This Phoenix-based freelancer has shaped consumer trends through outlets like Real Simple and Business Insider. With 250+ bylines at The Telegram alone, her work balances rigorous product testing with cultural analysis.
“My ideal source brings both expertise and awareness of real-world application.”
Wendy Rose Gould has carved a distinctive niche as a freelance lifestyle journalist over her decade-long career. Beginning at a small Indiana newspaper covering hyperlocal stories, she quickly expanded her scope through international experiences in South Korea, which shaped her adaptable storytelling voice. Today, she contributes to top-tier outlets like Real Simple, NBC, and Martha Stewart, focusing on beauty, wellness, and consumer-focused content.
This candid Substack piece offers rare insight into editorial workflows through six case studies of pitch missteps. Gould analyzes common errors like follow-up spam and generic outreach, using her 15+ years of experience to create actionable guidelines. The article’s viral reception (shared by 1.2K+ media professionals) underscores its value as a modern PR handbook.
“I genuinely treasure my relationships with public relations professionals, and I quite literally could not do my job without you! That said, there are some emails I receive that leave me positively flummoxed...”
Gould’s Business Insider leggings review demonstrates her methodical approach to product testing. Successful pitches should mirror this rigor by including:
Her Dance Current coverage of Newfoundland’s arts scene reveals an affinity for craft-focused stories. When pitching beauty products, emphasize handcrafted elements, sustainable sourcing, and founder narratives over mass-market claims.
While formal awards aren’t documented in available sources, Gould’s longevity as a freelancer for marquee publications (Real Simple since 2016, NBC News Digital since 2014) itself serves as career validation. Her work’s recurring placement in competitive lifestyle verticals demonstrates consistent editorial trust.
