“Influencers Who Inspire” – Interview with Nina Lentini, MediaPost’s Marketing Daily
We are excited to continue our interview series with the top influencers of the PR and marketing world. This week’s interview is with Nina Lentini, who edits Marketing Daily (MediaPost). She shares her thoughts on journalism, what she misses about Boston and more.
Please tell us a little bit about your role at MediaPost’s Marketing Daily?
I edit and create newsletters for MediaPost Communications, including Marketing Daily and a slew of others that focus on demographics such as Engage:Boomers and others that focus on arenas such as Marketing:Politics.
What do you love most about being a journalist?
Gathering facts and weaving stories that inform, educate and enterain, not necessarily all three all the time.
With the evolution of the internet and social media, journalism has evolved. What changes have you witnessed as an editor?
My first time as a copy editor, we used typewriters, manual ones. Selectrics followed, then the early computers. I was involved in the first efforts at videotext, which yadda yadda yadda became the Internet although I had taken time off to raise a few babies. I did learn enough code to create websites in the ’90s and now, of course, all my work is done online. I am looking forward to learning about Periscope.
How do you find talented writers for your staff?
I inherited the staff and they have been with us for eight years. Finding talent isn’t that hard, given the circumstances in journalism today. Otherwise, for the weekly newsletters, many contributors have been with us for years and, when openings occur, I find I can turn to people I know and trust in PR to suggest replacements.
MarketingDaily covers a wide area of topics. Which topics are you most interested in covering?
The food/beverage and restaurant industries are going through rapid changes in how they market their products to consumers. Health is a priority, especially among the young, and these groups are fighting to reach the pockets of Gens Y and Z. Very exciting times we’re living in.
Outside of your career, what keeps you busy?
Discovering New Haven. We moved here in 2014 from a much sleepier town. There is so much to see, do and eat. The pizza alone is the best there is! It’s also a very walkable city so the dog and I do 2.5 miles every morning, between deadlines.
As a Boston University graduate, what do you miss about the city of Boston?
The Charles River. It’s a romance smack dab in the middle of Beantown. I get back regularly now that my youngest daughter lives in Brighton. She will graduate from Suffolk next year with an interior design degree. Know any architects?
How can PR professionals become more helpful to you and your efforts as Editor?
They can understand (and explain to their clients) that Marketing Daily does not publish content marketing. If the client sells eggs and wants to submit a piece on how best to buy eggs, no. Stop right there. We like opinion pieces about current events and trends.
Favorite place to travel?
Italy. I lived there for two separate years, in Rome and Florence. I love speaking and hearing the language. It is music to my ears.
What is next for you as we head in to 2016?
I am building a 700 sf house on a vacant lot in New Haven. We are at the planning and zoning stage. I hope to visit my friends in Italy next year since I was last there in 1996.