The Public Relations Blog

We asked ChatGPT directly how it uses earned media and news releases to shape its responses. Its answer reveals exactly why PR is now central to AI-powered discovery. If your brand isn’t showing up in trusted coverage, you’re invisible to the algorithms shaping today’s conversations.

Explore the full exchange and its implications for your PR strategy regarding AI relations.

AI isn’t pulling from your ad copy or blog posts.

It’s citing your earned media.

As generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google SGE reshape how people search, public relations — not SEO or paid media — is powering brand discovery. In fact, 95% of citations in AI-generated answers come from PR-driven content. If your company isn’t earning credible coverage, it’s getting left out of the conversation.

Here’s why PR is now the front door to AI-powered discovery and how to make sure your brand shows up.

In a world where every brand fights for media attention, you need more than a typical press release to stand out. Doing something truly original is what catches journalists’ eyes. When you create interesting, memorable stories, you inspire news outlets to share your message with their audiences.

Unlocking the power of reactive gifting in PR

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised by an unexpected gift? That delightful feeling can work wonders in creating memorable connections, not just personally, but professionally too. Reactive gifting, a strategy where businesses respond with thoughtful gestures based on real-time interactions, is becoming a standout move in public relations. It's less about the dollar value and more about the lasting impression it leaves.

When disasters strike, people become overwhelmed. Chaos spreads rapidly. When crises occur in your company, many will turn to leadership for information, solutions, and reassurance. As a leader, you can help minimize damage and restore order by speaking with clarity and authority. 

This is why effective crisis communication can be so impactful. Use these tips to guide stakeholders, employees, and the public through the storm with clear, confident, and consistent messaging.

In this episode, M.J. Clark joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how PR pros can manage stress and thrive under pressure by adopting better leadership practices.

Tune in to learn more!

When a TikTok video allegedly showing a CEO cheating at a Coldplay concert went viral, it wasn’t because of who he was — at least, not at first. The moment exploded because it activated four of the internet’s most powerful engagement triggers: voyeurism, drama, ambiguity, and high stakes.

People couldn’t look away.

A blurry concert video. A kiss cam. A ducked face. And now, a PR nightmare.

What started as a seemingly innocuous moment at a Coldplay concert earlier this week — a couple caught briefly on the Jumbotron awkwardly ducking out of frame — has spiraled into a viral spectacle. Internet sleuths quickly identified the man as the married CEO of a tech company. The woman beside him was not his wife.

Within hours, the video racked up millions of views. By the next morning, memes circulated, TikTok think pieces exploded, and the CEO’s company, Astronomer, found itself facing a serious reputational fallout.

You want your corporate updates to matter, not just make noise. Not every internal change deserves a press release, and understanding the difference is key. When you know what’s newsworthy, you avoid wasting time and resources on announcements that won’t land. Your ability to shape perception depends on sharing what resonates, not just what’s new.

The belief that eating carrots can improve your vision is widely accepted. But did you know this idea started as a clever trick by the British government during World War II? The myth's continued presence shows the powerful influence of public relations and media.