This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Alan J. Weiss, nine-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer and documentarian, executive producer of “Teen Kids News” and president of Alan Weiss Productions. Over a career spanning decades, Alan has had a front-row seat to some of the most defining stories in modern news history. As a former program producer for WABC-TV’s “Eyewitness News” in New York, he participated in coverage of the Son of Sam investigation and capture, the 9/11 attacks, international conflicts and the shooting of Pope John Paul II, and was part of the team that broke the news of John Lennon’s shooting. He has worked alongside journalism legends including Walter Cronkite and Katie Couric and produced award-winning documentaries and nationally syndicated programming. A graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Alan continues to bring his decades of newsroom experience to the industry as an executive producer, educator and media expert.

Key pitching takeaways from Alan J. Weiss on this episode of “Pitch Live”:

• You can lose a journalist at “hello.” Grab their attention immediately.
• Get past a journalist’s natural skepticism by being clear, direct and credible.
• A clever opening line can get attention, but the rest of your pitch has to deliver.
• Learn by watching. In fast-moving environments, not everyone will have time to teach you.
• Stay true to journalism. Don’t let what’s quick and easy replace what’s accurate and important.
• Protect your credibility above all else. Once it’s lost, it’s difficult to earn back, and credible journalism is essential to democracy.

Join Amy Summers for #PitchLive with #PitchPro Alan J. Weiss to access Alan’s pitching strategies and success stories that prove the power of #ThePitch ☎️🤩

Connect:

Follow and connect with Amy Summers:

Instagram | Bluesky | TikTok | Facebook: @amysummersnyc

X: @PitchAmy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysummersnyc

Lift Your Leadership - Elevate Your Career: https://lifttolead.com

Follow and connect with Alan J. Weiss

X: https://x.com/teenkidsnews

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teen_kids_news/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEENKIDSNEWSTV/#

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeenKidsNewsTV

Website: https://awptv.com and https://teenkidsnews.com

Follow and connect with Pitch Publicity #PitchStars

Instagram and LinkedIn @pitchpublicity

Follow and connect with #INICIVOX for #VirtualMentorship

Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn: @INICIVOX

Website: www.INICIVOX.com

Be sure to hit that subscribe button and give us a rating or review. Your feedback helps us plan future episodes. As a bonus, join us at www.INICIVOX.com where you can get motivated, hone your communication skills and binge as much mentorship as you want, whenever you need it.

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast takes a look back at Nicole Perez’s #internship #mentorship at Pitch Publicity® and how saying yes to opportunities before she felt fully ready helped shape her career. Originally from Arizona, Nicole became the first Penn State graduate to come through the Pitch Publicity internship mentorship program while earning her degree in public relations, advertising and hospitality management. Her story is featured in Amy’s book, “Lift: 10 Mentorship Touchpoints to Empower Your Team and Accelerate Your Career.” Today, she is a senior associate at Omnicom Media Group, executing high-profile media campaigns across sports and entertainment, while continuing to demonstrate the relationship-building, attention to detail and follow-through that first made her stand out as a Pitch Star. Now building her career in New York City, Nicole has remained closely connected to Amy and Pitch Publicity, most recently returning to help lead the planning and execution of the LIFT book launch.

Key pitching/mentorship takeaways from Nicole Perez on this episode of “Pitch Live”:

• “No” doesn’t always mean no. Regroup, refine your approach, find a new angle and try again.
• Be vulnerable when something isn’t working. Ask for help, adjust and don’t let a setback become a stopping point.
• Be professional without losing your personality. You represent your company, but you’re also building your own reputation and relationships.
• Anticipate what people need. Pay attention, make genuine connections and look for ways to add value before you’re asked.
• Say yes to the big opportunity—even when it feels intimidating. Stepping up before you feel fully ready is how you build confidence.
• Don’t absorb someone else’s stress. “Yin and yang” the moment—when the pressure rises around you, stay calm and grounded.
• Trust yourself enough to make good judgment calls. Confidence matters when there isn’t a script telling you exactly what to do.
• Don’t wait for feedback or visibility—ask for it. Seek out face time with your manager, get yourself in the room and earn your seat at the table.

Join Amy Summers for #PitchLive with #PitchStar Nicole Perez to be inspired by #mentorship and motivated to #pitch with success stories that prove the power of #ThePitch ☎️🤩

Connect:

Follow and connect with Amy Summers:

Instagram | Bluesky | TikTok | Facebook: @amysummersnyc

X: @PitchAmy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysummersnyc

Lift Your Leadership - Elevate Your Career: https://lifttolead.com

Follow and connect with #PitchStar Nicole Perez:

Instagram | X: @nicole.perezzzzz

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-perez02

Follow and connect with Pitch Publicity #PitchStars

Instagram and LinkedIn @pitchpublicity

Follow and connect with #INICIVOX for #VirtualMentorship

Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn: @INICIVOX

Website: www.INICIVOX.com

Be sure to hit that subscribe button and give us a rating or review. Your feedback helps us plan future episodes. As a bonus, join us at www.INICIVOX.com where you can get motivated, hone your communication skills and binge as much mentorship as you want, whenever you need it.

This episode of “Pitch Live with Amy Summers” podcast features Kristal Knight, a political strategist, communications adviser and media commentator who has spent her career navigating high-stakes campaigns, complex conversations and deeply divided audiences. Kristal advises national brands on communications and political strategy and regularly provides commentary on Fox News, NewsNation, MSNBC and other national outlets. Her career has spanned local, state and national elections, including serving as political director for Priorities USA, then President Joe Biden’s preferred super PAC, during the 2020 election cycle, and consulting with the NAACP, Demos and Faith in Action during the 2022 midterm elections. She is also the founder and chair of voting rights nonprofit Organize Tennessee and previously led Emerge Tennessee, helping women run for and win elected office in her home state. A Howard University journalism graduate with a master’s degree in international public policy from University College London, Kristal brings a unique perspective to a timely conversation about confronting conflict, communicating across differences and finding ways to keep talking when polarization makes it easier to shut down, walk away or retreat to our own corners.

Key pitching takeaways from Kristal Knight on this episode of “Pitch Live”:

• Every story has an arc. At the climax, you can either bring people in or push them away. Personal storytelling creates relatability, and relatability opens the door to persuasion.
• One conversation rarely changes a mind. People often need to hear a message multiple times before it moves them.
• Practice situational awareness. Before starting a difficult conversation, ask: Is this the right time and place?
• Neutralize an argument by acknowledging that two things can be true: We can love and support each other, and still disagree.
• Seek to understand before trying to persuade. Listen for the perspective behind the position.
• When emotions take over a debate, return to facts and statistics to create common ground.
• When someone rattles you, smile. It can defuse the moment and help you stay in control of your response.
• Disagreement does not have to end a relationship. Sometimes accepting that you will not reach the same conclusion is part of moving forward.

Join Amy Summers for #PitchLive with #PitchPro Kristal Knight to access Kristal’s pitching strategies and success stories that prove the power of #ThePitch ☎️🤩

Connect:

Follow and connect with Amy Summers:

Instagram | Bluesky | TikTok | Facebook: @amysummersnyc

X: @PitchAmy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysummersnyc

Lift Your Leadership - Elevate Your Career: https://lifttolead.com

Follow and connect with Kristal Knight

X | Instagram | TikTok | Bluesky: @KrisLKnight

Facebook: @kristal.knight.37

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristal-knight-334a366

Website: https://krislknight.com

Follow and connect with Pitch Publicity #PitchStars

Instagram and LinkedIn @pitchpublicity

Follow and connect with #INICIVOX for #VirtualMentorship

Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn: @INICIVOX

Website: www.INICIVOX.com

Be sure to hit that subscribe button and give us a rating or review. Your feedback helps us plan future episodes. As a bonus, join us at www.INICIVOX.com where you can get motivated, hone your communication skills and binge as much mentorship as you want, whenever you need it.