Research: PR pros cite spike in difficulty of media relations
Several aggregated surveys deliver some hard—and sometimes hard-to-stomach—data about the current state of public relations, journalism and the crossroads of the two.
Media relations is an increasingly tough gig—for everyone involved.
According to the 2019 JOTW Communications Survey, 69% of communicators said that media relations is “getting harder or much harder”—a 17-point increase from the same survey last year.
What can PR pros do about it? Studying the preferences of publications, editors and reporters is a good place to start.
Let’s review results from three separate surveys that polled hundreds of journalists to shed light on what they say motivates them to cover a story.
1. How reporters view social media, embargoes and exclusives.
Earlier this year, Muck Rack published a survey of 700 reporters for its State of Journalism 2019. Consider these takeaways from Muck Rack’s report:
Most journalists (65%) prefer to be pitched before 11 a.m. One-third of reporters “want to receive pitches under three sentences in length, with another 61% preferring pitches under three paragraphs.”
2. What reporters want from PR pitches.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
