Hey, How'd You Use Social Media to Crowdsource A Cookbook, Food52?

Social Media Marketing Boot Camp: April 16

Need Help?

Employers

Join Today or Log in

Jobs

Hiring?
Post your open positions on our job board.
Satisfaction guaranteed. Learn more.

FAQ Contact Us

Courses

June 6, 2013 | An Interactive Online Event
Implement a complete social media campaign in six weeks. Register now.

FAQ Contact Us

Events

June 4, 2013 | San Francisco

Explore how you can — and should — approach Twitter to make the most of it for your brand. Learn from social media pros at the San Francisco Giants, SFGate, and more. Learn more.

News

So What Do You Do, David Karp, Founder of Tumblr?
Way before Yahoo! came calling, we spoke with David Karp to find out how he launched the platform at the ripe old age of 20. Read more

FAQ Contact Us

Shortcuts: scoop jobs, social media jobs, online courses

Score That Job: Hachette Book Group

Find out how to get hired by one of the 'Big Six' in publishing.

How To Pitch: Every Day With Rachael Ray

With a lifestyle focus that extends beyond the kitchen, this celeb chef's eponymous mag has many opportunities for freelancers.

So What Do You Do, Sara Shepard, Author of Pretty Little Liars?

The author who published 20 books in eight years gives tips on how writers can overcome the blank page and write more.

How To Pitch: The FADER

This mag's an ideal launchpad for music mavens eager to showcase their knowledge of emerging artists and scenes.

How To Pitch: Wired

This 'guidebook to the modern world' wants imaginative, timely pitches that will resonate on the page, iPad and beyond.

Rosanna Scotto: My First Big Break

The Good Day NY host tells how she landed the anchor seat and how aspiring broadcasters can do the same.

How To Pitch: Audubon

At this conservation mag, freelancers with a strong grasp of science and nature contribute up to 90 percent of all features.

Back to Home > Content > Hey, How'd You Do That? > Hey, How'd You Use Social Media to Crowdsource A Cookbook, Food52?

Mail Print

Cofounder Amanda Hesser dishes on handing the cookbook's content creation over to the masses

By Jessica Roy - October 18, 2010

Food52 cofounder Amanda Hesser

Community cookbooks have been around forever, so the notion of crowdsourcing home recipes really predates the rise of social media. But employing Twitter to help collect recipes, share cooking advice, and galvanize a community around a shared love of food? That's certainly a new venture, and one that freelancer Merrill Stubbs and former New York Times Magazine food editor Amanda Hesser worked hard to create. Their popular online recipe community, Food52, recently finished their contest for the best home made recipes, the winners of which will be published in the first Food52 cookbook to be released in 2011 (the curation of cookbook No. 2 is underway).

The two met while researching for The Essential New York Times Cookbook, which Hesser edited, and will be released in late October. "We don't want to be yet another site that insists on dumbing down recipes to make them "quick" and "easy" -- so we won't," states the site. Here, Hesser talks about why the duo decided to start Food52, how they built a community around the site, and the advent of Foodpickle, the first real-time food Q&A. ...

The How to Pitch series is worth its weight in gold. In just the first month I'd already benefited enough to consider the cost of joining well worth it. -- Gaen Murphree

Premium content, including our How to Pitch Guides, an indispensable tool for freelance writers. view sample >
Savings of up to $35 per class on mediabistro.com courses and seminars.
Insurance discounts for freelancers and small businesses, including medical, dental, auto and home.
Lots of other professional discounts, including ZipCar (a $50 value) and your choice of magazine subscriptions (a $10 value).

... and much more! View all benefits or Sign up now!