Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Got a call from Newsweek magazine

Do you know what phrases or words brings up your blog or actual name in a search?

Now I've written about some of the stranger phrases that brought folks to my site. Seriously some strange things.

So when I answered the phone at work last week to hear a reporter from Newsweek on the other end of the line, I didn't think anything of it. My organization has been working on issues around foreclosure and I thought he was looking for some information. I started to mentally get the facts in place and was ready to explain the importance of addressing this critical issue before entire neighborhoods start to collapse.

"Are you Allison Staton who writes Soccer Mom in Denial?"

I froze. Then laughed. A loud from the belly laugh.

"You're kidding right?"

He then went on to explain he was writing a piece about sugar cereals being served for school lunch. He Googled sugar cereal for lunch and guess what?

I'll give you a minute to open a new browser and see for yourself.





Done?





Yup - I'M THE FIRST ITEM LISTED!

Suddenly Painted Maypole sticking in various symbols into the name of the opera production she is performing in seems very sensible to me.

I arranged to speak with the reporter after work and we talked about what had happened last year at the parochial school. I then go on to sing the praises of the public school my children attend this year because the kids and I chose the food days before it is served so there is no a la carte temptations for 1st graders. Fifth graders I can deal with. I think 7 years old is too young to ask "do you want carrots or Coco Puffs"?

He then tells me how he contacted the lone person who commented on that particular post, the wonderful Maggie from Ramblings of Maggie. She was one of the first to "find" me. She told him a really funny story but you have to read her blog to see what she said.

But suddenly I went from being irate about schools giving young children sugar for a meal to being defensive that he thought I had only one commenter. I mean I've worked my way up to 9 or 10! Some days I get close to 30! And I have another blog too! I mean I've got a presence here in the cyberworld.

Here I have an opportunity to wax poetic about the importance of childhood eating patterns, healthy food choices, support for school nutrition and health education. And I, a trained media spokesperson, start blabbering about my blog.

Psst - the article is in this week's Newsweek (October 15th).

20 comments:

CableGirl said...

You crack me up. lol. Getting all defensive with him about your number of readers. What did you say to him?

Heather said...

Wow that doesn't happen everyday!

jodifur said...

oh my goodness! how did he get your name and work number?

Cynthia said...

Wow, I think that is cool! I will have to check out Newsweek.

painted maypole said...

we get newsweek - I will have to read it.


And I'm glad you no longer think I'm crazy for all my symbols. I am sure there are LOTS of websites that list the name of that opera, but how many that also mention the city it is in, etc, etc. I always try to write my blog with the knowledge that anyone could come across it someday, but I don't want everyone in my cast to come up with it as soon as they do a google search looking for a review!

Fourier Analyst said...

Whoo-hoo! I am in the presence of a celebrity blog!! National magazine no less. And I completely understand your being defensive about the one commenter. I hope you told him you have international readership?!

soccer mom in denial said...

Cablegirl -

I said exactly what I wrote - that I have more readers and another blog. Pitiful, I know.

Heather -

Yup.

Jodi -

After finding my name on my blog he found my work number. Part of my job is being easily found.

Nap Warden -

Thanks. It is pretty cool to see my name in an actual magazine.

Painted Maypole -

I NEVER thought you were crazy. Just overly cautious :). But NOW I know that you are brilliant and I bow to your intelligence.

FA -

Now THAT would've gotten him to notice the blog. I have an INTERNATIONAL readership!

Flower Child said...

Congratulations! I don't even know if my blog is searchable. Must look into that just in case there is an article about pathetic tomato plants... And thrilled to hear it's about sugar cereals! Next item, birthday CDs!

Alex Elliot said...

That is so cool!

Jami said...

And coming in at number 10 to push the comments into double digits ...

I've been in a couple of local magazines and even had my blog mentioned in a post on the CBS News blog, but never anything like Newsweek! Too kewl!! I'll definitely have to read it in the grocery checkout line. Right after I find out about Tom Cruise's gay alien baby.

Unknown said...

You are a suppa-star!!!!!

Since we do lots of nutrition work, I am extra extra proud of you!

Jen said...

LOL, SMID! Wow, that's a hoot. And we were just writing about what blogging does/can do, right? Too funny. And I will have to break down and find Newsweek (I admit I've abandoned it for "The Week").

Jenn in Holland said...

I think if you'd told him that you had more readers now AND a personal STALKER (namely, me) he would have been super impressed. For real. You did mention me as your most loyal reader, didn't you?

Jenn in Holland said...

Seriously, I think he should know about me.

Jenn in Holland said...

Can you call him back?

Brillig said...

NO WAY! That's awesome!! (And I'm about to be comment number SIXTEEN, thank you very much!--I would do the exact same thing, by the way. I'm very defensive about my blog.) But what a cool thing, to be interviewed on such an interesting subject by NEWSWEEK!!! I bow down to the Queen SMID. Look how frickin' brackin' awesome you are!!!!

Anonymous said...

Awesome!

You've done a much better job than I have of keeping up with things and creating a community.

Good work.

Anonymous said...

How amazing that you were contacted congrats! I would have gotten all defensive too no worries :P

Adventures In Waitressing said...

LMAO.. getting defensive about the amount of readers LOL You have more then me woman.. but I love that you are one of them.

I will have to actually read Newsweek just to see if they mention you.

HUGS

soccer mom in denial said...

I'm sorry, perhaps I wasn't clear -

I'M IN NEWSWEEK THIS WEEK!!

Here is the quote in case the line is really short at your grocery store and you can't get to PAGE 15 (thanks Maypole) -

Parents, meanwhile, differ on whether Trix are for kids at school. Allison Staton was horrified last fall when she discovered her twin kindergartners were lunching on Lucky Charms with chocolate milk at their parochial
school in -----. This year, she moved her children into a public school that also serves cereal for lunch, but she has prohibited them from buying it. “I thought we were all in this together to teach healthy habits,” she says. “It’s just way too tempting to put sugar cereal in front of a 6-year-old.”