“Top Down Studio was essential in the launch of Good Tape Magazine. In addition to establishing our brand’s central conceit, Good Tape benefited profoundly from Alana’s esteemed reputation and expertise. Building trust with the country's top writers is a difficult task for any new media venture looking to tell the best stories and through Alana that trust was essentially earned overnight. It’s difficult to imagine where the magazine would be today without her comprehensive involvement.”
—Dane Cardiel
Publisher & founder, Good Tape

“Alana and Top Down Studio are incredibly thoughtful partners, willing to go deep and uncover new angles and approaches and sources. We leave meetings inspired and always looking forward to the next project together.”
—Amy Choi and Rebecca Lehrer
Founders, The Mash-Up Americans

“Alana was a joy to work with. She was thoughtful and immersed herself in our brand as we launched an editorial initiative from the ground up across social and owned platforms. Alana drew out our strengths and helped us find our voice.”
—Mario de la Vega
VP of Content Strategy and Operations, Chegg Life

“I have hired Alana in a variety of functions—as a guest editor, a writer, and a consultant—and I've been thoroughly impressed every time. If I have a new project (say, a new issue of a magazine) she's the first person I call to brainstorm. Brimming with ideas, she can turn even the thinnest brief into a substantive project. On top of that, Alana also happens to be a first-class writer, a thoughtful editor, and the kind of gracious communicator I can happily connect with anyone. In short: wildly competent, infuriatingly creative and also just plain fun.”
—Leon Dische Becker
Co-founder, GROW by Ginko

“No one takes a big swing like Alana. As an editorial leader and team builder, she has a knack for flying high above a narrative and swooping in with the definitive, conversation-setting story package at the exact right time. She does not settle for small thinking. She knows that to make a magazine is to transform joy into something tangible, and that’s why everything with her stamp on it feels fresh, bold, innovative, essential, and —true to her name—hopeful. Her work is a little light in a tunnel lined with corporate churn: ‘Oh, right, that’s what media should be.’”
—Cooper Fleishman
Senior Director of Audience, Departures & MEL

“We had an amazing experience working with Top Down Studio as we worked to grow our newsletter and wrote a book. Throughout the process, Alana demonstrated remarkable responsiveness, meeting tight deadlines and providing thoughtful feedback that elevated the quality of our work. Her meticulous attention to detail, combined with her ability to enhance rather than simply correct our writing, made her an invaluable partner. What truly sets Alana apart is her thoughtful collaboration style - she took the time to understand our vision and worked diligently to help us achieve it. I wholeheartedly recommend Alana to anyone seeking a copy editor who goes above and beyond the standard editing process.”
—Jamie Patricof
Founder of With Jamie, a food and culture newsletter

“Alana excels as an editor by assembling your facts into a sharply intelligent narrative that readers can't resist. Her discerning eye is matched only by her ability to anticipate where a cultural conversation is headed. There's no story she can't improve.”
—Miles Klee
Staff Writer, Rolling Stone & MEL

“Alana was a great partner in every way. Her choices were fearless when it came to what we should include and her commitment to the approach was total. Her strong voice and vision provided the guidance we needed to create something that covered an incredibly wide range of subjects yet still felt cohesive and holistic. I admired her ability to be decisive and to stand by our original goals.”
—Amy Silverman
Photo Director, 100 Battles

“Working alongside Alana Levinson for our Substack was incredibly fun and inspiring. Alana goes way beyond the role of an editor.  Right from the initial brainstorming sessions, it was clear that Alana was going to bring a unique perspective to our project. Guiding us as we developed the vision and voice of our Substack, she helped refine our different and sometimes opposing ideas and keep us on track.  Once we launched, Alana ensured our content was engaging and thought-provoking by challenging us with big questions that pushed us to dive deeper and communicate more effectively in our pieces. She was focused on what the reader and our fans might want, and it helped us to understand how to deliver that to our subscribers. She didn't just edit our work, she helped us become better writers.  Plus, she's a great hang on Zoom!” 
—Tegan Quin, of Tegan and Sara
Writer of I Think We're Alone Now

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