Media Relations

In a rare move from the Vatican, Pope Francis thanked journalists Nov. 13 for years of unflinching investigation into sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. We’ll soon see whether this week’s coverage is an example of smart long-term reputation management from the Vatican, or more of a buffer from any scandals on the horizon.

The timing and content of Psaki’s COVID-19 disclosure could be a pandemic-era guide for PR pros to follow, should an executive, client or other public-facing figure test positive.

It’s hard enough to get media placement for a launch, initiative or campaign. Indeed, obtaining “coverage in the new news cycle” and “finding relevant angles for pitches” are PR pros’ biggest concerns, according to a Muckrack report. Let’s add another hurdle: getting coverage in a crowded media landscape when your organization or product is perceived as dry or unsexy.

We bet you had no idea you were experiencing a perfect PR world. Communicators should thank Facebook and Frances Haugen for that.

With an ‘all-sides-of-the-desk’ background, few people are better placed to discuss pitching than Lisa Morgan. PR should think better when it pitches, she says.

Building a communication structure when you’re a team of one isn’t easy. We asked Taya Jarman, communications director, Institute for Public Health Innovation, how she’s doing it.

A pair of journalistic ethics issues this week should concern PR pros. Their ultimate harm to earned media is uncertain.

This month’s reader question asks whether it’s ethical to pitch positive stories as a way to deflect attention when you suspect a crisis is about to hit your organization.

Forty-two percent of PR pros say ensuring press releases reach the right audience is a major issue, a new Cision survey says.

Jeopardy!, has simple rules. Similarly, pitching’s ‘rules’ are elementary, yet we forget them. Brush up here as we play “Know Your Show.”