Maria Taylor Leaves ESPN As Studio Host, And Reporter To Join NBC Sports

Photo Credit: NBC News

According to AdWeek, Maria Taylor, Studio Host, and Reporter for ESPN has left the network to join NBC Sports and potentially be a member of NBC’s Tokyo Olympics team.

“The departure had been expected since early this month when The New York Times reported on disparaging comments made about Taylor by one of her colleagues at ESPN, Rachel Nichols. In a conversation with an adviser to LeBron James that Nichols was unaware was being recorded, Nichols, who is white, said that Taylor, who is Black, had gotten the role of hosting the NBA finals instead of her because ESPN executives were “feeling pressure” on diversity according to an article in the New York Times.

ESPN shared on Wednesday, in a statement, that Taylor’s last day was her Finals telecast during Game 6 of the NBA Finals - with the Milwaukee Bucks taking the championship.

Because the pandemic pushed basketball into the summer for the past two seasons, Taylor exceeded her contract which was supposed to expire during the off-season for both the NBA and NFL. According to NY Mag / Intelligencer, “Taylor was reportedly offered $5 million per year during contract negotiations, which she turned down.”

Taylor could potentially be in the on-deck circle to become the host of Football Night in America since Mike Tirico is moving to Sunday Night Football full-time in the fall of 2022.

Behind The Scenes On Tin Shingle Making The Media Contacts Better

Tin Shingle is an Idea Center for many who want to be featured in social and news media. We are always tweaking things under the hood, and have some new looks coming for you in our Media Contact Idea Center, courtesy of our Media Contacts Boss, Kat Stoutenberg, who is a maker herself, and quite obsessed with databases.

In the coming weeks, we are going to have a regular email that highlights random amazing media contacts from our database that you may never have imagined were there. But could be perfect fit for an idea from you!

The best way to search for needles in a haystack in Tin Shingle's Media Contact Idea Center is to search by Area of Interest. You can cross-reference between that and a specific media outlet, but we encourage you to dive down rabbit holes of Areas of Interest. If you have any favorites you think we should know about, please share them anytime! Even if that favorite is you (are you producing content?)!

To view the full details of these Media Contacts, you must be a member of Tin Shingle. Join today!

WINNIE TATAW
Winnifred Tataw (Winnie) is an artist, author, and blogger with a lifelong love of literature and art. As a writer of YA Fiction, she creates beautiful fantasy worlds with compelling and intriguing characters. She resides in South Carolina and is an undergraduate at the College of Charleston. In addition to her writing, Winnie is an extensive artist, making her statement through painting, sketching and crafting. She loves to highlight others writing and art projects, and takes submissions to be featured on her website. Writers are featured in her "Spotlight" section.
Areas of Interest: Blogging, Painting, Art, Literature, YA, Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction, Black Media, Poetry, Muslim Media, Creating, Writing
Get The Full Details >

AARON IDELSON
Aaron is a full-time Production Assistant for the Jimmy Kimmel Show. But is really a Podcaster and a YouTuber. He began creating YouTube videos in 2010, all things digital production followed. Self-taught creative producer, video editor, graphic designer, and more. Aaron's podcast is Queering The Air!, a weekly podcast hosted by Aaron Idelson and Matt Rohrer. Each episode features a queer guest discussing their lives and how their experiences, specifically surrounding their queerness, have shaped who they are today. Making the world a bit more gay every day.
Areas of Interest: LGBTQ, Relationships, Self Love, Self Worth, Gay, Queer, TV, Entertainment, Comedy, Social Media, Creating, Photography, Film, Media
Get The Full Details >

PHIL SURKIS
Phil Surkis found that his passions for writing, storytelling and music all collided. When the smoke cleared, he found himself producing podcasts. He produces podcasts for other people including Lady Don't Take No, Slate's Big Mood Little Mood, and Zappa Cast.
Areas of Interest: Writing, Music, production, Black Media, Podcast, Comedy, Politics, Script Writing, Audio
Get The Full Details >

This is what it looks like when we update Tin Shingle’s Media Contacts Library. A bunch of tabs open to collect the places these amazing media makers platform themselves. We try to make it easy for you to search for a needle in a haystack.

HerMoney Features Period Panties and Sustainable Products

Period and product in the news! Thanks to @hermoneymedia who brings the issue to the planet (soooo many pads, tampons, adhesive things, wrappers) and the dollars spent on period products. HerMoney highlighted why investing in period panties save money and the planet.

Cloth period panties increases accessibility by making period products more affordable, if the person doesn’t need to buy as many disposable pads and tampons. The period panties live in the person’s drawer and go through the laundry. Consider donating period panties to food pantries when donating socks and toothpaste.

Do you make or do something related to period affordability and normalizing it? Consider pitching HerMoney with your story angle. Need help thinking of a story angle? Join Tin Shingle and get on a group TuneUp so that ideas can be exchanged in our group strategy sessions.

OFFICE HOURS TODAY 7/21/2021: And A Reminder To Pitch Holiday Gift Guides Now

Office Hours
Open Today

When: Wednesday, July 21st
Time: 1pm EST
Where: At your computer or on your phone.
How: Follow the directions on this page to get the registration link.
Or, if you're a Tin Shingle Member and are already logged in, click here to get the special registration link.
Required: Media Kit Membership with Tin Shingle. Join today.

Happy Wednesday.

Coasting through this week and coming off of 2 live TuneUps this month (if you missed them, you can watch them here), Tin Shingle's Office Hours are open to members today to talk shop, discuss strategies, and more.

Please note: The Registration Link at GoToWebinar has changed, so you'll need to log in and sign up here for the new link.

GIFT GUIDE ALERT:

The time is now to pitch Holiday Gift Guides to print publications, which drop in November/December. Tin Shingle has several TuneUps to prepare you in our Classes section that you can watch on-demand (free for members, buy-as-needed for non-members)
We can discuss ideas for any which way to pitch your products in. If you don't want to, or don't have time to, use this Wednesday time slot, you can use the member-only Google Group to type your thoughts, or book a Private Session with Katie.

Tin Shingle Members can attend this TuneUp Office Hour session as a way to have a micro-brainstorming session on their own marketing needs. The time will be shared and moderated. Come join us if you haven't yet!

If you can't make this time, you can book a Private Training session for 25% off for a personal phone call.

About TuneUp Office Hours

If you are a member of Tin Shingle, come on today's Members-Only TuneUp! These are closed sessions, and not open to the public. This is a safe space for Tin Shingle Members to come in with brainstorms to give and get feedback.

You can turn on your video camera to speak eye-to-eye, or just talk on the phone or through your computer speakers.

In this series, members of Tin Shingle with the Media Kit Membership can call in to workshop any need in their marketing campaign, including:

• Media Pitching: What a pitch to a certain media outlet should look like, and how it should read.

• Instagram: How to get sales and create PR opportunities from you posts.

• Facebook: How do you increase traffic from this platform?

• Website: The media will circle back to evaluate their website. What are they seeing, and is it clear?

• SEO: What's your game plan? Let's get one. You don't want to miss out on all that search traffic.

HOW IT WORKS:
Tin Shingle's owner Katie will moderate the call.

She will rotate through people on the call, and encourage each other to contribute to each person's challenge as a conversation.

CALL-IN DETAILS
When you are logged into your Media Kit Member account at Tin Shingle, you will be able to click this link in our Community section of the website to get the private link to call in details.

Once on the call, Katie will adjust your settings so that we can hear and/or see you. We love talking face-to-face, so turn your video on if you want. Otherwise, audio-only is fine.

MediaMonitoring: Make Me Smart's Molly on China Cyber Attack; Uyghur Muslims Torture By China

Lots of long reads in Monday’s episode of Make Me Smart!

Monday was @mollywoodpro and Kelly Adams (you were missed of course @kairyssdal !) In their many link shares, after Molly pointed out Biden’s implication of China for cyber attack for Microsoft Outlook, she transitioned into discussion of the Uyghur Muslims in China, which the @bbcnews has covered, and other outlets have covered, and is horrific treatment of people.

Molly noted that the torturing of the Uyghur Muslims in the “camps” has been happening for years and is going on now. The Uyghurs were mentioned this week on a Markplace platform that usually doesn’t mention them often.

The episode’s lead-in was from a poet, talking of his Uyghur Muslim friends being taken one by one.

Ready To Stream: When A Good Morning America (GMA) Feature Goes Not The Way You Wanted

When A Good Morning America (GMA) Feature Goes Not The Way You Wanted

What happens when you get featured on Good Morning America, and the segment that the producer's air is not what you imagined - and you don't want to show it to anyone. What do you do? Can you still use it? How did this happen? MorayaSeeger DeGeare shares her experience during this TuneUp.

The dream came to this New York based relationship therapist - Good Morning America came calling. Moraya Seeger DeGeare of BFF Therapy in Beacon, NY  (you've seen her before at Tin Shingle!) started a chalk conversation movement from her side hustle activist brand - To My Old Racist Earth - during the beginning of the protests in 2020. And she activated it again in 2021.

Last year, a friend saw what she was doing and reached out. That friend worked for Good Morning America and wanted to feature the movement that encouraged children's participation.

Moraya organized several families for the producers to interview, and a lot of footage was shot. However, what aired was much different than Moraya expected. So much so, that she didn't want to share the full feature with her own following after it aired nationwide.

In the name of helping others, Moraya agreed to come on Tin Shingle's next TuneUp to talk about the experience. 

Here's what we covered:

• The Process: How the Good Morning America segment came to be.

• What to expect: Can the star of the story control the narrative?

• Analyzing the segment: What parts triggered Moraya and why.

• "Granddaughter Of": Moraya is the granddaughter of Pete Seeger, the musician who was a major figure during the Civil Rights Movement and in environmental justice. Will this always lead a segment, leaving a person feeling in a shadow?

• What to do next? What if you hate the segment? Should you bury it forever? No. We are going to milk it, and Katie will tell you why.

• Where do we go from here? You got Good Morning America - most people's biggest dream - now what?

• Sought After - but what if you want to steer? Moraya is approached often by the media as an expert in her field. When it comes to building buzz around her chalk movement, she realized that she needed to start pitching - just like everybody else! Katie will give her some tips. Not that she needs them! But all of us need tips and nudges.

See pictures of this segment in Tin Shingle's blog post, and watch the whole thing.

HOW TO WATCH

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE (FREE)

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen.

NON-MEMBERS ($65)

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play.

TuneUp: When A Feature On Good Morning America (GMA) Goes In A Different Direction | Interview With To My Old Racist Earth Founder, Moraya Seeger DeGeare

When A GMA Feature Goes Not The Way You Wanted

When: Wednesday, July 14th, 2020
Time: 1pm EST
Where: At your computer or on your phone.
Price: Free for all during this live broadcast.

The dream came to this New York based relationship therapist - Good Morning America came calling. Moraya Seeger DeGeare of BFF Therapy in Beacon, NY  (you've seen her before at Tin Shingle!) started a chalk conversation movement from her side hustle activist brand - To My Old Racist Earth - during the beginning of the protests in 2020.

A friend saw what she was doing and reached out. That friend worked for Good Morning America, and wanted to feature the movement that encouraged children's participation.

Moraya organized several families for the producers to interview, and a lot of footage was shot. However, what aired was much different than Moraya expected. So much so, that she didn't want to share the full feature with her own following after it aired nation-wide.

In the name of helping others, Moraya has agreed to come on Tin Shingle's next TuneUp to talk about the experience. Here's what we're going to cover:

• The Process: How the Good Morning America segment came to be.

• What to expect: can the star of the story control the narrative?

• Analyzing the segment: What parts triggered Moraya and why.

• "Granddaughter Of": Moraya is the granddaughter of Pete Seeger, the musician who was a major figure during the Civil Rights Movement and in environmental justice. Will this always lead a segment, leaving a person feeling in a shadow?

• What to do next? What if you hate the segment? Should you bury it forever? No. We are going to milk it, and Katie will tell you why.

• Where do we go from here? You got Good Morning America - most people's biggest dream - now what?

• Sought After - but what if you want to steer? Moraya is approached often by the media as an expert in her field. When it comes to building buzz around her chalk movement, she realized that she needed to start pitching - just like everybody else! Katie will give her some tips. Not that she needs them! But all of us need tips and nudges.

• See pictures of this segment in Tin Shingle's blog post, and watch the whole thing.

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Get ideas! Join us live on the broadcast!

If you can't make it to this free broadcast, Tin Shinglers with the Media Membership get 24/7 access to watch any TuneUp whenever they want. Apply for Tin Shingle membership today to get access!

50 Cent Opens Student Entrepreneurship Program For 3 High Schools In Texas

Photo Credit: Screenshot from HISD website.

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) announced its partnership with 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) to launch an entrepreneur program at 3 of their high schools with the intent of giving students opportunities and business education that 50 Cent himself did not have access to at that early age.

50 Cent has moved to Texas, and is is investing $300,000 into the program, which will offer high school students the chance to apply for paid internships as well as take part in the G-Unity Business Lab. 50 Cent is funding the launch of the program through his nonprofit G-Unity Foundation, the mission of which is to empower youth in America’s cities (50 Cent’s film and production company is called G-Unit Film and Television). The program will launch at Wheatley, Worthing, and Kashmere high schools, with up to 50 students in the program when it launches this fall.

According to G-Unity Foundation, the 3 high schools “will work with HISD educators, Houston business leaders, and the G-Unity Foundation to complete an after-school course that teaches MBA concepts aligned with Curtis Jackson’s book, Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter. The goal of the program is to arm youth from urban areas with education and business acumen in the hopes they will be able to start their own companies or manage a company.”

Students will be given the chance to learn core business values, as well as develop their own business ideas.

The musician and producer is involved in another project involving high schoolers as an executive producer on the reality series called Dream School. According to HISD, 50 Cent said: “These opportunities are huge opportunities that I didn’t have. Being able to provide that in the early stages, I think it changes the direction and the choices that they will make. It prevents them from making some of the mistakes that I made.”

The Houston Independent School District is the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States. It serves approximately 209,000 students at 280 campuses and is one of the largest employers in Houston, with about 27,000 team members.

And now you know. As business owners and creators dream big when they think about how to get the word out, it’s important to know what your favorite celebrities are up to, as they make social investments like this. Browse Tin Shingle’s Media Contact Idea Center and use our Community to bounce ideas off each other before making an outreach.

Additionally, if you work for or run an educational center - be it ginormous like HISD or small like a charter school - an announcement like this is a great edition to your own business blog, in addition to pitching it to the media. This news came from a simple SEO search in Google. We talk about SEO as well when you’re a member of Tin Shingle.

50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) Launches New Hip-Hop Music Competition Series "Unrapped" at ABC

Photo Credit: Screenshot of article at Deadline.

Entrepreneur, producer and musician 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson), is launching a new hip-hop musical competition series called Unrapped at ABC via his production company, G-Unit Films & Television. According to Deadline, celebrity contestants will be coached by iconic hip-hop mentors and compete until and king or queen is crowned.

Deadline quoted Jackson as saying: “I am excited to expand my relationship with ABC. Unrapped brings G-Unit Film and Television’s ability to put incredible music and musical talent on screen to the competition space.”

Another reality series that 50 Cent is part of is Dream School, where he serves as executive producer. Dream School follows 15 high school drop outs as they are taught by celebrity “teachers.”

Deadline reports on the other projects 50 Cent is developing with other networks, including “the Power universe on Starz, Jackson has Black Mafia Family for Starz; is developing Let Me Hear a Rhyme, based on the novel by Tiffany Jackson, for Peacock; and has a straight-to-series order for true crime anthology series Confessions of a Crime Queen for Discovery+.

Unrapped at ABC will directly compete with Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow, which got bought for a second season and features judges Judges Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, and Tip “T.I.” Harris as they search for the next hip-hop star.

For businesses and designers looking to pitch stylists or celebrities connected with the show, or for beat makers, browse Tin Shingle’s Media Contact Idea Center and use our Community to bounce ideas off each other before making an outreach.

Office Hours Today! 1pm-2pm EST - Taking Questions + Boosting Confidence

Office Hours
Open Today

When: Wednesday, July 7th
Time: 1pm EST
Where: At your computer or on your phone.
How: Follow the directions on this page to get the registration link.
Or, if you're a Tin Shingle Member and are already logged in, click here to get the special registration link.
Required: Media Kit Membership with Tin Shingle. Join today.

Happy Summer!

Though most of you who are in the groove of making your own PR know that you are actually prepping and pitching for Holiday Gift Guides!

Yes, the time is now - July pitches for November/December. If you have not listened to our "What To Pitch This Month - July" TuneUp yet, go listen, Tin Shingler. Free for members, or buy the single.

Meanwhile, the Office Hours are back this week for Tin Shingle Members to call into with any question, idea, confidence boost, etc. If you're at the pool, no worries. Katie will most likely be at a park outside near a river.

These TuneUps are not recorded, as they are a safe space for members to speak freely. When possible, Katie will record a re-cap of general highlights and concepts covered during the meeting. When that happens, you'll be notified by email and the public will have a chance to listen to those concepts for free before the TuneUp video is placed behind the membership wall.

Tin Shingle Members can attend this TuneUp Office Hour session as a way to have a micro-brainstorming session on their own marketing needs. The time will be shared and moderated. Come join us if you haven't yet!

If you can't make this time, you can book a Private Training session for 25% off for a personal phone call.

About TuneUp Office Hours

If you are a member of Tin Shingle, come on today's Members-Only TuneUp! These are closed sessions, and not open to the public. This is a safe space for Tin Shingle Members to come in with brainstorms to give and get feedback.

You can turn on your video camera to speak eye-to-eye, or just talk on the phone or through your computer speakers.

In this series, members of Tin Shingle with the Media Kit Membership can call in to workshop any need in their marketing campaign, including:

• Media Pitching: What a pitch to a certain media outlet should look like, and how it should read.

• Instagram: How to get sales and create PR opportunities from you posts.

• Facebook: How do you increase traffic from this platform?

• Website: The media will circle back to evaluate their website. What are they seeing, and is it clear?

• SEO: What's your game plan? Let's get one. You don't want to miss out on all that search traffic.

HOW IT WORKS:
Tin Shingle's owner Katie will moderate the call.

She will rotate through people on the call, and encourage each other to contribute to each person's challenge as a conversation.

CALL-IN DETAILS
When you are logged into your Media Kit Member account at Tin Shingle, you will be able to click this link in our Community section of the website to get the private link to call in details.

Once on the call, Katie will adjust your settings so that we can hear and/or see you. We love talking face-to-face, so turn your video on if you want. Otherwise, audio-only is fine.