Kevin Dugan is a finance reporter for Intelligencer; a New York Magazine site covering news and analysis about politics, business and finance, technology, sports, and media.

During the episode, Kevin talks about his change in priorities going from a beat reporter to what he covers now, his lack of interest in crypto, how he resurfaces old pitches when the time is right, and more.

Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Click below to listen to the full conversation and read below for highlights from the interview:

What He Covers

[00:01:33] BB: Kevin, for those who maybe aren't as familiar, and I have people do this more and more often, even for the biggest outlets that are out there, how would you describe New York Magazine and then specifically what you are covering?

[00:01:48] KD: Sure. I think New York Magazine is, for people who don’t know, it's been around for decades. It was founded by Tom Wolfe. We are very invested in telling really great stories around people and personalities not only just in New York but around the world and how they affect everything from the way that we see celebrities to the rich and powerful and what they're up to and why we should care about them. 

What I do is I focus on people with power and money in the world of finance, in the world of economics, even in crypto, and the ways that they are affecting our daily lives. These are people who do everything from build the buildings in New York City to create and then collapse the giant cryptocurrencies that probably we maybe are investing in. So it's a wide world, and it's kind of fun. Yes, those are the kind of stories that I'm interested. 

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Elements of Pitches

[00:08:30] BB: So do you have a request that you would like to make, Kevin, to publicists right now?

[00:08:35] KD: I think there's almost zero chance that I'm going to open anything that is about crypto if it is in my inbox, and I don't ask for it. The exception would be if it would be, again, a good source, someone who can talk to me about what is like maybe the legal implications of something that is going on, something like that. 

But so much of it is just not credible, and I look at it, and it feels like someone is trying to get me to write something that is a little scammy. I don't appreciate that. I mean, in general, a lot of this stuff, it doesn't really bother me too much. Maybe I'm just kind of – I mean, I told you the numbers on my inbox. It just kind of like –

[00:09:25] BB: You're very chill. I have to say. You're just like, “Yes.” 

[00:09:29] KD: I do wish that people would take me off of lists that have nothing to do with my coverage; movies, all kinds of television shows, things that I don't cover. It’s just another thing for me to look at and to ignore. That is – it does take up my time. It doesn't really bother me all that much. I'm often just focused on my own writing and my own reporting during the day. But people just shouldn't waste their time. 

Rapid Fire Pitching Preferences

[00:13:27] BB: Video, phone, or in-person interview?

[00:13:32] KD: In person. 

[00:13:33] BB: Ooh, why?

[00:13:34] KD: Oh, I think it's just pandemic fatigue. I did so much Zoom, and I just don't like it. I would much rather get to know someone, and I also – there are so many interruptions that happen, Amazon delivery packages. 

[00:13:52] BB: Yes, seriously. 

[00:13:53] KD: It is distracting, and it's hard to get people to open up and talk. So I would like – in general, I don't really even want to do that at all. 

[00:14:04] BB: Okay. So in person if you can make it happen. Oh, by the way, like do you have a preference, like you want to go to a coffee shop? You want to go to office space. What kind of in-person? Back alley? What? 

[00:14:17] KD: I have a zero preference. Honestly, I'm very comfortable anywhere, and I'm happy to go wherever someone is comfortable. 

[00:14:23] BB: Okay. Bullet points or paragraphs in a pitch?

[00:14:27] KD: A little bit mix of both. If you can explain to me why I should care and then bullet point the facts that are backing it up, then that would be great. 

[00:14:38] BB: Okay. Images attached or Dropbox zip file?

[00:14:42] KD: Neither, really. I –

[00:14:43] BB: Neither. 

[00:14:43] KD: Yes. I mean, especially if it's a cold pitch, I'm never going to open that. 

[00:14:48] BB: Yes, okay. So it does not apply. Then besides lawyers, are there any other sources that you look for or get extra excited about when you see them in your inbox?

[00:14:58] KD: Oh, I mean, anyone who couldn't really – let me think about that. 

[00:15:02] BB: Yes. Because the floodgates will be opening after this, just to be clear, Kevin.

[00:15:07] KD: I want to hear from bankers. I want to hear from financiers. I want to hear from [inaudible

00:15:10] guys and all that. I very much want to hear from people who are trying to change things in their industry or their company. For instance, if they are involved or thinking about being involved in, let's say, a class action lawsuit about sexism, that would be someone who I would very much want to talk to. 

You know what? As much as I care very much about those issue-oriented stories, I also care a lot about fun stories. I want to talk to people who are doing something cool and exciting. But by that, I do not mean that if someone has a brand new product that they're trying to sell. Can I help them sell it? I don't want to do that. I am talking about is someone who – again, it’s a little bit like pornography, right? You know it when you see it. 

I'm sure people will be emailing me with all kinds of stuff, but it's often I know, and I understand, and I appreciate the difficulty from the side on the PR person's perspective that every client thinks they have like the cool amazing thing. But it's – yes. That’s fine. That's cool. That's the job. But I'll take a look. I'll hear them out often. But I make no promises on –

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