It is no secret that both PR and journalism have been forced to adapt to a markedly changed media landscape. The rise of the Internet has challenged the operations of print media outlets and has forced many traditional and non-traditional news sources, pushing them to rethink their brand – and forcing PR agencies to adapt to “new media.”
Gawker Media resignations highlight struggle between journalism and PR
Internet news service Gawker was recently criticized for publishing an article about a Conde Nast executive’s alleged attempts to hire an escort. Surprisingly, Gawker – known for edicts to report anything deemed to be true – removed the story and apologized. Despite protests by editorial staff, Gawker higher-ups determined that as online news becomes more mainstream, sites must have higher journalistic and ethical standards.
Dallas Morning News editor: ‘We are all salespeople now’
In a recent article with The Columbia Journalism Review, new Dallas Morning News chief Mike Wilson shared his thoughts on why newspapers need to more actively sell their brand to potential readers. Wilson believes news outlets no longer have the image of being old and stale.
PR in a citizen journalist world
According to Marian Salzman, PR professionals must change their practices to account for a rise in citizen journalism. Exposure in local, traditional news sources used to be a “gold standard,” but now, citizens are considered trusted and reputable sources of information.
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Seamus Roddy is an intern at WordWrite Communications. You can find him on Twitter @SeamusRoddy or email seamus.roddy@wordwritepr.com
