As a PR professional, one of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen new hires make in their entry-level position is blindly blasting out the same impersonal, artless pitch to any journalist who has ever covered a beat remotely adjacent to one of their client’s products. When I was a recent grad without any real industry experience, I made that same mistake until I began reading PR blogs. Not great – and unsurprisingly, this approach was not effective.
Whether you're a seasoned PR pro or looking to break into the industry, reading expert blogs is a smart way to stay on top of your game, know the latest PR happenings, sharpen and expand your skills, and get inspired to do your best work. Think of them as continuing education at a fantastic price – many of which are free. Your girl loves a bargain.
So how can you find the best PR blogs available? You can do a Google search and spend hours sifting through hundreds of “Best of Lists” or, read below. It took a lot of coffee, but we already did all of that research for you! We created a list of other PR blogs, newsletters and websites by comparing and reviewing the most recommended lists and noting those repeatedly top ranked.
Many help you network online, find cool events and keep up with the latest industry trends while offering webinars, news on journalist moves, interviews with reporters, how-to guides and advice for PR professionals of all experience levels across many industries. Let’s get into it:
*Disclaimer: Yes, I linked to Twitter for each of these outlets. Yes, I am a millennial and not Gen Z. Yes, I’m aware that Instagram and TikTok are dope. Twitter still remains an excellent news resource though. Don’t make me feel old. Thank you.
- Ragan’s PR Daily / Twitter
For decades, Lawrence Ragan Communications, Inc., has been the leading publisher of corporate communications, public relations, and leadership development newsletters. Ever since the launch of The Ragan Report in 1970, Ragan has provided the professional communicator and executives with timely, practical, and relevant information that few others can match. Look to them for targeted newsletters and industry articles in the areas of employee communication, organizational writing and editing, sales and marketing, media relations and motivational management.
- Spin Sucks / Twitter
Spin Sucks is dedicated to breaking down the negative perceptions of the PR field aka “spin doctors” by calling out destructive practices in the industry and celebrating the authentic ones – all with punchy writing and a fun voice. The team at Spin Sucks manages the blog to provide expert information and advice on current issues and trends surrounding marketing, communication, social media, entrepreneurship, search engine optimization, and advertising. They dissect recent campaigns and brand news to separate the spin from the reality, and share their own expert take on what could have been done better. They also regularly feature a number of guest contributors, which keeps their content fresh and allows for various perspectives.
- PRSay / Twitter
PRsay, brought to you by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), is a resource where public relations and communication professionals can learn about current issues, news, popular topics and effective strategies leading the PR profession. As PRSA’s blog channel, PRsay covers leadership, career advice, industry insights, special events, trainings and more. Designed for both seasoned PR pros and those beginning their careers, the blog features helpful, how-to sections on training and development, but they also have dedicated sections that discuss diversity, inclusion, and ethics in the PR field.
- PR Couture / Twitter
PR Couture is a leading digital resource for fashion and lifestyle communicators, no matter where they are in their career trajectory. They educate, inspire and celebrate forward-thinking strategies and brands through expert insight, industry trends, digital tools, how-to’s and courses. The site reports daily on news, PR strategies, career opportunities, agency directory and noteworthy community members.
- The Skimm / Twitter
The Skimm is extremely popular and for good reason. Offering a wealth of straightforward, no-nonsense, factual blurbs that give insight on a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on social media and its many facets. You can read their daily newsletter while waiting in line at Starbucks for your morning latte or while lying in bed for those extra ten minutes. Think of it as the Cliff Notes for important stuff happening in the world right now.
- Stephen Waddington / Twitter
Stephen Waddington is Partner and Chief Engagement Officer at Ketchum helping clients and colleagues to do the best job possible engaging with the public. He is responsible for driving the integration of digital and social capabilities in client engagements across the agency’s international network. Stephen understands how the media landscape works online and offline and champions best practice as a writer, conference speaker and award-winning blogger.
- Institute for Public Relations (IPR) Blog / Twitter
IPR is a nonprofit organization that conducts and publishes in-depth research on the factors impacting the public relations and corporate communications fields. In addition to their extensive library of original research, IPR's blog is a treasure trove of expert opinion pieces, strategy recommendations backed by credible studies, and takes on how new trends and tech will change the landscape of PR.
- Meltwater / Twitter
Their blog provides relevant and useful stories created by contributors who are serious about PR. Also keep an eye out for content in languages other than English. Clean designs and full of case studies, lots of insight like webinars, e-books, reports and well-written articles. They know what’s up and have a casual voice that covers serious topics in a trendy way, this blog is where the cool kids go.
- The Future Buzz / Twitter
The Future Buzz covers digital marketing/PR strategies, building organic buzz and creating long-term visibility for your brand or business. Everyone from entrepreneurs at startups to marketing leaders at major corporations will find value in the content here. Adam Singer, their founder, is an Analytics Advocate at Google, a marketing, media and PR industry speaker, startup adviser and blogger.
- Cision Blog / Twitter
Cision covers all aspects of your communication needs, helping you reach, target and engage your audience. Most PR agencies use their database, but their well-organized blog is completely free and filled with best practices, media updates, trends, news, influencers and other PR essentials.
- AdWeek Social Pro Daily / Twitter
Social Pro Daily covers the ins-and-outs of social media, doing an impressive job of keeping up with changes in algorithms and use cases for different social media features. They post 3 new articles per day and cover practical topics such as Instagram.
- PR Conversations / Twitter
PR Conversations is a collective global public relations blog, reflecting a wide variety of voices, critical thinking and informed opinion. It is run by two seasoned PR professionals.
- PRNEWS / Twitter
PRNEWS started as a weekly print newsletter over 75 (!!!) years ago, and today still serves as a comprehensive, go-to resource for the PR community. The PRNEWS Blog features in-depth analysis of current industry news, useful how-to’s, career advice, and opinion articles from PR pros across numerous industries. Check out their weekly email subscription, The Skinny, which offers a thoughtfully curated rundown of the latest PR, marketing, and communications news and trends.
- PRWeek / Twitter
PRWeek bills itself as "the essential title for PR professionals in the US," and it has an expansive, high-quality content library to back this statement up. Covering topics from notable agency happenings to how brands are adopting new strategies, PRWeek is as entertaining as it is informative. Plus, their daily Breakfast Briefing is the perfect early morning subway read, or WFH read while you get ready for your first Zoom meeting. It features a quick rundown of the latest PR news in a format simple enough to digest before you've had your coffee.
- PR Daily / Twitter
With sections on social media management, crisis communications, media relations, marketing, and more, PR Daily serves up a diverse range of topics for PR and comms pros. They're quick to publish expert analysis on current events concerning the PR community, and also offer beginner guides on the tools and platforms you need to do your job.
- Digiday / Twitter
While not strictly a PR industry publication, Digiday is a valuable read for anyone interested in how technology impacts media, marketing, and communications. Their editorial team leverages expert, insider interviews and original data to show how innovations in the tech landscape are changing the way brands and consumers communicate. Their ongoing column, The Confessions, features anonymous interviews with professionals working in media. They dig deeply into revealing topics like working conditions in the industry and the (sometimes harsh) realities of advancing your career in a competitive environment.
- Public Relations Today
This blog aggregates the best content for PR professionals across the web into one convenient, easy-to-navigate location. Their team of expert curators shares pieces on everything from branding to crisis management. Their homepage is also ordered by what's trending in the industry on social media, so it's easy to discover articles other PR professionals are reading and discussing.
- Solo PR Pro / Twitter
If you're a freelance or independent PR consultant, the challenges you face are certainly different than those experienced by an agency, in-house team, or large consulting group. Solo PR Pro is a blog specifically for PR and communication pros looking to "break free of the cubical" and be their own boss. The site focuses on topics relevant to the unique experiences of freelancers in the PR world, like promoting your services, building a client base, and balancing clients on your own.
- O'Dwyer's PR News / Twitter
Founded in 1968 as a print publication, O'Dwyer's PR News diligently covers the latest industry happenings and keeps a running ranking of top PR agencies. O'Dwyer's is a good place to stay up to date on breaking agency news, which agencies your competitors are using and any current controversies.
- Edelman Insights / Twitter
Edelman, a top global communications firm, shares articles concerning industry news, best practices, corporate culture, and more on their Insights blog. With pieces written by influential industry leaders (like Edelman CEO Richard Edelman), Insights gives readers an inside look at the topics PR pros should be paying attention to. In addition to tactical and opinion pieces, the blog tackles topics impacting the industry, like diversity and inclusion, and the responsibilities of professional communicators in the era of "fake news.”
- PRovoke / Twitter
Formally know at The Holmes Report, PRovoke features long-form articles, interviews, podcasts, videos, and reports, such as The Global Communications Report with “unique research into the trends, opportunities, and challenges that define the global PR industry.” Their Agency Playbook is the PR industry’s most comprehensive listing of firms from every region and specialty; it’s an invaluable guide for keeping up on partnerships and researching PR verticals.
- Muck Rack Daily / Twitter
Professional, accessible, easily scrollable, MRD combines news, insights, trends and job pitches as well as any site in covering the media and PR.
Insights from Unexpected Places
- Entrepreneur / Twitter
Well-written articles showcase how brands can increase their impact on the modern business landscape. Given that it’s written for the C-Suite, takeaways are meant to be high-level and immediately actionable. If you’re on the go, you’ll find videos, podcasts, and for those looking for deeper insights, audio books on entrepreneurship.
- Public Relations on Reddit / Twitter
This seven-year-old sub-reddit is dedicated to questions about the PR industry. Submissions consist of interesting PR-related articles or posts with questions or discussions for the community. While there’s no self-promotion, it’s a great resource for those who are starting out in their careers or are solo PR pros looking to crowdsource some advice from their online community whether that be software recommendations or advise on best practices during the time of Coronavirus.
- ContentChat
Erika Heald, former Head of Content at Anaplan and Highwire PR, holds her weekly Twitter
#ContentChat On Mondays at 12noon PT. Recent topics have included: work from home (WFH) challenges during the age of Coronavirus, managing online communities and shifting focus to digital during these unprecedented times. Heald invites major PR and marketing industry insiders to take part in the conversation. You might recognize names such as Jason Schemmel at @JasonSchemmel and Michelle Garrett at @PRisUS.
