Town & Country
1700 Broadway 30th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10019
212/903-5000
Fax: 212/262-7017
Town & Country isn't a romp across the homeland's prairies. Despite its name, which alludes to rustic life, this Hearst publication reads with Manhattan style. Whether
touting "The Lure of Montana" in the Traveler's Notebook section or featuring renowned choreographer Mark Morris in Fashion & Style, the word to remember is affluent.
Content/Contacts
Town & Country's content spreads wide over many genres. The magazine prides
itself on being one of the oldest, general interest leisure magazines, founded
in 1846. "We are always looking for stories of general interest to the affluent
reader, especially ones that have news appeal," says John Cantrell, Town &
Country's deputy editor. "We cover many categories, including fashion, beauty,
homes, health, the arts, travel, restaurants, shops, jewelry and profiles and
we strive to keep our readers current and well informed."
Regular features include these editors and their respective beats:
- Melissa Biggs Bradley - Features and Travel Editor;
- Michael Cannon - Editor At Large, Men's Fashion;
- Gretchen Gunlocke - Senior Fashion Editor;
- Janet Carlson Freed - Beauty And Health Director;
- Heather Bracher Severs - Jewelry & Accessories Director.
Pitch Tips
The best and fastest way to pitch a story is to send a fax to 212/262-7017. Only pitch the editor whose beat corresponds to your topic. Keep it short and simple with one or
two ideas. Snail mail pitches are fine, but email pitches are not.
Follow-up calls are welcome, as long as editors have had enough time to review the material (think two days rather than two hours).
"If two weeks have gone by without a response, it's fine to call," Cantrell says.
Think before you pitch. Remember that Town & Country readers are very sophisticated, accomplished and well traveled.
"If your product or project isn't on a high enough level for them, then there's no reason that we would want to cover it in our pages," Cantrell says. "If you say 'this would
be perfect for [a specific] column,' then we know you've put some thought into understanding our [publication] and figuring out where your product fits into it."
Comments
When it comes to exclusives, editors don't like flaky PR people.
"We're glad to have exclusives and we break many of them," Cantrell says. "We just ask that the meaning of the word 'exclusive' be respected and that the representatives
handling them be totally up front with us on exactly what we're being offered, what they expect, and that they not change the terms later on."
A PR person who calls a journalist right after sending material tops Cantrell's list of annoyances. Other editorial qualms include pitches that indicate little or no knowledge
of the magazine.
"Don't send pitches to the entire staff - it's better to direct the information to the right person from the start," Cantrell says.
Same rule for invitations.
"We want them going to the right person and department," he says.