaii (Business Traveler)

• Iconic Kona Village Resort Is Reborn as a Rosewood (The Hollywood Reporter)

• Obsessed With Staying In Bed? It Could Be Dysania (The Well)

• What Is It Like to Fly Fiji Airways Business Class from Los Angeles? (Business Traveler)

• The 10 Best Essentials to Pack for Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort and Other Warm-Weather Theme Parks (The Hollywood Reporter)

• The Best New York City Hotels for Families to Make Everyone Feel Right at Home (Town & Country)

• 20 of the Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Teens Who Are Hard to Impress (Country Living)

• 16 Luxurious Florida Resorts That Take Relaxation to New Levels (Elle Decor)

• Is Real Estate Investing Still the Best Way to Build Wealth? Experts Say… (HomeLight)

• 8 Train Rides Around the World That Immerse You in Gorgeous Landscapes (AFAR)

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.

• Modern Currency PR, an award-winning, boutique, luxury hospitality, and marketing public relations agency based in Los Angeles, seeks “a well-rounded hospitality and travel-focused public relations account director with at least 6-8 years of experience (in the hospitality, culinary, travel, tourism, restaurant and/or consumer lifestyle arenas), a genuine passion/drive for the industry, creative, collaborative, and well-connected with a great go-getter attitude, solution-oriented, and possessing a strong work ethic.” This is a remote position, however all candidates must be based in Los Angeles and able to regularly staff and attend shoots, client meetings, and other in-person events as needed. Interested candidates can send their resume directly to meghan@moderncurrencypr.com.

• Best Friends Animal Society is hiring a public relations strategist. The job is remote within the U.S. and the hiring hiring range is anticipated to be $80,000 - $95,000, annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits. Interviews will occur in the beginning of May and continue until the position is filled.

  Position summary: “The Public Relations Strategist develops, supports, and executes a wide variety of public relations activities that build public awareness and support for Best Friends and our no-kill 2025 goal. You are a critical thinker and creative storyteller with an ability to understand and distill complex issues into consumable, compelling stories for a broad spectrum of channels and audiences. You are an exceptional writer, multi-tasker, and communicator who works with a sense of urgency and can always find a meaningful way into public narratives. You are extremely collaborative, have strong follow thru and project management skills.” Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field is required + a minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience. All the info here.

• Quinn PR is hiring an account executive in a commutable distance to New York City. The ideal candidate will have two+ years of PR agency experience working on travel and lifestyle brands and must demonstrate they have current and relevant media relationships. Candidates can learn more and apply here.

• Quinn PR is also hiring a senior account supervisor in 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 apply here.  

• Rise at Seven is hiring a digital 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.

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.

• Donate to Planned Parenthood.