This Week in PR Takes - Week 26

Take of the Week:
This week I attended a networking event with a small group of PR/Comms professionals, and of course AI was the topic du jour. As an old friend and I started to talk about how AI can be both your best friend and worst enemy, we dove into the ways in which it can help PR people in areas like ideation and research. However, we both expressed concern around younger professionals coming into the workforce and using AI as the “only” means to create. Needless to say, Andrew’s take on GPT-created pitches hit home and right in line with that discussion.

Bonus Take:
Folks, we have a Bonus Take of the Week this week! Taking a step back, when we think about how reporters are time-crunched and are impacted by so many macro events and must-cover companies, it can be a challenge for a pitch to be heard/read, let alone see that pitch become a story. However, time is one of the least-used yet most effective strategies we can all use to help combat this. Mary Ann dove into exactly this idea of reaching out to reporters earlier rather than later, and it’s one that we should all embrace as best as possible.

Chuckle of the Week:
There’s nothing like a good AP style joke, especially if it’s about pizza. Nice one, Esther!

Resource of the Week:
I’ll try my best to include relevant resources that will help PR/Comms people execute. If you produce or see a guide or other piece of content that fits this description, please send it my way and I’ll make sure to add it. This week’s Resource of the Week comes from Dave Clifton, who published a free Pitching Do/Don’t guide.

The Rest of the Takes:
- Is AI disrupting PR, or PR disrupting AI? Carly lays out why PR folks are about to become the MVPs of generative search.

- Brandon had a similar take on how AI is going to boost the executive presence for PR folks.

- This is less of a take and more of a request for help. Shira is teaching a PR/Advertising class and has some important questions to ask her students.

- I often use the “hill to die on” expression, it shows a certain level of significance. Erin shared her 3 hills she’d die on, and they’re well worth the read.

- Julie writes about how good comms people “should” be a little annoying.

- Danny with a deep take on what’s happening in the PR industry today, especially among more seasoned/senior professionals.

- Rachel wrote about the importance of diving into how agencies think.

- So, you want to be the Chief Communications Officer, well here’s what it takes (according to Stephanie).

- The always-spot-on Allison wrote about what a pitch should and should not be (spoiler alert, you’re doing it wrong if it’s only focused on one thing).

That’s it for this week’s takes, thanks for reading.

-Brian

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkramer/