Steve Dolinsky is an ABC 7 Food Reporter; The Feed Podcast; travel writer; media trainer.
What led you to start working in digital/media publishing?
I’ve always been working in broadcast – as a news reporter for local TV, then later as a food reporter/host and producer – and digital was just the next iteration for me. There really was no choice. As I continued to work on creating content for TV, radio, newspaper and eventually my blog and website, I found that doing a podcast or creating short videos for my YouTube channel just became natural extensions of what I had to do to continue to reach an audience.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There really isn’t a typical day. As I write this, I’m headed to New York City to try a dozen pizza places (I’ve got a book coming out next year). I tend to do media training gigs out of town on Mondays or Tuesdays, or any other types of consulting and speaking gigs early in the week. I usually shoot TV stories or record sound for my podcast on Wed – Thurs and I’m always on live on ABC 7 Fridays at 11:50 am. Nighttime I’m usually out somewhere checking a place out, but I try to be at home at least three nights per week.
What’s your work setup like?
I rely quite a bit on my iPhone 7-plus. I definitely use it for pushing out and promoting my ABC 7 and podcast (thefeedpodcast.com) using Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. I also use the phone a fair amount to shoot video (now in 4k!) so that I can add it to stories for ABC 7 if I want – I’ll sometimes do a timelapse if it’s appropriate. I also have a MacBook Air that follows me everywhere. I record sound on a Tascam DR-40 in the field, but also have an older Marantz Pro recorder.
What do you do to get inspired?
Travel, travel, travel. As much as I can and to wherever possible. Being an Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants helps a little bit, but my consulting business takes me on the road a bit. I’m always looking in foreign magazines and papers for ideas and to see how writers cover food in other places.
What’s your favorite piece of writing or quote?
Julia Child told me she eats “everything in moderation,” so I still live by those words, but I’m a fan of anything by R.W. Apple Jr. and definitely, Calvin Trillin, when he was writing about food, rather than rhyming.
What is the passionate problem you are tackling at the moment?
Why there isn’t a Podcast Food Network.
Is there a product, solution, or tool that you think is a good match for your digital publishing efforts?
I like Libsyn – they do a good job of hosting my podcast, and I’m planning on launching more podcasts next year. WordPress has been super easy to use for my website.
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Any advice for ambitious digital publishing and media professionals just starting out?
Worry about creating good content first and foremost. The publishing part will come.
