Julia Waldow is a retail reporter at Modern Retail covering news and trends in apparel and footwear industries, with previous experience at CNN, KCET, Mic, and Emmy Magazine.
How Has Your Work in Journalism Evolved With the Rise of AI?
Creating distinctive, compelling content has become increasingly essential. The information landscape is saturated with sources spanning social media, print, and digital platforms like Substack and streaming services. This competition necessitates producing work that provides genuine value and fresh perspectives while maintaining accuracy. Modern Retail has expanded into LinkedIn Live and increased podcasting, ensuring content reaches audiences where their attention resides.
What's Your Take on the Rising Influence of Non-Traditional Media?
Non-traditional media platforms offer specialized insights across industries. Substack and independent newsletters feature journalists specializing in niche topics, providing valuable perspective. Platforms like these foster high engagement through exclusive events for subscribers and represent valuable experimentation spaces rather than competitive threats to traditional journalism.
How Do You Discover and Validate Story Ideas Today?
Story development involves multiple approaches. Conversations with retail industry sources — analysts, founders, CEOs, and investors — generate initial ideas. When particular topics surface repeatedly across different conversations, they signal emerging trends warranting investigation. Company news drives story angles: bankruptcies, store openings, significant hires, earnings reports, and job postings offer analysis opportunities.
Regarding AI implementation, transcription services prove invaluable given weekly interviews, though accuracy verification remains necessary. AI-generated information sources present accuracy concerns, particularly for fact-based publication standards. One instance involved Google Gemini providing store count data contradicted by actual earnings reports.
What AI Applications Are Retailers Investing In?
Retailers employ AI chatbots for customer service experiences. Companies utilize AI solutions for tariff navigation, sourcing adjustments, pricing modifications, copy generation, and product page optimization.
Is Data Helpful for Making Sense of Niche Retail Topics?
Quantitative information proves essential. Reports, studies, and statistics demonstrate trends and reflect decision-making patterns. While data may not always directly source stories, comparative analysis across different report versions reveals shifts and changes. Historical report collections enable contextual analysis when writing related coverage.
How Do You Cultivate Genuine, Trusting Relationships With Sources?
Understanding publication scope and journalist focus areas proves critical. PR professionals should review Modern Retail's content before pitching — recognizing what gift guides aren't published, understanding recent story coverage, and avoiding duplicate pitches.
Effective engagement strategies include:
- Offering exclusive access and story opportunities
- Providing executive access enabling authentic conversations
- Supplying hard data: revenue numbers, year-over-year growth metrics
- Responding quickly to media inquiries
- Sharing images and special statistics
- Demonstrating flexibility with embargoes
- Maintaining respectful, transparent communication
Looking Forward: How Will Retail Journalism Evolve?
Retail journalism must address persistent misinformation through accurate, factual coverage accessible across platforms. Coverage should reflect everyday conversation topics — discussions at dinner tables and in boardrooms. Journalism should track industry challenges, opportunities, and how brands and retailers navigate obstacles and adapt strategies.