Digital PR Explained

Maria Korolov discovered fully fabricated AI-generated research on a reputable cybersecurity company's blog: fake Gartner stats, fake analyst reports, all of it. The company took it down, but the fake data is still circulating. In Part 2, Maria walks through what happened, what journalists are doing differently because of it, and what PR pros need to know about source credibility, expert quote...

Maria Korolov, an award-winning technology journalist for CIO, CSO, ComputerWorld, and NetworkWorld, shares what a well-managed embargo looks like from a journalist's perspective. In next week's episode (part 2), Maria walks us through the moment she discovered a cybersecurity company's blog post was full of fabricated AI-generated statistics citing reports that don't exist. The fa...

If you've noticed that getting people to your website feels harder than it used to, you're not imagining it. More than two-thirds of searches now end without a click, and that number is only going up as AI answers replace the ones people used to find on your site. Rand Fishkin, CEO of SparkToro and co-author of the upcoming book Zero Click Marketing, joined the show to talk about what this...

Want to know what journalists actually think about your pitches? Spoiler: 72% say fewer than a quarter of what lands in their inbox is relevant to them. Cision surveyed 1,800+ journalists and the results are worth your attention. I break down the key takeaways from their 2026 State of the Media report and share what I'm seeing play out in real life.

A niche regulation. Thousands of public comments. One skeptical editor. In this solo episode, Britt walks through a real campaign where AI did the heavy lifting by making sense of a mountain of public record data fast enough to matter. She breaks down the strategy, the journalist response, and what it actually means to use AI well in PR.

Barron's recently found one sentence construction showing up across thousands of corporate documents, earnings calls, and press releases and it is a phrase that barely existed two years ago. It's called the Great Flattening, and PR pitches are not immune. In this solo episode, Britt breaks down why AI-assisted pitches are increasingly blending together and introduces the POINT Check, a fiv...

In this episode, I’m joined by freelance journalist Kris Ann Valdez to talk about what it actually looks like to source experts through Qwoted. We get into the volume of pitches journalists receive, why even strong responses don’t always make it into a story, and how Kris Ann decides who to work with when she has multiple good options. She also shares how a source she didn’t use for one article en...

In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Thumann, a reporter at Campaign US covering the agency world. We break down what actually makes a story worth covering, from the pitch that caught her attention to why it turned into a follow-up piece a year later. We also get into what helps (and hurts) your chances in a crowded inbox, how to stay relevant to a journalist over time, and the small details that c...

If “spray and pray” doesn’t work, what do we do instead? In Part Two, Vince Nero and I get into what more intentional outreach actually looks like, from understanding how journalists work to rethinking what a “win” really is.

It’s never been easier to send more emails, but that doesn’t mean it works. In this episode, Vince Nero, Director of Content Marketing at BuzzStream, shares what millions of outreach emails reveal about what’s actually driving results in PR today.

When a sabbatical pitch wasn’t landing, Shara Seigel didn’t scrap it. She parked it. In this episode, Shara, VP of Media Strategy at Mission North, shares how one reporter conversation helped her pivot the angle into a timely, relatable story about using AI to ease the “post-PTO scaries.” We break down how she reframed the hook, packaged multiple client perspectives without offering an exclusive,...

In this episode of Digital PR Explained , Britt Klontz sits down with Luz Corona, U.S. Editor of Campaign, to talk about how editorial podcasts really come together. Luz shares what influences guest selection for Campaign Chemistry , why most great episodes start as editorial conversations (not pitches), and what PRs should keep in mind when pitching podcast guests. It’s a candid look at timing, r...

The pitch emails discussed in this episode are included in the show notes and available to read as you listen. In this conversation, Britt speaks with freelance writer and editor Daria Smith about how a press trip pitch has evolved over time. They unpack what stood out in the initial outreach, why an exclusive angle didn’t move forward, and how a reframed pitch ultimately became a published story...

What does it really take to get a celebrity on board for a purpose-driven campaign and make sure the spotlight stays on the cause? In this episode, journalist-turned-PR-pro Nez Sevim-Lawrence shares how she vets celebrity partners, navigates potential risks, and ensures media coverage is meaningful (not just flashy). From coordinating with Judi Dench to managing unexpected red flags, Nez offers a...

The story behind your brand can be the difference between a pitch that’s ignored and one that lands. In this episode, Nicole Pomije, founder of The Cookie Cups and co-founder of Pitch Peach, shares how she’s turned personal milestones, pivots, and challenges into national media coverage. From tailoring your pitch to different audiences to building lasting journalist relationships, you’ll learn how...

When Kendrick Lamar took the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show, he was wearing a brooch from Yael Fraynd’s client, Rahaminov Diamonds. In this episode, Yael shares how a last-minute stylist text turned into a career-defining PR moment and what it really takes to be the kind of team stylists trust when it counts. From building relationships to managing expectations, this one’s packed with lesso...

Landing a CNN segment isn’t about one perfect pitch; it’s about timing, persistence, and a lot of behind-the-scenes prep. In this episode, Natalia Buia of Gold Candor PR shares how she secured a feature for her client, DeepMedia, on Anderson Cooper 360 . We cover what made the story stand out, how she supported producers, and why patience is a must in broadcast PR.

What do spy balloons, Taylor Swift, and a viral WIRED video have in common? Aliza Bran. In this episode, Aliza, Director of Media Relations at the International Spy Museum, shares the story behind some of her wildest PR wins, including a cold pitch that became one of WIRED’s biggest YouTube hits. We talk about what makes a successful media relationship, how to pitch unconventional stories, and why...

Crisis comms expert Gayle Falkenthal joins the show to unpack the San Diego Pride leadership fallout: what went wrong, what should’ve happened first, and how nonprofits can rebuild trust when internal issues go public.

Public media is at risk of significant funding cuts, and PR professionals should take note. In this episode, I share why this issue is personal to me, why it matters to the future of journalism and public relations, and what we can actually do to push back.

In this solo episode, Britt explains how consistent, strategic thought leadership can help journalists find you . Learn why your online presence matters more than ever in the age of AI-powered search and how to build one that attracts media attention. Includes real examples, actionable tips, and suggestions for tools like SparkToro and BuzzSumo to help you get started.

When Kellie Walton, founder of Modern South , was uninvited from a press trip for not being “established enough,” it sparked a bigger conversation about how PR pros evaluate media value. In this episode, Kellie shares what happened, why niche media should never be underestimated, and how to build better relationships with freelance writers and emerging publishers.

Want to know what makes journalists roll their eyes, delete your pitch, or block you entirely? Cision asked 3,000+ journalists. I break down the key takeaways from their 2025 State of the Media report and share how I’m using the data to rethink how I show up in their inboxes.

Britt Klontz is joined by writer and content strategist Sean Curry to talk about a growing issue in media outreach: sameness. Sean explains why so many AI-assisted pitches fall flat, how journalists can spot them instantly, and what PR pros can do to stand out.

Freelance journalist Andrew Hirschfeld shares what PR pros often get wrong when pitching freelancers and what actually stands out. From exclusives and event invites to casual conversations and timing, Andrew breaks down how he evaluates pitches, builds stories, and decides what’s worth taking to an editor.