Latest news with #mediarelations
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What's up with all the scaffolding at the York County Admin Center? Here's what to know.
Did you notice the scaffolding outside the York County Administrative Center downtown? It's part of a multi-phased building renovation and preservation initiative to restore the 127-year-old building. Following the move of the courthouse to the current York County Judicial Center in 2004, the county chose to preserve and renovate the historic courthouse building, transforming it into the York County Administrative Center since 2006, according to a media relations spokesperson for York County. The first phases of the renovation were completed in 2024 at a total cost of $338,500. The current phases of the project include extensive repairs and renovations to the building's north-side exterior, including repairs to the existing masonry by fixing and replacing any damaged stones, repairing and upgrading windows, as well general repairs and exterior cleaning, which is expected to be completed by late summer or early fall this year. These improvements are needed to ensure this historic building is well-maintained and preserved for future generations. According to a spokesperson, the total cost of the current project is $1.185 million, funded through a capital improvement fund, rather than the county's General Fund operating budget. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: What's up with all the scaffolding at the York County PA Admin Center? Solve the daily Crossword
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
APO Group and Bytesview Analytics Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Media Intelligence in Africa
APO Group ( the leading Pan-African media relations and communications consultancy, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Bytesview Analytics Private Limited, a technology company specialising in artificial intelligence and data analytics. This collaboration will leverage a flagship product by Bytesview Analytics. is an advanced news aggregation and analysis platform that provides real-time and historical news data from over 84,000 sources in 206 countries and 89 languages. It is designed to support media monitoring, sentiment analysis, and data-driven decision-making. Through this partnership, APO Group and Bytesview Analytics will work together to enhance the monitoring, analysis, and distribution of African news. APO Group will integrate Bytesview's AI-powered tools to provide clients with deeper insights into how their stories are received across different languages and regions, helping them measure visibility, impact, and public sentiment more effectively. 'This is a powerful example of how smart data and strategic communications can come together to drive better media outcomes,' said Bas Wijne, CEO of APO Group. 'Our partnership with Bytesview Analytics brings new depth to the services we offer, especially in tracking and analysing media coverage across Africa.' 'We're excited to collaborate with APO Group to strengthen our visibility in Africa and to support better storytelling with reliable, data-driven insights,' said Piyush Khatri, Director at Bytesview Analytics. 'This partnership opens new doors for both our team and the organisations we serve.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group. About APO Group: Founded in 2007, APO Group ( is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally. Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa in 2024 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, the Davos Communications Awards 2025 awarded us the Gold Award for Best PR Campaign and the Bronze Award for Special Event. APO Group's esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa's Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences. About Bytesview Analytics: Bytesview Analytics Private Limited is a technology-focused company specializing in AI-powered analytics and real-time data solutions. With a dedicated team of developers and data scientists, Bytesview delivers high-performance digital products across industries such as media, fintech, edtech, marketing, environmental sciences, and social media intelligence. Its flagship product, is a news aggregation and analytics platform that offers real-time and historical news data through a developer-friendly API. It is designed for researchers, analysts, developers, media professionals, and organizations seeking structured news data from global sources in various languages. To learn more, visit:
Forbes
20-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
2025 Media Relations Strategy From Muck Rack's Journalism Study
News online in phone. Reading newspaper from website. Digital publication and magazine mockup. Press ... More feed with latest headlines in digital web portal. Reader watching media website in smartphone. When I previously explored how luxury brands were rethinking their relationship with the press, I referenced what New York Times' Vanessa Friedman had dubbed the 'Beyoncé Strategy' — where brands bypass traditional media to engage directly with their audiences. At the time, this seemed like a strategic shift driven by a desire for speed, control, and narrative ownership. But new data from Muck Rack's 2025 State of Journalism report suggests this pivot reflects a deeper transformation reshaping every aspect of modern media relations strategy. With insights from more than 1,500 journalists worldwide, the report highlights sweeping changes reshaping how luxury brands should approach media outreach. These shifts explain what today's sophisticated marketers must understand to succeed in this evolving landscape; one where the consumer's passionate pursuit of luxury is highly supported by genuine press relationships. How Not To Execute A Media Relations Strategy Just days before the survey's release, a journalist posted on LinkedIn a scathing email he received after interviewing Lyft's CEO. 'Learn a thing or two about a thing 2,' the sender wrote, demanding 'a deep dive on my LinkedIn profile' while dismissing the journalist's reporting as 'drivel.' He also CC'd the editor-in-chief, accusing the publication of offering 'weak leaders and execs' as distractions from 'poor decision making.' The sender questioned Lyft CEO David Risher's credentials, mocked his nonprofit experience, and speculated readers were 'rolling their eyes' at the coverage. The sender thought positioning himself as more knowledgeable while attacking the journalist's competence, invoking big names (Gates and Bezos got name-dropped), and delivering sweeping indictments about entire industries would earn him kudos – literally, he ended the email by saying 'I welcome comments, critiques and kudos.' Every journalist has a story of some crackpot who didn't like their article. I was digitally hounded by one who took personal issues with Hermès and demanded I take down my coverage of the brand, or at the very least, include his outlandish, unsubstantiated claims. When I didn't, he bought Meta ads to continue harassing me, even reaching out to my clients to discredit me. Nothing came of his actions, of course, except increased traffic to my article. It turns out Hermès had banned him from their stores. He then launched an ecommerce store selling sandals made with Hermès scarves, in what a legal expert might call copyright infringement. There's a reason brands rely on PR advisors to guide press communications: they help avoid the kind of self-sabotage that makes the saboteur a perpetual target for negative press coverage after offending the wrong journalist. Elon Musk dismissed his PR team entirely, then proceeded to tank Tesla's stock with midnight Twitter rants and SEC violations – and this was before he entered politics. Kanye West fired multiple PR firms before his antisemitic meltdowns destroyed billion-dollar partnerships with Adidas and Gap. Both cases prove the same point: when smart money meets unchecked ego, the money usually loses. The Beyoncé Strategy may work for brand-to-audience communication because it's strategically executed by professionals who understand both media dynamics and audience psychology. But speaking directly to journalists without professional guidance is an entirely different game. For CMOs watching these instances unfold, valued PR counsel protects your reputation as much as it manages relationships. The New Journalism Reality In Planning Media Relations Strategy LONDONDERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JANUARY 23: Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President ... More Donald Trump talks to reporters while visiting the polling site at Londonderry High School on January 23, 2024 in Londonderry, New Hampshire. With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis having dropped out of the race two days earlier, Trump and fellow candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are battling it out in this first-in-the-nation primary. (Photo by) Ever since Kellyanne Conway redefined 'fake news' as anything her client didn't agree with, a cultural shift has emboldened people to undermine journalists, convinced they know the job better than the professionals doing it. According to Muck Rack's study, one-third of journalists said mis- or disinformation was the most serious threat to their industry, with another 25% pointing to journalism's politicization and polarization. The survey reveals deeper challenges. While 67% of journalists still find their work meaningful, 47% describe it as exhausting and 33% call it precarious. Most significantly, 62% say their responsibilities have expanded significantly beyond their core reporting roles, with 37% reporting layoffs or buyouts at their organizations in the past year. This matters for any luxury brand seeking third-party validation from editorial media. Journalists are doing more with less and offering brands a much narrower window to capture their attention. Although 84% disclose that some stories originate from PR pitches, 86% immediately delete pitches irrelevant to their beat. Yet 47% say they're regularly receiving those very kinds of useless pitches at a daily rate of 6-20+ emails. With only 22% regularly responding, gaining journalist interest has become an editorial Hunger Games where just 3% of journalists say they always receive information relevant to their coverage areas. Rethinking Communication Channels in Your Media Relations Strategy This photo illustration shows the social media platform X (former Twitter) app on a smartphone in ... More Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 18, 2024. Brazilian X users reported their surprise after being able to access the platform, suspended in Latin America's largest country by a decision of the supreme court, which is investigating an apparent technical 'instability'. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP) (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images) Safety and reputational concerns are also reshaping how journalists engage online. Over half report these issues impact how they use social media professionally, with 35% ending their presence on X entirely. Once a journalist's town square, X is now considered the least dependable platform, with 72% of journalists not trusting it to treat their content fairly. Just 21% regard X as their most valuable platform, down from 36% last year. 49% of journalists are now spending more time on LinkedIn, with 60% rating it as trustworthy. Instagram and Bluesky are also on the rise, forcing a reassessment of how brands track and connect with press. For brands who've built sophisticated Twitter strategies over the past decade, this migration confirms the centralized 'town square' approach no longer exists. As journalists scatter across platforms, brands must meet them where they are without losing sight of their own audience alignment. That means mapping journalist activity against brand-relevant topics, shifting resources away from static strategies, and experimenting with new storytelling formats native to each channel. Resist the urge to copy-paste old Twitter tactics onto new spaces, and instead engage thoughtfully with journalists' posts, amplify their work when relevant, and offer meaningful insight without an immediate ask. The smartest luxury brands diversify their media engagement across multiple platforms while developing platform-specific approaches. Create LinkedIn content showcasing thought leadership and industry expertise, use Instagram to share behind-the-scenes brand storytelling for journalists to reference, and establish early presence on emerging platforms before they become oversaturated. Independent Journalism Creates New Media Relations Strategy Candid portrait of African-American entrepreneur interviewed on a radio podcast. In reflecting new dynamics and opportunities, the report notes 34% of journalists now publish work independently, with 61% of them monetizing those efforts. This opens new avenues for brand storytelling, particularly for companies willing to develop more intimate relationships with writers who control their own editorial calendars. They may be more receptive to longer-term content partnerships, exclusive access arrangements, or collaborative storytelling approaches traditional newsroom ethics might prohibit. These independents must still maintain editorial independence and credibility with their audiences, however. PR 101 teaches journalists are never your friend but can be allies when your missions are aligned. The most successful luxury brands support independent journalism through value-added partnerships, recognizing authenticity and editorial integrity is why the journalist has an audience in the first place. Media Relations Strategy Implications for Luxury Marketers BASEL, SWITZERLAND - MARCH 21: Swizz Beatz (R) attends the Zenith press conference at the Baselworld ... More luxury watch trade fair 2018 on March 21, 2018 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo byfor Zenith) With journalists facing increased job insecurity, brands investing in long-term relationship building see better results. The best journalists always land on their feet, leaving one publication for another and carrying the weight of prior relationships into their next opportunity. Brands thriving in this new environment share a few key traits: Precision Targeting: They prioritize sending pitches only to journalists whose work aligns with their message, using the journalists' own published work as a guide. Platform Agility: They adapt to where journalists are actually spending time, diversifying outreach across platforms instead of clinging to legacy channels, just in case their most populous platform should disappear. Value-First Approach: They save journalists time by offering clear relevance, expert access, helpful assets and simply well-organized information. Final Takeaways For A Modern Media Relations Strategy INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 01: (Editorial Use Only) Beyoncé performs onstage during the ... More "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at SoFi Stadium on September 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood) While the Beyoncé Strategy may work in brand-to-consumer storytelling, if you want to bypass a PR advisor to speak directly to journalists, understand they're navigating limited resources, shrinking job security, and constant digital hostility. Follow these final takeaways to enlist the power of the pen in getting your message delivered to the right audience: Respect Journalistic Expertise The strongest media relationships recognize journalists operate under tight deadlines, editorial standards, and professional judgment. Lecturing them about their job only signals you don't understand theirs. Courtesy and respect have become strategic advantages in the face of mounting press hostility. Prioritize Relevance Over Reach With nearly half of journalists citing irrelevant pitches as their biggest frustration, success depends on a precise and relevant message. Review a journalist's recent work before reaching out. If your story doesn't align with their historical coverage, don't pitch it. Support, Don't Strain As 62% of journalists take on expanded roles amid industry layoffs, your job is to make theirs easier. Provide clear, concise materials. If you arrange an interview, send the transcript afterward. A small action like this builds goodwill and increases your coverage chances. Adapt to Platform Shifts With many journalists fleeing X for new platforms like Bluesky, your media engagement strategy should follow suit. But don't treat social media as a shortcut. Engage thoughtfully with a journalist's content long before you need something. Relationship-building starts with respect, not requests. Approach the press without understanding the pressures they face, and don't be surprised when your media relations strategy falls flat, or worse, becomes a case study on what not to do. In a journalistic landscape where credibility is currency and time is scarce, empathy and preparation are what separate successful coverage from your message being ignored.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hegseth brings warfighter mentality to media relations
The Defense Department's relationship with reporters has gone from bad to worse following a string of missives from Secretary Pete Hegseth and his office aimed at controlling the Pentagon press corps. Hegseth's war on the media includes taking desks away from legacy outlets, locking the doors to one of the few places reporters have access to the internet in the Pentagon, and restricting their movement within the building. Compounding the breakdown in media relations is a staffing shortage in the Pentagon's public affairs shop, with at least 12 officials in the office reportedly leaving in recent weeks. The office officially held 32 people at the start of the year. That has left one of the government's largest agencies often unresponsive amid a steady stream of scandals and public relations snafus, though it maintains an active 'DOD Rapid Response' account on the social platform X, which posted on Saturday, 'we will always deliver on our promise of transparency.' The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on this article. Hegseth often talks about bringing a warfighting mentality to the Pentagon. His hostile approach to the media comes at the detriment of the American public, said Jonathan Katz, senior director for the Anti-Corruption, Democracy and Security Project at the Brookings Institution. 'Americans need to understand what's happening in the Department of Defense because it's critical to U.S. national security and to their everyday lives,' Katz told The Hill. 'Right now it looks like the Pentagon, led by Mr. Hegseth, is doing everything it can do to not share critical information with the public. That is problematic.' Since the start of President Trump's second term, the Defense Department has transformed how it typically engages with the press, largely shunning traditional media. Chief Pentagon spokesperson and senior adviser Sean Parnell has briefed the press on camera once since taking on the role in February, and Hegseth has yet to address reporters in the department's briefing room. When Hegseth does address the media, it's mostly from the White House alongside President Trump or while he is traveling. But he has shaped how he is covered on those trips by limiting the number of reporters that come with him — on some trips handpicking those from more right-leaning outlets that skew toward favorable coverage of the department. When Hegseth traveled to Guantánamo Bay in late February, he took just one reporter, his former colleague, Fox News host Laura Ingraham. Hegseth and Parnell have instead put out near-weekly 'situation reports,' video updates from the Pentagon that espouse positive headlines and commitments to 'transparency.' The DOD Rapid Response X account both plays up positive news about Hegseth and denigrates news stories and reporters that show him in a negative light. Alex Wagner, a former Pentagon official-turned-public affairs professor at Syracuse University, said the channeling of all communication into 'easily retweeted videos that are highly scripted without any chance for questions' undermines service members and confidence that defense leaders have their best interests at heart. 'It's absolutely critical that the people who are serving and sacrificing and their families understand not only what is happening to service members and their dependents, but also why it's happening,' Wagner told The Hill. 'I'm just surprised President Trump and his team are allowing it, given their repeated affirmations that they are running the most transparent administration in history,' he added, pointing to the contrast with the White House and State Department, where officials regularly brief the media. Things are only getting worse for the Pentagon press corps. Just working in the building has become arduous for many outlets after Hegseth's office in early February took away the desks of eight legacy media outlets: NBC News, The New York Times, NPR, Politico, CNN, The Washington Post, The Hill and The War Zone. The reporters had to vacate their spaces for outlets more sympathetic to the Trump administration, including One America News Network, the New York Post, Breitbart News, Newsmax, the Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller and The Free Press. The department called the shifts a 'media rotation program,' but the move was bashed by the Pentagon Press Association, which called it 'unreasonable.' Later that same month, the Pentagon banned reporters from the press briefing room unless officials were holding a briefing — which has only happened once in more than five months. This barred media from one of the few places in the building that had access to Wi-Fi to file stories. And last month, after a string of embarrassing headlines for Hegseth, including that he mishandled sensitive information in March when he relayed over Signal detailed plans to strike Houthi militants in Yemen — to a group chat that included a journalist — the Pentagon barred reporters from freely walking in certain areas of the building. Areas that are off limits now include Hegseth's office spaces and the Joint Chiefs of Staff office spaces 'without an official approval and escort from the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs,' according to a May 23 memo signed by the Pentagon chief. The decision limits press access to hallways reporters have historically had access to under past Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, with Parnell on X calling the restrictions 'pragmatic changes to protect operational security.' It also eliminates 'the media's freedom to freely access press officers for the military services who are specifically hired to respond to press queries,' the Pentagon Press Association said in a statement. The group further called the restrictions 'a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America's right to know what its military is doing.' The National Press Club urged the department to reverse course, as 'restricting access doesn't protect national security. It undermines public trust,' the organization's President Mike Balsamo said in a statement. And a third press group, Military Reporters & Editors, said it was 'deeply troubled' by the restrictions, the likes of which hadn't been seen before at the Pentagon. 'This isn't meant to protect the republic, it is designed to impose a chill,' the organization said in a statement. 'It is a disservice to the American public, troops, veterans and families who rely on a dedicated free press to shine the light on matters of vital interest.' Further limitations are likely coming, with Hegseth's memo alluding to reporters having to soon sign a pledge to protect sensitive military information or risk losing their press badge. 'It's as if there's a separate standard for transparency and accountability that the Pentagon is not upholding under Secretary Hegseth that they're asking others to uphold,' said Katz. 'This is disconcerting for the American public that relies on the media to understand in a transparent, accountable way what the Pentagon is doing. And right now, Americans are losing faith that one of the most important national security institutions is not being truthful,' he added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
More Man Utd departures
Two more significant departures from Manchester United have been of media relations and public affairs Andrew Ward and media director Ian Nolan are to leave the is best known as the United official who accompanied head coach Ruben Amorim to his news exits are not part of the redundancy programme and both will remain in position until their replacements are McCaffery will step up and be alongside Amorim at future media returned from their post-season tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong on are due to play Leeds in Stockholm in their first pre-season game on 19 July before heading to the United States to take part in a Premier League tournament along with West Ham, Everton and Bournemouth.
