Julia Walker

Why are governments so shortlived? Our weekend Westminster Insider podcast has some theories from those at the sharp end of "events, der boy, events", with Patrick Baker in the chair.

3

Vernon and the team at NYCNewswire have been early adopters of Lookatmedia™ in the New York news publishing landscape, experiencing firsthand the innovations that are reshaping how local news is reported and shared. They will also be among the first newsrooms to benefit from our next wave of AI technology, designed to enhance and upskill editorial teams while delivering the verifiable, accurate content readers increasingly demand. The countdown begins. #nycnewswire #mediarelations #Lookatmedia #pr

3

Why being touched or moved by a piece of art or expression matters so much more than just being able to understand it. This underlines the power of cinema, but I'd also say to every art form, including writing. If your words and the cadence they strike up are able to rise beyond the syntax that builds them, then they touch and move your readers beyond the constraints of literal comprehension.

1

Since 2009, Cision’s annual State of the Media Report is widely recognized as the industry standard bearer for identifying the latest trends in journalism, and continues to be the industry's most comprehensive resource for understanding what journalists value, how they work and how PR professionals can better partner with them. This year’s report—based on insights from more than 3,000 journalists across 19 markets—offers a deep, data-driven look at the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the global media landscape.    Key Insights from This Year’s Report  1. Pitching with Purpose: 9 in 10 journalists say they’ll immediately reject a pitch if it isn’t relevant to their beat or audience. Data and clear angles matter more than ever. 2. Press Releases (Still) Rule: Once again, press releases are the most preferred content format by journalists. Pairing them with multimedia (images, charts, videos) increases impact. 3. Social Shifts: While LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram remain dominant, platforms like BlueSky are gaining traction—especially in North America—surpassing TikTok for journalists. 4. AI in PR: Journalists are divided—1 in 4 are strongly opposed to AI-generated pitches, but most are open to well-crafted, human-validated content. Accuracy is their top concern.  5. Minding the “R” in PR: 85% of journalists say the best way to start a relationship is a simple email introduction. Download the full report here: https://reurl.cc/K8ENmj #PR #PRNewswire #PRNAsia #Cision #medialandscape

25

2 Comments

What does an effective media campaign look like? Journalist Dan Townend unpacks the success of a recent newspaper crusade in the latest edition of Off the Record. He shares what comms pros can learn from examples like it. If you work in PR, communications or public affairs, then this week’s analysis is full of practical insights you can use right away. Subscribe to Off the Record on Substack for a look at the media landscape every Thursday... and tips on how to make it work for you. Link in the comments to read the edition 👇

24

1 Comment

Free speech matters. Impartiality matters. In most workplaces, impartiality is the safer choice. But it shouldn’t come at the cost of honest thinking or measured opinions. Opinions challenge assumptions. There’s no perfect answer, but silence has never moved anything forward. The real tension is how we separate personal opinions and strong perspectives from professional judgement, particularly in an industry where comms sits at the core. The choice is either taking a stance that reflects an organisation’s values or sitting on the fence in the name of appeasement. I prefer the former, as I feel most people do. #pr #comms https://lnkd.in/e9YSNHbA

12

2 Comments

Great speaking with Niamh Smith at Financial Promoter about how AI is reshaping the PR industry and specifically the agency model. To me, the undersold value isn't in the flashy front-end prompts in Claude, but in the back-end workflows that free up comms folk. We can produce more and deliver better outcomes with less time, less people, and at a fairer price point to clients. A few things I touched on: The traditional PR agency model and one-dimensional service offering is under pressure. Media is contracting, client tenures are shortening and securing meaningful+consistent coverage is not possible for every company. AI is changing how the work gets done (and also who does the work). There is a great opportunity for PR pros who can marry their strategic thinking and ideas with super clever use of AI. They are going to be the stars of this new era. And critically, AI search visibility metrics are giving PR a way to demonstrate real, business-relevant impact — not just clip counts. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/e-xCY7zk

25

Are you a journalist looking to get into public relations? I'm excited to join Wavelength's Stacey Reiss, Noble People's Tom Morrissy, and Journalist and consultant Michelle Castillo at Advertising Week New York for our panel, “Beyond the Newsroom: Journalists & Media Execs on Their Next Chapter” — Thursday, Oct. 9, 11:50 AM on the Marketplace Stage. As more journalists move into PR, here are a few quick tips for making the transition a success: 1. Be a counselor - you’re now helping shape the story, not just report it. 2. Think strategically - every pitch supports a bigger communications goal. 3. Prioritize client service - show up on time, follow through, and respond quickly. 4. Use your newsroom experience - guide clients to relevant stories that work for media. 5. Communicate frequently - clients appreciate updates and transparency on the work. Looking forward to sharing more insights and stories at Advertising Week New York! Julie Farin R. Kurt Osenlund Jason Fink Isha Kamani Melanie Shaw Chris Hayes Michael Gewirtzman

15

Some suggestions for how AI can drive innovation in PR, one of the most important is ensuring human oversight and an ethical framework https://bit.ly/4eOghmU

1

2 Comments

AI isn’t coming for PR. It’s already here - and most are still playing catch-up. This article by my fellow GlobalCom PR Network member Juha Frey is a timely reminder: mastering AI in communications isn’t about using more tools. It’s about using them with strategic intent. Agencies that fail to evolve beyond tactics will be left behind. Read the full take: https://lnkd.in/g9mbP9b4 #PR #AIinComms #StrategicCommunications #PublicRelations #ArtificialIntelligence #ONEPRecious #AdaptiveComms #GCPR

26

3 Comments

💥 Crisis Comms Pro Tip 💥 In a crisis, speed matters—but clarity matters more. ✅ Don’t rush to say something. 🎯 Pause to say the right thing. Your first message sets the tone: 🔹 Acknowledge the issue 🔹 Center the people impacted 🔹 Own what you can, transparently 🔹 Share what’s next—and follow through Remember: trust is built in how you show up when it’s hard. #CrisisCommunications #LeadershipMessaging #Trust #CommsTips #StrategicComms #LinkedInTips

1

Atlanta Journal-Constitution's shift is bold. Copycats risk missing the point. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution announced it will publish its last print edition at the end of this year and move fully digital. I sat in on a newsletter session led by the AJC folks at the ONA conference a couple years ago, and it was clear they’re doing some really innovative work. Like all of us, they see their future in digital, and they’re leaning into it. It will be fun and educational to watch how they navigate this new era. Print, though, is still a significant piece of revenue for many publishers. Too often, the push to “go digital” has meant tripping over print dollars to chase increasingly competitive digital dimes. I’ve also worked in newsrooms that chased the “digital first” mantra, but without the resources to sustain it. Some management teams seemed to believe that cutting back print also meant you could cut into newsrooms — but that simply doesn’t hold up. If anything, strong digital products demand more investment in local reporting, not less. Atlanta may thrive with an all-digital strategy — they seem to have a plan. I agree there’s still plenty of opportunity for print in that market. By stepping away, AJC is leaving money on the table that smaller, more nimble publications may be glad to scoop up. It could even open the door to a renaissance for community print publications in Atlanta’s wake. For many of us, the future will continue to be a mix of print and digital. I believe we can do both well — and continue to make a strong business case for it. My hope is that this moment in Atlanta doesn’t spark a wave of companies rushing to go “all digital” without the same kind of vision and investment. AJC appears to know where it’s headed. Too many others, sadly, don’t — and digital-only without a real plan won’t get them there.

3

The media industry isn't fragmenting. It's multiplying. Two launches this month are making that crystal clear. Joanna Stern just left the Wall Street Journal to launch "New Things," an independent media platform spanning newsletter, video, and live events, while simultaneously signing on as Chief Tech Analyst at NBC News. She'll publish independently through Beehiiv, bring exclusive reporting to NBC's linear and streaming TV, and feed its subscription product, all at once. Meanwhile, Pat Kiernan and Jamie Stelter just launched "Morning People" at NY1, a daily show designed for a digital-first audience, airing on television and simultaneously available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts every weekday at 6 a.m. The two Emmy winners have anchored "Mornings on 1" together since 2017, but "Morning People" lets them reach New Yorkers wherever they actually are, whether on the couch, the subway, or the treadmill. These aren't just interesting media stories. They're a masterclass in how reach works now. One show. Multiple platforms, multiple audiences, multiple access points. The "placement" is no longer the story. The ecosystem is. For PR experts, this changes the targeting calculus entirely. We can no longer pitch a reporter and think in terms of a single outlet. We have to ask: what is this journalist's full distribution footprint? The best communicators right now think in terms of reach architecture, not outlet names. A newsletter with 50,000 engaged subscribers may make more decisions than a wire pickup. A 15-minute video podcast hitting commuters at 6 a.m. may land harder than a cable segment. The media is not dying. It is distributed. Our job is to follow it there. More on Joanna here: https://bit.ly/4dr488u. More on Pat and Jamie here: https://bit.ly/4duBDqt.

5

Excellent blog by Blair Williamson covering a recent session with LumApps where I laid out six key pathways to effective communication leadership: * Ask good questions. Good questions can impact or frame outcomes more effectively. * Share new ideas. Provide alternatives and spark discussions. * Bring the data. Data strengthens your arguments. * Combine that data with words and stories * Tap informal networks. Make use of the existing trust and credibility. * Mobilize your allies. Amplify the voices of internal supporters. Go deeper: https://lnkd.in/eT7U-ghs

16

I always look forward to the insights from these reports because they help us as PR pros best serve as a resource for reporters in a truly symbiotic relationship. The executive summary gives great topline takeaways, but here are my own two cents: ⭐ Understand your value - that is, be sure that what you're bringing reporters brings THEM value. Don't hit send on a pitch for the sake of it. Checking a box does not help build a meaningful two-way relationship. 👍 The social media landscape is shifting, which directly impacts the ways in which we've historically kept up with our reporter friendlies. Do your homework; understand what an individual cares about before you pitch them. This may require a longer lead time and looking to connect without a pitch. 🤝 Relationships matter more than ever, especially when looking at the numbers around how many pitches reporters receive, respond to, and how how influential pitches are to their story pipeline. Don't have an existing relationship? Build one! Media strategy must be grounded in the state of the current landscape. What once worked, may not work today. Stay curious, stay informed, and always consider how you can best provide VALUE to the individuals serving as the backbone of media.

11

H/Advisors Abernathy recently found that CEOs who actively use digital channels now outpace lawmakers in shaping public policy agendas. That's a massive advantage in a complex public affairs landscape. Our 'Social In The C-Suite, Public Affairs Edition' research showed that: 🎯 Executives strengthen their credibility on public policy when they focus on business impact over political ideology. 🎯 CEOs can carefully use digital channels to discuss complex topics positioning themselves as pragmatic, solutions‑driven voices in an increasingly noisy policy landscape. 🎯 Policymakers are taking notice, as they are among the most likely to follow CEOs on social media. Now is the time to aligned your executive communications and public affairs strategy. Download the full report: https://lnkd.in/gPBtribA

22

I agree that no news happens at press conferences. But as the local news funding crisis further guts newsrooms and people grow increasingly alienated from the work of real reporters, I don't think "don't go cover local meetings" is a good strategy. These are events where highly engaged community members — often the best sources — show up. And in rural places, what these boards and panels vote on has vast consequences. (See the unfolding county budget crisis in Maine, which Bangor Daily News has been covering the hell out of, along with our friends at The Maine Monitor/Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting). AI coverage tools are an interesting emerging technology and we should experiment with them. But the deepening distrust of media and rise in political violence underscore that, if anything, 2026 should be the year that reporters leave their homes and offices and go talk to real people, wherever they are.

17

3 Comments

There has been a lot of sound and fury over Sarah Pochin's comments about the advertising industry's commitment to visible diversity. Some thoughts https://lnkd.in/ewxs4CKa

27

91 Comments