Journalist requests/media opportunities - August edition

Requests from Forbes, Business Insider, Tech Spy Magazine

Author

Ada at Sellify
August 20, 2025

In partnership with

Greetings, champ

Here’s your weekly dose of journalists who need your opinions so badly they’ll offer your store free publicity in exchange. Appearing in these publications can help push your store to Page 1 of Google.. and even ChatGPT suggestions (so please take advantage of these!)

P.S. If this landed in your “Junk” folder, unmark as Junk so you don’t miss out on these free Wednesday media opportunities. Pls unsubscribe if it’s too much- no hard feelings!

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General

(URGENT) Forbes wants to know from small business owners who have used Stripe: "What did it do well? What are its shortcomings?"

“I'm writing an article about the best Stripe alternatives for credit card processing and POS. I'd love to hear your review and experience of using Stripe, or comparing it with other providers. -What did Stripe do well for your business? What did you like about it? -Where did Stripe fall short? What did you prefer in an alternative? (Feel free to name specific alternatives if you preferred them)”

Reply via Qwoted (2 free responses for new accounts)

ElevenWriting is looking for retailers and analysts on moving away from self-checkout POS

Query:

Eleven Writing is producing an article for Expert Market US on why retailers, including big-box stores like Target and Walmart, are moving away from self-checkout POS systems and back to traditional POS systems.

We're are looking for expert commentary from the following:

(A) Retail owners who have decided to opt out or sunset self-checkout kiosks (B) Retail analysts who can speak to the reasons behind this trend (C) POS system providers who can speak to changes in client interest

Questions include:

(1) Why are some retailers scaling back use of self-checkout?⁣​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​⁣ (2) How widespread is this trend and do you expect it to continue? (3) If you’re an owner or manager, why did you decide to not use or scale back self-checkout? (4) What tips do you have for owners or managers trying to decide between traditional and self-checkout POS?

Participation involves a brief online interview or written questionnaire. If you’re time-poor, you can also send some insights via email that answer the questions. Otherwise, please respond with your name, role, and preferred contact method, so I can coordinate the questionnaire or interview.

Thank you!

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Fashion

Business Insider is looking for comments on 7 shoe trends that are in this fall & 6 that are out, according to stylists. Pitch Cheyenne directly with the product you want featured.

  • Name: Cheyenne Elwell

  • Category: Lifestyle and Entertainment

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Muck Rack URL: https://muckrack.com/cheyenne-lentz/articles

  • Media Outlet: Business Insider (https://www.businessinsider.com)

  • Deadline: 1:00 AM ET - 20 August

Query:

This piece will list and describe 7-8 shoe trends that are going to be trending in the fall of 2025 and 7-8 shoe trends that are going out of fashion this fall. For each shoe trend, please also include a description of the shoe, why it’s in or out, a replacement shoe if applicable, and how to style the shoe as well. If possible please include recommendations for all genders.

Home/Lifestyle

Garage my Reviews is seeking Cyclists, Coaches, and Shop Owners for Insights on Electric Bikes

QUERY: For GGR, I'm looking for cycling experts and enthusiasts to offer insights on what to look for in an e-bike. The piece will cover all different classes of e-bikes across categories like MTB, road, commuting, gravel, and cruisers. Written responses to the below questions are preferred; I can also transcribe an audio recording. Please include your desired attribution and link in your pitch. Thank you!

What are the biggest performance and usability differences between road, hybrid, mountain, and gravel e-bikes?

How should buyers evaluate motor type (hub vs. mid-drive), torque, and wattage based on their intended riding style?

What range and battery capacity should people realistically expect, and what affects real-world performance?

What drive systems, suspension setups, and tire widths pair best with different e-bike use cases?

Are there any emerging tech trends in e-bikes (connectivity, regeneration, sensors) worth considering or avoiding?

What components or features should buyers not compromise on, even when looking for a more affordable e-bike?

How do budget e-bikes generally differ in terms of ride quality, durability, or range compared to mid- or high-end models?

Are there certain brands or models that offer the best reliability and serviceability at lower price points?

What should buyers know about battery safety, replacement costs, and charging needs in the budget category?

For riders choosing between e-road, e-MTB, or e-hybrid bike, how should they weigh their primary riding goals?

Garage my Reviews needs electric bike recommendations from cyclists, coaches, athletes

QUERY: For GGR, I'm looking for firsthand recommendations to fill out a guide on the best electric bikes. Must have personal experience (or be able to get direct quotes from someone who has personal experience) with the products. Ideal sources include cyclists (athletes and enthusiasts, bike commuters, those who ride regularly for leisure or exercise), bike shop owners or managers, bike technicians, and bike retailers/buyers. Products needed to match the following superlatives:

Best Electric Bike Under $1,000

Best Budget Electric Bike Under $500

Best Class 2 Electric Bike

Best Fat Tire Electric Bike

Best Electric Bike for Seniors

Best Cruiser Electric Bike

Best Budget Folding Electric Bike

Tech Spy Magazine is seeking suggestions for 12 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets to Elevate your Meals this Fall

QUERY: We are currently compiling a feature on the 12 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets to Elevate your Meals this Fall. We are after:

  • Air Fryers

  • Microwaves

  • Blenders

  • Food Processors

  • Bread Maker

  • Soup Maker

  • Oven Dishes

  • Pots, and Pans

Send over your suggestions and we will be in touch if your client has been selected.

Health Insiders is looking for Expert Insight on Choosing Safe & Effective Ashwagandha Supplements. If you’re in the supplement space, get your brand rep to pitch Rodgers directly.

  • Name: Rodgers Panato

  • Category: Health and Pharma

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Media Outlet: Health Insiders (https://www.healthinsiders.com)

  • Deadline: 2:30 PM ET - 21 August

Query:

Hello,

I’m a writer working on an article for a health and wellness publication and need an expert quote on key factors consumers should consider when selecting ashwagandha supplements. I’m seeking input from licensed herbalists, integrative medicine practitioners, registered dietitians, or other qualified health experts familiar with adaptogenic herbs.

If interested, please address the following:

Beyond the withanolide content, what specific quality markers (e. KSM-66, Sensoril, organic certification) should buyers look for in an ashwagandha supplement?

What are the most important safety considerations, including potential side effects or interactions, especially for people with thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, or those taking medications?

Are there any specific dosage ranges or forms (root powder, root extract, gummies, capsules) that offer better effectiveness or tolerability?

Your insights will help readers make informed choices backed by science and professional expertise. Full attribution will be provided.

Thanks Rodgers Panato - Health Writer & Researcher Author Bio - https://www.healthinsiders.com/profile/rodgers

Gifts/Gift guides

Kennedy Kids is seeking gift Bags Items for 5K supporting teen mental health

  • NAME: Misty Buck

  • EMAIL: [email protected]

  • MUCK RACK URL:

  • MEDIA OUTLET: Kennedy Kids Foundation

  • MEDIA WEBSITE: https://kennedykids.org/

  • DEADLINE DATE: 2025-08-29

  • DEADLINE TIME: 05:00 pm

  • TIME ZONE: Eastern Standard Time

QUERY: Support teen mental health in South Florida! We are in need of Gift Bag items for a 5K that will take place at Barry University on September 14, 2025. The event is benefiting the Kennedy Kids Foundation. About: Kennedy Bailey struggled with depression due to a mental health crisis and lost her life at 16 years old on Thursday, September 15, 2022. In her honor, our Kennedy Kids Foundation is dedicated to crowdfunding, fundraising, and the development of programs and initiatives for the prevention of youth suicide.

A Sustainability Travel Docu-Series is Seeking Launch Sponsors & Brand Partners. Pitch Ari directly via the email below with details of the product you want featured.

Query:

We are producing Mars Can Wait show, a new sustainability travel docu-series hosted by Dr. Lori Myren-Manbeck and produced by award-winning filmmaker Barbara Weiner. The series explores innovative, real-world solutions for protecting our planet, filmed across diverse communities around the world.

We are currently seeking launch partners, both in-kind contributors (products/services) and paid sponsors to be featured in our pilot episode and associated marketing content.Sponsors will benefit from:

  • On-screen product placement

  • Inclusion in the show’s explainer video -Social media and marketing content for your brand’s use -Integration into giveaways and audience engagement campaigns

Filming begins soon, and partner spots for the pilot are limited.

Requirements: Brands with a focus on sustainability, travel, ethical products, community building, or environmental solutions.

She Leads Media is seeking donated products for Gift Bags for High Level Women's Conference. Please pitch Adrienne directly via the email below

Query:

We are seeking products to include in our conference gift bags for a high level women's business owner conference. We have 2 different gift bags. One is a VIP Gift Bag for 50 women. The other is for our regular conference gift bag for 150 women. This is an opportunity for a brand to get in front of high level women business owners who are decision makers in their households and their businesses. We are only interested in receiving inquiries from brands who are able to gift/donate items. We will not be making any purchases of items. We are not accepting offers or coupons for services. If you would like to gift a service such as a spa day, a hotel stay, a meal or similar, for a giveaway, we will consider this.

That’s all, folks!

Ada

Learn from this investor’s $100m mistake

In 2010, a Grammy-winning artist passed on investing $200K in an emerging real estate disruptor. That stake could be worth $100+ million today.

One year later, another real estate disruptor, Zillow, went public. This time, everyday investors had regrets, missing pre-IPO gains.

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Pacaso’s co-ownership model has generated $1B+ in luxury home sales and service fees, earned $110M+ in gross profits to date, and received backing from the same VCs behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

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