PR News: Brighton’s calling! Get your pitch ready!

BrightonSEO is happening this week (23-24 October), and we’ll be there too! If you’re heading down, come say hi and pitch live in Lloyd’s Pitch Clinic. This is your chance to get feedback, sharpen your angle, and get your story ready for the media.

And if you can’t make it, no worries! Pitch Fever’s still on. There’s plenty of time to post your first pitch (and maybe win something for it).

Now, welcome back to The Loop – your weekly scroll of journo requests, PR tips, and media news that made the headlines.

Here’s what’s hot…

🔥 MUST READ

…advice we’ve spotted from the experts

Elise Brown, PR Data & Insights Lead at Flaunt Digital, broke down BuzzStream’s review of 2,000+ YouGov surveys, revealing what turns simple data into coverage gold. Her takeaway? The best campaigns don’t just show numbers, they spark emotion and conversation.

“Emotion, simplicity, and relevance still prevail every time.”

👉 Read Elise’s full post on LinkedIn

Also, another data post caught our eye this week: Business & Consumer journalist Jane Hamilton’s 2-minute Media Training Monday on survey stories, tips and tricks to boost your press coverage. Have a read.

🗞️ PR-Y STUFF

Here’s what we think you should see this week:

• How publishers can grow revenue as traffic declines – With web traffic dropping across much of the industry, Press Gazette explores how publishers are shifting focus from chasing clicks to building loyalty through subscriptions, newsletters, and direct audience relationships. read more
• Wikipedia sees traffic dip as AI summaries rise – The Independent reports that Wikipedia’s page visits have dropped sharply, with experts suggesting AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews are providing users with quick answers. read more
• How AI Search is changing publisher visibility – An interesting insight on how AI-powered search tools are reshaping the traffic game for publishers, with visibility, attribution, and referral clicks all being rewritten in real time. read more
• Social media comments can help spot misinformation early – A new University of Exeter study finds that comments under social media posts can act as early warning signals for misinformation, with users often flagging false claims faster than platforms’ own detection systems. read more
• Why most communicators aren’t ready for what’s coming – In his latest Substack, Stephen Waddington argues that most comms pros are unprepared for the scale of change AI and automation will bring, not because of the tech itself, but because the industry still struggles to adapt fast enough. read more
• Freelance journalists push for control over AI use of their work – A new Press Gazette survey reveals that most freelance journalists want stronger protections and transparency around how AI tools use their content, with many calling for clearer consent and compensation models. read more

🔎 JOURNO REQUESTS

Here’s what journalists are currently looking for on Synapse:

Reach plc:

• Looking for an affiliate story on where celebrities live 

Insider Media:

• Looking for expert comments for an ongoing Powerhouse Perspective feature 

Newsquest:

• Looking for some expert comment on the one thermostat mistake that could be making your home colder than it needs to be
• Looking for expert comment on people urged to stop one water bottle habit before it makes them ill
• Looking for expert comments on removing black stains from bathroom sealants overnight with ‘no scrubbing’ needed
• Looking for expert comment or advice on how best to load a dishwasher in a new explainer article
• Looking for expert comment from UK-based experts on whether pots and pans can be washed in the dishwasher
• Looking for expert comment on the ways you can make a radiator heat up faster 
• Looking for an expert comment on whether lavender keeps rats away

Real Homes/Future:

• Looking for designers to explain how to style throw pillows, with top tips on choosing size, patterns, quantity, fluffing up, etc.
• Looking for designers to explain the valuable everyday pieces in grandparents’ kitchens that might be worth a lot

Freelance:

• Looking to speak to decluttering experts for a piece on The English Home website.
• Looking to speak to an electrical safety expert who can briefly explain how to use an electric blanket safely
• Looking to speak to UK autism experts about the Trump autism/paracetamol row

MailOnline:

• Looking for case studies on the ‘slow burn divorce’

Or head to the marketplace now to look our requests yourself.

📆 NEXT MONTH’S HOOKS

…because we don’t want you missing out on stuff in November .

🛍️ 3rd: 1 in 4 Brits start Christmas shopping early – according to Google Trends, Christmas shopping ideas peak.

🎆 4th: Bonfire Night – 27% of Brits attend a fireworks display, worth £248m to retailers, according to MailMetro.

💷 6th: Bank Rate Announcement – Monetary Policy Committee meets again

📈 7th: Google Trends shows spikes in “gift guides” from this week onward

❄️ 7th: Battersea Power Station’s riverside ice rink, Glide, reopens in  London

🎖️ 8th: Searches for ‘Christmas adverts’ peak

🎄 9th: ‘The Christmas Chronicles’ searches peak in the UK, according to Google Trends

❄️ 14th: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – London’s attraction opens doors for visitors

👑 14th: King Charles’ 77th birthday

🎬 14th: ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ – UK release date, starring Dave Franco

💳 20th: Searches for ‘Black Friday deals’ begin to rise.

🧙‍♀️ 21st: ‘Wicked: For Good’ – UK release date, starring Ariana Grande

🛒 22nd: 71% of last year’s Black Friday shoppers pre-planned purchases, according to MailMetroMedia.

📊 26th: UK Autumn Budget announced – overview of the UK government’s plans for taxation, public spending, and the economy.

🍿 26th:  The final season of ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ hits screens

🖤 28th: Black Friday

🦊 28th: ‘Zootopia 2’ – UK release date