Although PR professionals are usually seen as news-shapers, we’re also news-makers, especially as our industry continues to evolve at an ever-increasing rate. And whether it’s tips on how to utilize new social media management tools or an analysis of the latest communications disaster, the PR trades do a vital job in keeping our industry up-to-date.
Below, I’ve rounded up my five to-go sites for PR news and industry updates in the US:
- O’Dwyer’s is always my first port-of-call for PR news. The site blends news on PR companies both big and small, with updates on the latest personnel and account moves. It also has a great roster of opinion writers from across different sectors of the PR community. However, the website could do with a redesign.
- PR Daily is the go-to site for improving my PR skills. The site’s short, snappy articles, such as PR pros, make sure your pitch passes the 5-second test and How bridging puts your media interview back on track are quick to read and give helpful advice on how to keep your skill-set fresh.
- PR News is very similar to PR Daily, although its articles tend to be more in-depth. I’d utilize both, depending on how much time you have available.
- Bulldog Reporter doesn’t cover day-to-day PR news but does a fantastic job at taking studies from across the PR and marketing industries, condensing them down and making them relevant for a PR audience. Its weekly “Journalist on the move” feature can also help you keep track of your contacts.
- PR Week is the daddy of them all, with regional-specific sites for the US, UK, Asia and the Middle East. Although it has some great cases studies, it’s the site I find myself reading the least. This is mainly because much of the news focuses on the appointments, departures and the financial results of multinational PR and marketing companies – not something I find relevant in my day-to-day job at an independent, mid-sized agency in San Francisco.
- And finally, the PRSA’s Strategies & Tactics blog is a great source of information on the strategic and tactical aspects of our profession. In fact, Aaron Blank, CEO of PRGN member company The Fearey Group in Seattle recently contributed an article on how to transition into a new role.
I also called on our PRGN colleagues from across the globe to suggest the best PR trade titles in their markets. Here are just a few of their suggestions:
- Jonathan Klimke of Industrie-Contact recommended German website PR Journal.
- Mark Paterson of Currie Communications in Australia said that his market is poorly served for PR news, with PR News Asia and PR Week’s Asia site providing some coverage. However, marketing-focused site Mumbrella often covers PR stories.
- In Argentina, Dominique Biquard of Identia/PR highlights Revista Imagen – a magazine with 14 years’ experience in covering the business of communications and PR.
- France has three main sources of PR news, according to Stephane Billiet of WE Agency. Culture RP offers insights from PR professionals, while Le Blog Du Communicant provides deep and smart analyses on everything PR. Stephane also highlighted L’and, which covers trends affecting the PR industry.
- Finally, Charmaine Jeeva of Malaysia’s Perspective Strategies has two go-to sources for PR news – Marketing Interactive, which looks at communication and marketing campaigns in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, and PRCA Malaysia, which features key highlights, events and insights from across the Malaysian PR landscape.
Are there any sites I’ve missed? If so, please highlight them in the comments box below or email me at craig@landispr.com.
Craig MacLellan is a Senior Account Executive at Landis Communications Inc. in San Francisco. Craig plays a key role managing LCI’s traditional + social media content and strategy, as well as supporting the firm’s digital and video work. Craig is also the office’s resident Scotsman, having moved to the Bay Area in early 2018.