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Cheat Sheet: Tech Columnists at WSJ, NYT & Bloomberg

Pitching columnists is often wiser than pitching reporters because they don’t need third-parties to back up their assertions. If they believe it, they can write it. So we have assembled a list of prominent tech columnists at WSJ, NYT and Bloomberg, current as of June 2021.

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Tier 1 Has a New Competitor: Andreessen Horowitz

VC firm Andreessen Horowitz is building what you might call its own Wired — a pro-tech media brand appealing both to consumers and business. It’s unnamed as yet, but A16Z is hiring fast. So far, at least, parts of it appear to be pitchable.

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Two Questions: Mark Gurman, Bloomberg

SWMS contributor Rhiannon Pacheco writes: We connected with Bloomberg consumer tech reporter Mark Gurman to explore what it would take for him to cover a less well-established company than Apple, and why he’s excited to explore (and cover) the technology that will follow the smartphone.

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Two Questions: Cade Metz, NYT

Cade Metz is consistent. We interviewed him in 2008, 2012 and 2015. Each time he has carried the same message: though he reports on tech, it’s always about the people. This week we checked in with Cade to discuss Genius Makers, his new book about “the mavericks who brought AI to Google, Facebook and the world.” Again with the people!

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Alex Konrad: A Deeper Look

Forbes senior editor Alex Konrad gave us a metric ton of insight this month — one article just wasn’t enough. So this week we plumb the notebook of SWMS contributor Rhiannon Pacheco, who interviewed Alex earlier this month, and present the rest of Alex’s thoughtful and heartfelt advice for PR pros looking to win his attention.

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Cheat Sheet: Editorial Boards

Sometimes it pays to go to the top. If you’re pitching something truly conceptual — something that can make a publication look prescient in the long run — then go to the editorial board. We’ve got a list of six boards for you, with contact info.

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Profile: Christopher Mims, WSJ

Christopher Mims isn’t your typical Tier 1 columnist. Chris reports his theses. Coming from a science background, he surrounds his opinions with lots of evidence — much of it empirical. Given the challenges associated with pitching someone like Chris, it might be best to think of him as a proxy for all of “Tier 1.”

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How WSJ, Fast Company are Framing the Pitchable Future

Few topics captivate reporters more than the future. SWMS this week studied the past two “The Future of Everything” reports in the WSJ — and a dozen stories in Fast Company’s The Shape of Tomorrow section — to identify pitch approaches that might work for you. 

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Calacanis Slams NYT for Ignoring ‘World-Positive’ Startups

Are you struggling to interest Tier 1 reporters in lesser-known clients? So is Jason Calacanis. The former journalist and well-known investor and podcaster sounded off Jul. 7 to CNBC’s Jon Fortt and two other hosts about the trouble he and other VCs have had in breaking through — especially to the New York Times.

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Profile: Harry McCracken, Fast Company

Fast Company technology editor Harry McCracken sheds light on newsgathering at physical and virtual events, and changes in FC edit coverage brought on by Covid and other factors. Interview was conducted July 2020.

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FRIDGE NOTES

Take Me Out To The Concert

Which musical artist, over the course of his still-active career, played sold out shows at both Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium? Sirius/XM is broadcasting a channel celebrating his music, for “a limited time.”

Walter Thompson’s Observations from TechCrunch Disrupt

From today’s TC+ Newsletter: “No one I met said they were looking for ‘thought leadership’ or scorching hot takes,” wrote TC’s contributed content gatekeeper. “Almost everyone wanted actionable advice that would help them fundraise, build and scale.”

Good guidance indeed.

We Are Devo

Somewhere along the line, Cambridge, Mass.-based Devo Technology rebranded as Devo. Warner Music Group apparently has no objection.

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