Stories the Magazines Want in January

It’s the middle of winter. It’s cold outside. What do you suppose the food and wine magazines are thinking about now?

Grilling. Grilling and outdoor dining.

Yep! They’re thinking about the June issue of their magazine, and most June issues focus on grilling and outdoor cooking. Therefore, if you want a shot at getting coverage in one of the food and wine magazines, it’s to your advantage to propose stories about outdoor cooking and dining to them right now.

Magazines have a four-to-six month lead time; the planning, interviews, photos, layout, etc. all take time so they start early. Which means the sooner you propose an idea to them, the better.

Why do this? Well, considering that many food and wine articles are 5 – 7 pages long, contain 5 – 8 photos of the food/wine/business owners/and location, as well as your name, address, phone number, and email address, a little forward planning right now could result in a whole lot of coverage.

Story Examples:
Here’s a sampling of past June-issue stories, taken from four different magazines: Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast:

• Great Wines for Grilled Food
• Five Easy Marinades
• Top Summer Wines
• From Starter to Dessert: Everything on the Grill
• Eight Refreshing Summer Wines
• Best Outdoor Restaurants and Wineries
  

Don't they all sound good? They sure do! That's the kind of stories the magazines like to carry in their June issues. So consider taking a moment and thinking about summer.

• If your business is wine, what wines would you serve with grilled food? Or summer salads? Or any outdoor meal? Do you know any “secrets” to enhance wine-tasting outdoors?
• If you’re a restaurateur, what meals/snacks/etc. would taste good outside? Do you, personally, make any finger-foods that are perfect for outdoor dining? Are there any secrets to preparing the meals so they taste just that much better? Can you improve grilling somehow; glazes, sauces, cooking it longer/shorter than usual?
  

Consider taking a moment to think about the best wines and foods for outdoors, and then propose it to the food and wine magazines. A little up-front thinking right now could result in a great article in the summertime when people are outdoors.