The Public Relations Blog

You need your brand to show up when artificial intelligence delivers the answers. As AI changes how people find information online, earned media has become more important than ever. When AI tools like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini pull data to generate responses, they often rely on trusted third-party sources like news articles, podcasts, and interviews.

That means your visibility now depends less on ads or owned content and more on how others talk about you. If you're not already prioritizing earned media, you're missing a key piece of the AI-driven discovery puzzle.

Imagine you're sitting in a busy newsroom filled with reporters racing against deadlines. You have a story pitch in mind that you believe is newsworthy. But how do you make sure this reporter, who is juggling multiple assignments, sees the value in what you're offering?

The answer lies in presenting a complete and engaging story. No reporter wants to take bits and pieces of an idea and turn it into something publishable on their own. They prefer receiving a pitch that's press-ready, packed with every element they need.

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.

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.

In this solocast episode, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd discusses why “guaranteed media” isn’t earned and how to protect yourself from misleading PR firms.

Tune in to learn more!

In this episode, Vannyda Thach joins host Jason Mudd to discuss expert strategies for media pitching and journalist relationships

Tune in to learn more!

In this solocast episode, Jason Mudd discusses what journalists want from your media pitches. 

Tune in to learn more!

If you’re exploring public relations for the first time or seeking to improve your approach, you’re not alone. Many smart executives and marketing leaders begin their PR journey with one big goal: media coverage.

That’s a good instinct. Earned media coverage — credible stories about your organization by trusted news outlets — is one of the most powerful tools in PR. But media relations and earned media coverage are often misunderstood.

This guide details what every brand should know before hiring a PR firm or launching a media relations program.

In this episode, Linda Zebian joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the challenges journalists face in maintaining work-life balance and how PR professionals can better support them. She shares industry insights from Muck Rack, explores newsroom pressures, and offers strategies for improving media relations.

Tune in to learn more!