As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate the news cycle and the thoughts of communities worldwide, a recent survey by the Pew Research Center reveals that readers are beginning to show signs of news fatigue. The survey reported that 72% of respondents feel the need to “take breaks” from news about the pandemic, and 43% feel worse emotionally after learning about coronavirus-related news.
While coverage and consumption about the COVID-19 pandemic will persist across media because of its all-encompassing impact, journalists and readers alike are experiencing significant shifts in news consumption. In fact, 71% of respondents reported that, as a result of the pandemic, journalists have had to change the way they report.
As PR professionals, our job is to be a reliable resource to the media, which requires that we understand and accurately adapt to the industry’s current climate. According to Cision’s latest “State of the News Media” report, journalists are facing more responsibilities and an increased workload with fewer resources.
So what does this mean for us as PR pros? Journalists who are strapped for time and resources will benefit from and be even more receptive to tailored pitches about topics that align with their beat and audience. While this has always been true, now more than ever, we need to do our due diligence before reaching out with news. Meet journalists where they are, strive to be as useful as possible, and don’t forget to display empathy during this time.
Forbes
- Alex Konrad has been promoted from associate editor to senior editor overseeing cloud and venture capital.
- Alex Knapp has also been promoted from associate editor and now serves as senior editor for healthcare and science.
- Jeremy Bogaisky is now a senior editor covering aerospace.
- Michael del Castillo has been promoted from staff writer to associate editor and continues to cover blockchain and crypto.
- Justin Conklin and Katherine Love have both been promoted to managers of editorial operations.
Politico
- Formerly a freelancer, Heidi Vogt has taken the role of deputy technology and cybersecurity editor.
Glossy
- Katie Richards has left Glossy to start a new career path at Citi.
WIRED
- Formerly a contributing writer covering tech policy, software development, cloud computing, Klint Finley shared he was laid off from WIRED on Twitter.